Process servers are the unsung heroes of the legal system.
They ensure that court documents, subpoenas, and legal notices reach the right individuals.
But what happens when the person being served doesn’t want to be found?
Enter skip tracing.
By leveraging advanced tracking techniques, real-time data, and investigative strategies, process servers can locate and serve even the most elusive individuals.
Here’s how skip tracing supercharges process serving efficiency.
1. Verifying Current & Previous Addresses
The Challenge:
People move frequently, and outdated court records often list old addresses.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- Batch skip tracing – Uploading lists to verify current addresses.
- Postal forwarding records – Checking for recent address changes.
- Utility & rental agreements – Identifying where power, water, or internet is active.
- Property ownership records – Finding investment properties or secondary homes.
Why It Matters:
If the target has moved, skip tracing finds their most recent location.
Best Tools:
IDI Core, LexisNexis Accurint, TLOxp
2. Tracking Down New Phone Numbers & Emails
The Challenge:
Many individuals change phone numbers or use burner phones to avoid being found.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- Carrier lookup tools – Identifies active cell numbers.
- VOIP detection – Filters out disposable numbers.
- Social media scraping – Extracts contact details from public profiles.
- Email tracing – Finds recent sign-ups on job sites, newsletters, and memberships.
Why It Matters:
Even if someone gets a new phone, real-time tracking reveals their active contact info.
Best Tools:
Skip Force, REISkip, BatchSkipTracing
3. Locating Individuals Through Relatives & Associates
The Challenge:
If a person goes off-grid, they often stay with friends or family.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- Family & known associate searches – Finds close connections.
- Co-signers & emergency contacts – Tracked through loans and rental agreements.
- Social network patterns – Identifies people frequently tagged in photos, check-ins, or interactions.
Why It Matters:
If the subject is hiding, they’re likely in contact with someone who isn’t.
Best Tools:
LexisNexis Accurint, TLOxp
4. Monitoring Employment & Workplace Activity
The Challenge:
People often list fake addresses but can’t avoid going to work.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- Payroll & job history lookups – Confirms current employment status.
- Business ownership records – Finds LLCs, corporations, and self-employed businesses.
- Professional licensing data – Tracks real estate agents, contractors, and medical professionals.
Why It Matters:
If they have a job, they have a routine—making workplace service highly effective.
Best Tools:
IDI Core, LexisNexis Accurint
5. Social Media & Digital Footprint Tracking
The Challenge:
Some individuals avoid bills, leases, and credit checks—but they can’t resist posting on social media.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- Real-time social media monitoring – Tracks recent activity.
- Check-in & location data extraction – Finds frequent places they visit.
- Marketplace & transaction history – Detects new addresses from classified ads and online sales.
Why It Matters:
If they post a selfie at their gym, a process server knows where to wait.
Best Tools:
TLOxp, Social Catfish, IDI Core
6. DMV & Vehicle Tracking
The Challenge:
Even if someone doesn’t have a fixed address, they still need a car.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- License plate lookups – Identifies registered vehicle locations.
- Toll road & parking citations – Tracks movement patterns.
- Auto loan records – Pinpoints repossessed or newly financed vehicles.
Why It Matters:
If they drive, their car leaves a trail—making stakeouts highly effective.
Best Tools:
LexisNexis Accurint, TLOxp
7. Utility & Subscription Service Lookups
The Challenge:
Some individuals use cash-only lifestyles to avoid paper trails.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- Water, gas, electricity, and internet records – Identifies active accounts.
- Gym memberships & online subscriptions – Locates frequent activity points.
- Amazon & food delivery records – Extracts default shipping addresses.
Why It Matters:
Even if they don’t list an address, their daily life requires service providers.
Best Tools:
IDI Core, LexisNexis Accurint
8. Court Records & Legal Filings
The Challenge:
Legal documents often contain hidden leads on individuals.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- Recent court filings – Divorce, child support, and civil lawsuits list new addresses.
- Probation & parole records – Verifies active supervision locations.
- Bankruptcies & tax liens – Identifies financial distress patterns.
Why It Matters:
Many people update their legal documents before anything else—making court records a goldmine.
Best Tools:
TLOxp, LexisNexis Accurint
9. Surveillance & In-Person Stakeouts
The Challenge:
Sometimes, technology isn’t enough—personal observation is required.
Skip Tracing Solution:
- Confirming movement patterns – Identifies where individuals frequent.
- Watching known locations – Homes, jobs, and favorite hangouts.
- Using pretext techniques – Non-intrusive questioning to gather intelligence.
Why It Matters:
When all else fails, an experienced process server knows how to blend in and wait.
Best Tools:
Eyes, patience, and field experience
Final Takeaway: Skip Tracing Makes Process Serving Unstoppable
Process servers use skip tracing to turn the impossible into the inevitable.
How Process Servers Use Skip Tracing:
- Verify current & past addresses
- Find updated phone numbers & emails
- Track employment & business activity
- Identify relatives, associates, and cohabitants
- Monitor social media activity & digital footprints
- Check vehicle registrations & traffic records
- Use court filings & legal records for clues
- Stake out known locations & observe behavior
Relevant Topics to Explore:
🔹 The Biggest Challenges Process Servers Face When Using Skip Tracing
Learn about the common hurdles process servers encounter when using skip tracing, from outdated information to individuals going off the grid.
🔹 How Process Servers Stay Legal While Using Skip Tracing
Understand the legal frameworks and ethical boundaries that process servers must follow when conducting skip tracing to avoid violations.
🔹 The Most Effective Skip Tracing Databases and Tools
Discover the best industry tools and databases that professional process servers rely on for accurate and efficient skip tracing.
🔹 How Long Does It Take for a Process Server to Locate Someone Using Skip Tracing?
Find out the typical timeframes for tracking down evasive individuals, including factors that speed up or slow down the process.
🔹 Legal Restrictions on Skip Tracing for Process Servers
Get insights into the legal restrictions governing skip tracing and how process servers ensure compliance while locating individuals.
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The Process Server
13416 North 32nd Street #110F, Phoenix, Arizona 85032, United States
Phone: +1 (602) 675-2333
Email: [email protected]
For further details, please refer to the Justice Courts Case Search.