Skip tracing is the investigative process of locating a person who has moved, changed their contact information, or is deliberately avoiding contact. The name comes from the old expression "to skip town" — as in, someone who has skipped and left their debts, obligations, or legal responsibilities behind.
What Skip Tracing Is Used For
Skip tracing is employed in a wide range of situations:
- Process serving — locating a defendant who has moved before service can be completed
- Debt collection — finding a debtor who has relocated without informing creditors
- Custody matters — locating a parent who has taken a child and moved without notice
- Estate administration — finding heirs or beneficiaries who have lost contact with the family
- Missing persons — locating a family member who has become estranged or gone off-grid
- Judgment enforcement — finding a judgment debtor before the judgment expires
How Skip Tracing Actually Works
Licensed Investigative Databases
Professional skip tracers use licensed investigative databases that aggregate information from utility companies, landlords, financial institutions, motor vehicle records, and other sources. These databases are not available to the general public and require a licensed agency relationship to access. They can identify current addresses, recent moves, associated phone numbers, vehicle registrations, and known associates.
Public Records Research
Property records, court filings, business registrations, and voter records are all public and searchable. People who think they've disappeared often leave a trail in public records they didn't think to address.
Social Media and Open-Source Research
People post location-relevant information on social media constantly — tagged locations, photographs of recognizable surroundings, mention of local businesses or events. Open-source research compiles this publicly available information legally.
Contact Network Investigation
Known associates, family members, former employers, and neighbors can provide leads when approached correctly. A professional investigator knows how to gather information through these contacts without tipping off the subject or running afoul of harassment laws.
How Accurate Is Skip Tracing?
Results depend on how recently the subject moved and how actively they've taken steps to disappear. A subject who simply moved to a new apartment in the same city is typically located within 24–48 hours. A subject who has intentionally gone off-grid — no utility accounts, no lease, no vehicles registered in their name — is harder but rarely truly untraceable.
Faithful Path Investigations provides skip tracing services for process servers, attorneys, and private clients throughout Missouri and nationwide. Contact us or call (877) 331-4374.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is skip tracing legal?
- Yes, when conducted by a licensed PI using lawful means. Skip tracing that involves illegal database access, fraud, or impersonation is not legal and is not how professional agencies operate.
- How long does skip tracing take?
- Standard skip traces are typically completed in 24–72 hours. Complex cases involving subjects who have intentionally obscured their location may take longer.
Owner and principal investigator at Faithful Path Investigations. Veteran-owned and operated, specializing in process serving and investigations throughout Missouri and nationwide.
Need Help With Your Case?
Contact us for process serving, investigations, or skip tracing — we're ready to deploy.