Locating someone for service of process isn’t always straightforward.
Some individuals are easy to find, while others:
- Actively dodge service
- Use fake addresses
- Disappear entirely
So, how long does it take to find someone using skip tracing?
The answer depends on:
- Data accuracy
- Legal restrictions
- The individual’s evasiveness
Let’s break down the timeline based on different scenarios.
1. The Fast Cases: 24 Hours or Less
Who Falls Into This Category?
- People with stable addresses and jobs
- Individuals who recently moved and have updated records
- Targets with active social media or public digital footprints
- People who aren’t actively avoiding service
How It’s Done:
- Real-time phone & address verification – Using tools like Skip Genie, IDI Core, or TLOxp
- Property & utility records – Confirming the most recent address change
- Employer searches – Tracking where they work to serve them at their job
- Social media tracking – Checking recent posts, check-ins, or tagged locations
Estimated Time:
A few hours to a single day if the data is fresh and accurate.
2. The Moderate Cases: 2–7 Days
Who Falls Into This Category?
- Individuals who moved recently but haven’t erased their digital presence
- People using aliases, old addresses, or outdated contact info
- Those with limited social media activity or locked-down profiles
- Individuals who changed phone numbers but are still traceable
How It’s Done:
- Utility & leasing records – Finding the last known active address
- Relative & known associate tracing – Checking where family members live
- Cross-referencing court filings – Divorce cases, bankruptcies, or lawsuits often list new addresses
- Checking alternative contact methods – Email searches, workplace records, or business ownership lookups
Estimated Time:
2–7 days if deeper research is needed.
3. The Hard Cases: 1–4 Weeks
Who Falls Into This Category?
- ✔ People who frequently move or use temporary housing (Airbnb, motels, couch surfing)
- ✔ Individuals using P.O. boxes, ghost addresses, or drop services
- ✔ People hiding from debt collectors, lawsuits, or law enforcement
- ✔ Subjects with expunged or sealed records, making public records less useful
How It’s Done:
- Surveillance & stakeouts – Monitoring known locations for activity
- DMV & vehicle registration tracking – If legally accessible
- Bankruptcy & foreclosure monitoring – Financial distress often forces a location change
- Employment verification – Finding where they work if home service fails
- Indirect contact tracking – Looking at relatives, associates, or frequent connections
Estimated Time:
1–4 weeks if the subject is actively dodging or moving frequently.
4. The Extreme Cases: 1–6 Months (or More)
Who Falls Into This Category?
- Professional evaders – Using fraudulent identities, fake documents, or legal loopholes
- Fugitives or individuals under witness protection
- People who left the country or live off the grid
- Subjects who avoid all digital footprints (no phone, no social media, cash-only lifestyle)
How It’s Done:
- Deep asset & offshore records searches – Tracing hidden financial ties
- Border crossing & travel pattern analysis – Identifying international movement
- Hiring private investigators – Using physical surveillance & fieldwork
- Leveraging court orders – If applicable, obtaining subpoenas for bank/utility records
- Following indirect leads – Tracking ex-spouses, children, or legal disputes
Estimated Time:
1–6 months+, depending on the level of evasion.
Final Takeaway: Some People Are Found Fast, Others Take Time
Skip tracing can be quick—but evasive individuals require patience and strategy.
Average Timeframe Based on Difficulty:
- 24 Hours or Less – If the individual isn’t hiding and has fresh data
- 2–7 Days – If moderate tracking is needed (relatives, employment, social media, etc.)
- 1–4 Weeks – If the person is dodging service or frequently moving
- 1–6 Months+ – For serious evasion cases, fugitives, or international skips
Testimonials from Our Clients
What Clients Say About Our People-First Approach
Excellent work. Right to the point with instructions what to send them and what their procedure was. Had my papers served right after the holiday weekend and a copy of the declaration was emailed to me and one was mailed led to the court. No surprises. I’d recommend them to others. Oh! Before I forget, what I like the most was that they answered the phone both times I called. This is rare nowadays.
I contacted this particular process server office and spoke with the gentleman named Justin. Justin was extremely helpful and patient helping me through the process. I found it extremely impressive how well he communicated and responded so quickly to all my phone calls, emails or concerns.I highly recommend this business.
The process server who helped us was Justin, he was on time with everything and professional during the whole situation, and served my ex wife in a timely manner! Highly recommended.
The best process service in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Very professional staff, people friendly, and detail-oriented. Addressed all my concerns and treated me like a "human" not an object.-Thank to all the team members at "The Process Server" for such an amazing job! They care about people.
Worked with me on a difficult serve, last minute changes, high traffic area delivery. Good communication skills, professional, efficient and tactful. Would use them again!!! Many Thanks !!!
I cannot stress how excellent this process server was. When the sheriff's office told me it could take weeks to months to service, I immediately called these guys and they got it done the next day. Cannot tell you how safe i feel now thanks to this wonderful company. Thank you!
Justin and his server processer are fabulous and professional. My gratitude to all, who had participated in this legal matter.
I’ve had to use them over the years and always had the best customer service. Great communication and great timely manner. Highly recommended!
The Process Server was outstanding. They responded quickly to our request, including making sure our documents were served the next morning. Their customer service was excellent and really compassionate about our situation. They quickly uploaded proof that the documents were served to AZPoint. I would definitely use them again! Thank you!
Justin is the office staff member that did the coordination and John is the staff member that performed the actual document serving.Both super great individuals. Both professional. Both communicated extremely well. I received a follow up phone call from Justin (after the serve) to ensure I filed my paperwork with the court (given that this was a rush serve situation). I also received a confirmation call from John after the serve was completed, informing me how the serve was received.I would definitely use them again! You have to be careful what process servers you use. These guys are really good and professional. —Todd
Tried using a different process server prior to them to save some cash, but the other company struggled every step of the way from the very beginning. Decided to reach out to this company and they handled everything very smoothly and were able to get my person served quick. Communicated along the way, answered all of my questions and overall made me feel much more at ease over the whole situation. Will be using them more in the future and have already recommended them to anyone who needs a process server
They were amazing! And when they say fast service they mean FAST! Process server John was proficient and got the job done in less than a week. I communicated with Justin the whole way and he was amazing on letting me know what steps I should take next! I really appreciate them and will for sure use them if I ever need any paperwork served!
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We're here to assist you with any legal support services you may require. Although our main office is located in Phoenix, we have dedicated local teams to handle all location-specific tasks efficiently. Here's how you can get in touch with us.
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.