Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who has become difficult to find, typically because they have moved without leaving a forwarding address or have otherwise become unreachable. Investigators use publicly available records, commercial databases, and open-source research methods to establish a subject's current or last known location.
Skip tracing is how a private investigator tracks down someone whose current whereabouts are unknown. In practice, this means searching through records like address histories, utility filings, and other publicly accessible sources to piece together where a person is likely living or working now. The end goal is usually to confirm a current address or contact point.
A landlord attempting to serve an eviction notice may hire an investigator when a former tenant has vacated without notice and left no forwarding information. Attorneys handling civil litigation often need skip tracing to locate a defendant or witness who has moved and cannot be served. Families who have lost contact with a relative and need a current address for legal or personal matters also commonly request this service.
Licensed private investigators conducting skip tracing must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Driver's Privacy Protection Act, and any applicable state privacy laws governing how personal information is collected and used. Investigators are permitted to search publicly available records, licensed commercial data aggregators, and open-source information. Access to protected records such as sealed court files, private financial accounts, or law enforcement-restricted databases is not permitted.
How long does a skip trace typically take, and what will I receive when it is complete?
Most skip traces are completed within one to five business days, depending on how much information the client provides at the start and how recently the subject's records have been updated. The deliverable is generally a written report containing the subject's last verified address, any associated names or aliases, and the sources used to confirm the information. Results can vary based on how actively a subject has avoided leaving a public record trail.
What happens if the skip trace returns an address but it turns out to be outdated or incorrect?
Investigators document findings based on the best available information at the time of the search, and no result can be guaranteed to reflect a subject's real-time location. If an address is confirmed as outdated, the investigator may conduct additional research using updated records or recommend a field verification, such as physical surveillance, to confirm current residency. Clients should understand that skip tracing establishes the most probable location based on available data, not a legally guaranteed finding.
