Legal professionals are often tasked with serving legal documents to a person. This might involve locating the person if their current address is unknown. This process of locating someone is known as skip tracing. Skip tracing can be a challenging, time-consuming task, but it’s essential for delivering legal notices, serving subpoenas, and completing other legal procedures properly. In this article, we’ll discuss how to effectively skip-trace a person to locate them for a process service.
Gather All the Information You Can
To locate someone, you will need as much information as possible about the person you’re looking for. This could include their full name, date of birth, address, phone number, email address, or even their social media handles. You can start by reviewing the original court documents and any information about the person found there, including previous addresses, employment history, or next of kin. You can also check online platforms like social media, public records, or even paid databases to find more comprehensive information about the person.
Utilize Professional Skip Tracing Services
If you’re unable to locate someone on your own, consider using a professional skip-tracing service. These services have access to advanced tools and databases that can help you track down the person you’re looking for. Skip-tracing companies use a combination of public data, private records, and other sources to track down people. They can quickly locate individuals who have moved, are evading service, or have deliberately gone “off the grid.”
Use Alternative Channels of Communication
In some cases, you may not be able to serve legal notice through traditional methods, such as in-person or through postal mail. To tackle this issue, try alternative channels of communication that may be less expected or less frequently used. For example, you could try sending a text message, email, or even a social media message. If the person has changed addresses or phone numbers, they may still use the same email address or social media account for communication.
Be Persistent and Thorough
Skip tracing can take a considerable amount of time and effort. Even with the right information, you may still face obstacles and challenges along the way. That’s why it’s essential to be persistent and thorough in your quest. Keep track of all the information you’ve gathered and any leads that you may have identified along the way. Continuously follow up on leads and try different methods until you succeed in locating the person.
Follow the Law
Finally, it is crucial to follow the law when skip-tracing a person. This means following the rules and regulations set in your jurisdiction for serving legal documents. A legal professionals should only serve the person they are authorized to, and they should not use any illegal or unethical means to locate or serve the person. Make sure to consult with a legal expert or a process server to ensure that you’re following the right path.
Skip tracing can be a daunting task, but for legal purposes, it is necessary to locate someone for process service. By gathering all the information possible, using skip-tracing services, utilizing alternative communication channels, being persistent and thorough, and following the law, you can effectively locate the person you’re looking for. By following these steps, you can save time and resources while ensuring that legal documents are correctly served.
Please note that Lafayette Process Servers LLC does not provide legal advice, and their reference guide should not be considered a replacement for seeking counsel from a qualified attorney who is familiar with the laws in your area regarding your situation. If you require personalized guidance, it is imperative to promptly reach out to a competent lawyer. Moreover, it is important to keep in mind that process server regulations may vary by state, so it is necessary to have precise information before taking any action.