What Is Skip Tracing, and Why Is It Important?

Have you been trying to get a civil legal matter off the ground but have had a difficult time locating the other parties in the case? These situations are exactly what skip tracing was designed for. Private process servers often use skip tracing to locate parties to be served when the information provided by the petitioner or the courts proves to be inaccurate.

But what exactly is skip tracing?

Skip tracing is the use of technology, primarily public records, to locate an individual. Skip tracing can be done by manually searching local databases, but most private process servers save time by subscribing to software that makes the search a bit easier and more intuitive, although some skill is still required.

Some of the public records that are searched in skip tracing include:

• Marriage records (give a possibility for county of residence)
• Divorce cases (usually provide address information at time of filing)
• Titles and Deeds (may provide residential address)
• Arrest Records (indicate location that the person may reside)
• Criminal Cases

Skip tracing methods often produce at least a few solid leads, although sometimes none of them will pan out. When typical skip tracing methods fail, private process servers may move to some nontraditional means of tracking people down, such as searching through social media. If those methods also fail, a private investigator may be employed.

If you are having a hard time finding the people you need to notify in a legal matter, we can help you locate and serve that individual so that you will be able to move your case forward in the courts successfully. Contact us today to learn how to get started.