Legal Definitions - skiptracing agency

A skiptracing agency is a specialized service dedicated to locating individuals or assets that are difficult to find through conventional means. These agencies employ various investigative techniques, public records, and databases to track down people who may have moved without leaving forwarding information, or to uncover hidden or forgotten assets. They are typically engaged when there is a legal, financial, or administrative need to establish contact or recover property.

Here are a few examples of how a skiptracing agency might be utilized:

• Imagine a small business that needs to serve a lawsuit to a former client who owes a significant amount for services rendered. The client has moved out of their last known office, disconnected their phone, and closed their previous email account. A skiptracing agency could be hired to find the client's new address or contact information, enabling the business to proceed with the legal action.

  This illustrates the term because the agency is tasked with locating an individual who has become difficult to find, specifically for the purpose of initiating a legal process.

• Consider a situation where an executor is managing an estate after someone has passed away. The will names several beneficiaries, but one distant relative, who is entitled to a portion of the inheritance, has not been in contact for over a decade, and their last known address is no longer valid. The executor would hire a skiptracing agency to locate this missing beneficiary so that the estate can be properly distributed according to the will's terms.

  This example demonstrates a skiptracing agency's role in finding a person for the purpose of fulfilling a legal obligation related to an inheritance.

• A property management company discovers significant damage to an apartment unit after a tenant unexpectedly moved out without providing a forwarding address or new contact details. To pursue compensation for the damages, the company needs to locate the former tenant. A skiptracing agency could be employed to track down the tenant's current residence or employment information, allowing the property manager to initiate a claim or legal action.

  This scenario highlights the agency's function in finding an individual whose whereabouts are unknown, in order to address a financial liability or claim.