You have a valid judgment, a strong case, or a subpoena that must be served, and one problem: the person has vanished. The address on file is stale, the phone is disconnected, and mail comes back undeliverable. This is where skip tracing comes in. Here is what it is, how it works, and when it is worth ordering one.
What Is Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person’s current address and contact information using database research, public records, and field investigation. The term comes from “skipping town.” Law firms, landlords, collection agencies, and individuals use skip traces to find:
- Defendants who must be served with a lawsuit
- Debtors after a judgment is entered
- Witnesses needed for deposition or trial
- Former tenants who owe money
- Heirs and beneficiaries in probate matters
How a Professional Skip Trace Works
A thorough skip trace layers several sources:
- Proprietary databases. Professional locate databases aggregate credit header data, utility connections, phone records, and address history that consumer search sites do not have. This is the single biggest advantage over do-it-yourself searching.
- Public records. Court filings, property records, business registrations, professional licenses, voter registration, and vehicle records all leave address trails.
- Social media and open sources. Employer information, check-ins, and recent activity often confirm or contradict database results.
- Field verification. A database hit is a lead, not an answer. Verifying occupancy at an address, through observation or neighbor contact, is what turns a lead into a serve.
Skip Tracing vs. Googling Someone
Free people-search websites recycle old data and frequently return addresses that are years out of date. Worse, attempting service at a stale address burns time and, in litigation, wastes the attempts you need to document for substituted service or a publication order. A professional trace costs a flat fee and typically resolves in days, not weeks of trial and error.
Skip Tracing and Service by Publication
If a defendant truly cannot be located, California courts can authorize service by publication, but only after the plaintiff demonstrates due diligence in a sworn declaration. Judges deny thin declarations. A documented professional skip trace, showing the databases searched, records checked, and addresses attempted, is precisely the evidence that gets a publication order granted. Even a “failed” trace has value: it proves the search was real.
Is Skip Tracing Legal?
Yes, when performed correctly. Professional skip tracers operate within the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and California privacy law. Information is obtained for permissible purposes such as service of legal process and judgment enforcement. What is not legal: pretexting to obtain phone or bank records, GPS tracking without authorization, and harassment. Hiring a legitimate service protects you from liability that shady shortcuts create.
When to Order a Skip Trace
Order a trace when:
- Two or more service attempts fail at the last known address
- Mail is returned or the property appears vacant
- The person has no listed address at all
- You hold a judgment and need current employment or address information for enforcement
- A witness must be located before a discovery cutoff
The earlier the trace is ordered, the more service attempts and court deadlines you preserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a skip trace take?
Most traces return results within a few business days. Difficult subjects with common names or deliberate concealment can take longer.
What information do you need to start?
Full name plus any known identifiers: last known address, date of birth, phone number, employer, or associated names. More input yields faster, more accurate results.
What if the person is not found?
You receive documentation of the search performed, which supports a due diligence declaration for alternative service.
Locate, Verify, Serve
ByLaw Legal & Courier Services combines professional skip tracing with service of process under one roof. We locate the subject, verify the address in the field, and complete the serve, with every step documented for court.
Call (619) 259-0497 to order a skip trace today.
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