How to Locate a Missing Person: A Guide to Skip Tracing

Have you lost track of a debtor, a key witness, an old tenant who owes you money, or a family member? Finding someone who doesn’t want to be found—or has simply drifted off the grid—is a process known as skip tracing. While professional private investigators use restricted, regulated databases to locate individuals, there are several open-source intelligence (OSINT) steps you can take on your own.

The DIY Skip Tracing Process

Follow these steps to systematically gather information and trace a subject using publicly available resources:

1. Gather and organize your starting data: Write down everything you currently know. Even tiny details can be the key to unlocking a search. Make sure you have their full name (and any aliases), date of birth, last known address, old phone numbers, names of relatives, and past employers.
2. Search public court and property records: People constantly leave paper trails with local governments. Search the county assessor records where they last lived to see if they own property, or check local municipal and county court dockets. Eviction records, traffic tickets, or civil lawsuits often list highly recent addresses.
3. Leverage advanced search engine queries: Don’t just type their name into Google. Use search operators to narrow things down. For example, search “First Name Last Name” “City Name” in quotes to find exact matches, or search site:linkedin.com “Their Name” to find current employment details that might not show up in regular searches.
4. Analyze social connections: If the target’s social media accounts are private, look at their family members’ public profiles on Facebook, Instagram, or Nextdoor. Relatives often post photos of holiday gatherings, moving days, or tag the target, giving away their current city or workplace.

The “Wall” of DIY Skip Tracing: Why Public Search Engines Fail

While the steps above are great for cold leads, DIY methods quickly hit a wall if the person is actively trying to hide or if they have a common name. Public “people finder” websites are notorious for displaying outdated, incorrect, or recycled data that is often 3 to 5 years old. Relying on them leads to wasted time, knocked doors at the wrong houses, and dead ends.

Comparing Public Searches vs. Professional Skip Tracing

Feature

DIY / Public Search Sites

Professional Private Investigator

Data Recency

Often 1–5 years old; cached public records.

Updated in real-time via live utilities, credit headers, etc.

Sourcing

Scraped web data, old phone books, and public filings.

Restricted-access databases (GLBA & DPPA compliant).

Phone Records

Outdated landlines or recycled VOIP numbers.

Active cell carrier information & utility billing hookups.

Legality

Unverified, potentially violating site terms of service.

Admissible in court, fully compliant with privacy laws.

The Professional Advantage

Licensed private investigators have legal access to proprietary databases that aggregate data from credit bureaus, utility companies, vehicle registration records, and live cellular routing. If you are trying to serve legal papers, locate a missing heir, or recover a debt, a professional skip trace is the only way to ensure the address is current and verified.

If you’ve run out of leads or need legally verified address data, our licensed investigators utilize restricted-access databases and field-tested intelligence tactics to find your target swiftly.

Pricing:

Tier 1: Basic Skip Trace (Standard Locate)

• ​Target Client: Law firms, landlords, or individuals with solid seed data (full name, DOB, SSN/FEIN, or recent address) who just need an updated address or phone number.
• ​What’s Included:
  • Comprehensive cross-search across proprietary databases.
  • ​Current address history & phone number extract.
  • Basic property
  • ​Digital summary report.
• Pricing Framing: “Starting at $80.00 an hour or a flat rate if you have automated database access.

Tier 2: Standard Verified Locate (Most Popular)

• ​Target Client: Process servers, attorneys, or creditors who need a verified address to serve papers or enforce a judgment—where a bad address wastes money.
• ​What’s Included:
  • ​All Tier 1 database searches PLUS:
  • ​Real-time utility connection checks (electric, water, gas).
  • ​Immediate family and known associate contact mapping.
  • ​Discreet phone/pretext verification (confirming the subject actually physically resides there).
  • ​Guarantee/verification statement for process service.
• Pricing Framing: $100.00 an hour or a flat fee “MOST POPULAR” or “RECOMMENDED FOR LEGAL SERVICE.”

Tier 3: Advanced / Evasive Subject Investigation

• ​Target Client: High-stakes litigation, hard-to-find witnesses, active evaders, or missing person cases.
• ​What’s Included:
  • ​All Tier 1 & 2 searches PLUS:
  • ​Deep OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) & social media footprint analysis.
  • ​Employment, business ownership, and licensing trace.
  • ​In-person physical field check / neighborhood inquiry / vehicle drive-by.
  • ​Detailed signed investigative affidavit.
• Pricing Framing: “Starting at $115 an hour or “Custom Retainer / Quote.”

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