Sometimes the person you need to find simply cannot be reached. They may have moved, changed numbers, or intentionally avoided contact. Skip tracing is the process investigators use to locate people who are hard to find. It is an essential service for attorneys, process servers, businesses, and individuals.
Who Uses Skip Tracing
Skip tracing helps locate:
- Defendants who need to be served with legal papers
- Witnesses for a court case
- Debtors and judgment debtors
- Heirs and beneficiaries of an estate
- Tenants who left owing money
- Former employees or business contacts
- Old friends or relatives
How Skip Tracing Works
Skip tracing combines research with investigative experience. Investigators commonly use:
- Professional databases available to licensed investigators
- Public records such as court files, property records, and business filings
- Publicly available social media and online information
- Contacts with neighbors, former landlords, or associates when appropriate
- Field work to confirm a current address or workplace
Data alone is not enough. Databases often contain outdated or conflicting information. A skilled investigator evaluates each lead, confirms what is current, and rules out what is not.
Confirming the Location
A good skip trace ends with verification. That may mean observing the person at an address, confirming a vehicle, or verifying employment. Confirmed information saves time and money, especially when the next step is serving legal documents.
Legal and Ethical Limits
Investigators must follow privacy laws. They cannot obtain phone, bank, or utility records through deception or without legal authority. Information is used only for legitimate purposes, and investigators decline requests that appear intended to harass or harm someone.
Skip Tracing and Process Serving
Skip tracing and process serving often go hand in hand. When a person cannot be found at their last known address, a skip trace can locate them so service can be completed. Having both services from one agency saves time and keeps the case moving.
What Information Helps
- Full name and any known aliases
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Last known addresses
- Phone numbers and email addresses
- Vehicles, employers, and known associates
- Photos, if available
Statewide Skip Tracing
We provide skip tracing and locate services throughout Ohio and in nearby areas of western Pennsylvania. Our investigators combine research and field work to confirm results. Visit our private investigation services page or contact us through our service inquiry form.
