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Skip Tracing

What is Skip Tracing?

Skip tracing is a method of locating an individual that is either underground or purposely trying to avoid detection for some reason. The person conducting the skip trace, so named because it is the act of tracking one down who has “skipped town,” uncovers facts in a systematic manner based on information that he or she already has. Armed with this minimal knowledge, the tracker will utilize online tools, databases, and a variety of both public and private records to locate the missing person. That said, it is imperative that a skip tracing professional obey all local privacy and trespass laws in the midst of his or her pursuit.

Skip tracing in Louisiana is performed for a plethora of reasons. Bounty hunters may be trying to locate someone who has skipped bail, or a creditor may be searching for a debtor in order to send him or her bills and letters of collection. Scott, as a process server, only uses his skip-tracing training and expertise to locate those upon which he has been asked to serve process.

What Steps are Involved in Louisiana Skip Tracing?

First of all, the skip tracer must familiarize himself or herself with a subject by using the preliminary data provided by the client, as well as doing a few simple internet searches to gather as much information as possible.

Then, he or she fishes through public records databases, such as criminal records, courthouse filings and judgments, credit reports, public tax records, and vehicle registration and driver’s license records on file with the DMV. There are even more private records to scour, such as loan, credit card, and employment applications, utility bills, phone number databases, supermarket loyalty cards, and even air travel records. Each of these are attached to residential addresses and following each lead will eventually enable a skip tracer to find nearly anyone.

For those that are living off the proverbial grid, this can become a much more difficult ordeal. Written records are hard to find with regard to those that do not work, own or rent property, or drive motor vehicles. In these scenarios, a skip tracer will contact known relatives, current or past friends, or associates such as former co-workers, landlords, roommates, neighbors, or significant others. They may even employ surveillance techniques to track a subject back to his or her current residence.

Fortunately, the internet and, more specifically, social media, have become prominent and this aids the skip tracer greatly. Even if the tracker cannot find a definite address, he or she can determine if an account has been used lately quite easily. If it has, it can be used as a recent window into a subject’s closest confidants and an approximate residential location (usually a city and state from which to start from).

What is the Benefit of Hiring a Process Server that Performs Skip Tracing?

It may appear as though skip tracing is something that you can easily take care of on your own before hiring a process server. However, it is an expensive and exhausting endeavor that a professional can take on in your place. Rather than pay exorbitant costs to locate a person, a skip-tracing process server knows exactly where to look and probably already has memberships with subscription services that he or she uses regularly to find subjects. He or she can get the job done quickly and efficiently. He or she also applies insider knowledge, training, and experience to do what most laypeople are unable to accomplish.

Please note that Baton Rouge Process Servers ONLY employs skip tracing techniques as a component of serving process on a hard-to-trace defendant or witness. That said, Scott has the same skill set as those that perform skip traces for other reasons, and he can and will locate anyone for an upcharge on your chosen process-serving package. Call us at 337-254-8169 to learn more about what we do and how we can help you today.

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