Have you ever lost something or needed to find someone but didn’t know where to look? You might retrace your steps or call around to people who could help. But what happens when you’re trying to find someone you’ve never met or who is deliberately hard to locate?
Skip tracing is a professional method used to track down individuals who can’t be found at their usual locations. This process is frequently used by professionals, such as process servers, who need to locate someone to serve legal documents or for other purposes. Let’s dive deeper into skip tracing and how it aids process servers.
What Is a Skip Trace?
Skip tracing is the process of finding someone who is missing or deliberately avoiding being found. It is often utilized by professionals like process servers to locate individuals who need to receive legal documents, such as court summons.
A Step-by-Step Process of Skip Tracing by a Process Server
To begin skip tracing, a process server will collect as much information as possible about the person they are looking for. This could include any details available—names, addresses, past contacts, or anything that might provide a clue to their whereabouts.
Once the information is gathered, it’s analyzed to determine potential leads. Many modern process servers start by using online databases, but another technique they often rely on is social engineering. This involves contacting people who may have knowledge about the person’s location or background.
Key Resources Used in Skip Tracing
Skip tracing professionals use various databases and information sources to gather relevant data. Common resources accessed during skip tracing include:
- Credit reports
- Phone number directories
- Job, credit card, and loan applications
- Criminal records
- Public records and utility bills
- Public tax information
- Court documents
- Travel records
- Driver’s license and vehicle registration databases
These resources provide critical information to help identify a person’s location, contact details, and background.
Skip Tracing Beyond Process Servers
Skip tracing is not limited to process servers. There are entire companies that specialize in locating people through the use of skip tracing methods. However, there are instances when even these specialized services can’t locate an individual. In such cases, a skip tracing professional may file an affidavit of diligence, a legal document explaining the efforts made to locate the person and why they were unsuccessful. This affidavit is admissible in court if needed.
Why Work With a Professional for Skip Tracing?
For the best results in skip tracing, working with experienced professionals is essential. If you are struggling to serve legal documents to someone, you can rely on skilled process servers who use comprehensive resources and advanced technology to find individuals efficiently. Professional services ensure the most accurate and timely results, increasing the chances of a successful delivery.
