Skip Tracing for Process Servers: Finding Hard-to-Locate Defendants in Georgia

One of the most common obstacles to successful process serving is a defendant who cannot be found at their last known address. This happens frequently in debt collection matters, family law cases, and civil litigation involving individuals who have reason to make themselves scarce. Skip tracing — the process of locating a person's current address — is the solution.

What Is Skip Tracing?

Skip tracing (the term comes from "skipping town") is the use of public records, proprietary databases, and investigative techniques to locate an individual's current address, employment, and contact information. Professional skip tracers access data sources that are not publicly searchable, giving them a significant advantage over attorneys trying to locate defendants through Google or social media alone.

Data Sources Used in Professional Skip Tracing

Our skip trace service uses a combination of:

• Public records: Property tax records, voter registration, court records, motor vehicle registrations
• Utility records: Current utility service addresses (where legally accessible)
• Credit header data: Current address data from credit bureau files (accessed under permissible purpose)
• Proprietary databases: Aggregated data from multiple public and commercial sources
• Social media intelligence: Profile data, location tags, and connection analysis

How Long Does Skip Trace Take?

• Standard skip trace ($75/person): Results within 24–48 hours
• Expedited skip trace ($95/person): Results within 4–8 hours

After we locate the defendant's current address, we immediately dispatch a server for the first service attempt — no additional coordination required.

When to Order Skip Trace

Order skip trace when:

• Your defendant is not at the last known address
• The last known address is more than 6 months old
• Neighbors or building management say the defendant has moved
• You have a defendant in a debt collection or collection agency matter (high baseline mobility)
• A family law matter where one party may have deliberately made themselves hard to find

What Skip Trace Cannot Guarantee

Skip trace locates defendants based on available data. If a defendant has deliberately gone off-grid — no utilities in their name, no registered vehicle, staying with friends — even the best skip trace may return limited results. In these situations, we provide a detailed report of all data searched and addresses identified, which can support a motion for service by publication if needed.