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Skip Tracing Tools
There are many skip tracing tools available to today's private investigator. They can range from something as simple as the telephone book to in-depth and detailed computerized database searches. They also rely on personal means to reach the locate they are seeking. This article will look at some of the skip tracing tools investigators will use when performing a search. While the list is certainly not exhaustive, these are generally the first skip tracing tools used in the way of a search.
Local Public Records - The Courthouse
Investigators will have at their disposal through their in house databases a list of every county courthouse and city record that they can search by hand to find a locate. They also know precisely how to access and use the information they find much better than the layperson. In the majority of the cases, an address can be found or additional leads procured by using the courthouse as a skip tracing tool. Records found include criminal records, small claims made, voter and vehicle registration, probate information, real estate or property information, and marriage licenses. Any of these items will lead to an address lead for the investigator.
State Public Records
Investigators use state records as a valuable skip tracing tool. The key thing they look for here will be anything related to vehicle or driving license records, or any additional professional licensing the locate may have. State records will give them quick access.
Federal Public Records
Federal resources as a skip tracing tool are invaluable. This is because the federal government keeps records on a variety of things the locate may not be aware of. Some of these include airplane pilot information, boat owner information, and prison information. Also if the locate is a military personnel federal records are a goldmine in terms of a skip tracing tool.
Family Contact
The family of the locate is one of the most valuable skip tracing tools. Through any of the above searches, the investigator will have invariably come up with leads in terms of relatives if they have not found the actual locate. These are indirect sources the investigator can contact in terms of the skip trace. More times than not at least one family member is aware of the locate's whereabouts and it is the job of the investigator to get this information out of them. Sometimes it can be as simple as offering a financial reward for information. A good investigator will have developed quality interviewing skills and the proper approaches to use the family as one of their skip tracing tools.
Whatever method an investigator employs for his skip tracing tools, he will invariably come up with leads along the way. One method is not exhaustive, and these methods combined with database and computer software tracing are well-established skip tracing tools that will give the investigator success.
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