Skip tracing is a term commonly used in the field of private investigation, law enforcement and debt collection. It refers to the process of locating individuals who have moved or are intentionally hiding, often to avoid legal obligations, such as debts, court appearances, or other responsibilities. It also refers to locating long-lost friends, relatives, birth parents, siblings, or anyone else you want to find.
It is called Skip Tracing because “Skip” refers to the person who has “skipped town” and doesn’t want to be found and “Tracing” refers to tracing the steps and gathering clues in order to locate the individual.
With the wealth of information on the internet amateur sleuths are sometimes able to find information on their subject through online search engines and social media as well as address and phone number directories. However, most people who have gone "off the grid," so to speak, are not easy to find. So, if your search efforts are not yielding results, consider hiring a professional private investigator. These professionals have access to specialized databases and techniques that can aid in locating individuals.