The term "skip tracing" comes from the phrase "skipping town" — the act of locating someone who has deliberately or inadvertently become hard to find. It's one of the most requested services at Birds Eye Investigations, and one of the most misunderstood.
Skip tracing is not just typing someone's name into Google. A professional skip trace draws on a combination of proprietary databases, public records, utility records, social media analysis, vehicle registration data, and OSINT (open-source intelligence) techniques to build a comprehensive picture of where a person is and how to reach them.
Who uses skip tracing?
Family law attorneys use it to locate parties who have evaded service of process in divorce and custody cases. Civil litigators use it to find defendants who have gone dark after a judgment. Landlords use it to locate former tenants who left owing rent. Private individuals use it to reconnect with lost family members or to locate someone who owes them money.
What information do we need from you?
The more we start with, the faster and more accurate the result. A full legal name and date of birth are the minimum. A last known address, employer, or vehicle description significantly narrows the search. Social Security numbers are not required but accelerate certain database searches.
How long does it take?
Most skip traces are completed within 24 to 72 hours. Complex cases involving subjects who have deliberately obscured their identity — using PO boxes, aliases, or prepaid phones — take longer but are far from impossible.
Is skip tracing legal in Tennessee?
Yes, when conducted by a licensed investigator within the bounds of applicable state and federal law. At Birds Eye Investigations, we are fully licensed in Tennessee and operate strictly within legal parameters. We do not access private accounts, intercept communications, or use methods that violate the Driver's Privacy Protection Act or the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
If you need someone located — for legal proceedings, personal reasons, or business matters — contact us for a free confidential consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is skip tracing different from a people-search website?
People-search sites pull from data that is often old, incomplete or mixed up between people with similar names. Skip tracing by a licensed PI agency cross-checks several sources, confirms the address is current, and can include field verification. The result is a location you can act on, backed by notes that explain how it was confirmed.
Can skip tracing find someone who has left Tennessee?
Often, yes. Records and online activity follow people across state lines, so a current out-of-state address can usually be identified with enough starting information. Birds Eye can confirm the new location and, if service is needed, help coordinate with a qualified server where the person now lives. Results depend on the case, and no search can be guaranteed.
Is skip tracing used before serving court papers?
Frequently. When a defendant or witness has moved or is avoiding contact, skip tracing finds a current address or workplace so service can be attempted. Because Birds Eye is both a PI agency and a process serving company, the same team can locate the person and complete service, which avoids delays from passing the file between vendors.
What happens if skip tracing only turns up an old address?
An old address is still a lead. Birds Eye may check it in the field, talk with neighbors where appropriate, or follow related records to the next location. If the person still cannot be found, the documented search can help your attorney show the court that a diligent effort was made before asking about alternative methods of service.
