Nationwide Diligent Search Services When Skip Tracing and Process Serving Have Failed

When ordinary Skip Tracing services fail to locate a person and repeated attempts at Process Serving are unsuccessful, a more comprehensive investigation may be necessary. Our Nationwide Diligent Search Services are designed specifically for attorneys, law firms, process servers, fiduciaries, financial institutions, businesses, and individuals who have exhausted conventional methods of locating a defendant, witness, heir, beneficiary, debtor, former tenant, family member, or other difficult-to-find individual.

A Diligent Search is not simply another database search, automated report, or repeated attempt at a previously unsuccessful address. It is a deeper, broader, and more methodical investigative process undertaken when the subject cannot be found through ordinary skip tracing resources, known addresses have produced no results, and traditional service of process efforts have reached a dead end.

Experienced Diligent Search professionals examine available information, identify inconsistencies and gaps, develop new investigative leads, expand the scope of research, and pursue additional sources of information that may help locate the subject or establish that reasonable efforts to find the individual have been exhausted.

Diligent Search Services Begin When Ordinary Locate Efforts Have Failed

Skip Tracing is often the first step used to identify a possible current address or obtain new contact information. Process Servers may then attempt service at the addresses developed through those searches. Unfortunately, some individuals cannot be located through conventional resources. Others may have relocated repeatedly, provided inaccurate information, severed ties with known associates, concealed their whereabouts, or intentionally avoided service of process.

When Skip Tracing has failed, addresses cannot be confirmed, and repeated attempts at Process Serving have been unsuccessful, simply repeating the same searches or returning to the same locations may accomplish very little. A professional Diligent Search expands the investigation beyond ordinary locate efforts and examines the subject's history, relationships, records, geographic connections, and other available information to develop new leads and determine whether additional avenues of inquiry remain.

A Comprehensive Investigation Focused on Finding the Person Others Could Not Locate

Every Diligent Search assignment is different. The scope of the investigation depends upon the information available, the searches previously performed, the addresses already investigated, the circumstances surrounding the subject's disappearance, and the requirements of the underlying legal matter.

The investigative process may involve reviewing and verifying previous Skip Trace results, examining prior Process Serving attempts, researching historical and possible current addresses, identifying relatives and associates, reviewing court and public records, researching correctional and military information when applicable, examining available property and motor vehicle records, developing new contact information, and pursuing additional investigative leads.

The objective is straightforward: conduct a thorough, systematic, and good-faith investigation to locate the subject, confirm the person's current whereabouts when possible, or document the reasonable investigative efforts undertaken when the individual cannot be found.

What Is an Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry?

When a comprehensive Diligent Search has been completed and the subject still cannot be located, an Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry may be requested or required. The affidavit is a sworn document that identifies the searches, inquiries, investigative efforts, and other reasonable steps undertaken in an attempt to locate the individual.

An Affidavit of Diligent Search should reflect the actual investigation performed. It should provide a clear and organized account of the efforts undertaken, the sources researched, the leads pursued, and the results obtained. Depending upon the jurisdiction and circumstances of the case, the affidavit may be submitted to a court in support of a request involving alternative service, substituted service, constructive service, service by publication, or other judicial relief.

A comprehensive Diligent Search and Inquiry may include investigative efforts such as:

  • Attempting direct contact at different times and on different days when appropriate
  • Contacting known relatives, neighbors, employers, associates, and other potential sources of information
  • Examining previous Skip Trace results and unsuccessful Process Serving attempts
  • Identifying, researching, and verifying known, prior, possible, and newly developed addresses
  • Obtaining and reviewing available Department of Motor Vehicles records when legally permissible
  • Researching correctional facilities, jails, prisons, and inmate records
  • Researching military and military-related records when applicable
  • Searching civil, criminal, probate, family, and federal court records
  • Searching public records, proprietary investigative databases, and other professional resources
  • Identifying relatives, associates, employers, businesses, property interests, and other connections that may produce new investigative leads
  • Verifying telephone numbers, electronic contact information, and other available identifying information
  • Utilizing professional investigative methods and Skip Tracing resources to develop and pursue additional leads

When the Subject Is Found, We Provide Answers. When the Subject Is Not Found, We Document the Search.

The ultimate objective of every Diligent Search is to locate the subject and provide reliable information that allows the client to move forward. When the individual is located, available information can be reviewed and developed to help confirm the subject's current whereabouts and provide actionable results.

However, not every person can be found. When a comprehensive investigation has been completed and the subject's whereabouts remain unknown, the investigative work performed becomes critically important. A properly prepared Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry provides a detailed account of the reasonable efforts undertaken and documents the extent of the investigation for the client, attorney, or court.

Because Diligent Search Services require substantially more research, investigative analysis, verification, lead development, and professional time than an ordinary Skip Trace, these assignments are generally more extensive and may involve additional fees based upon the complexity of the matter and the scope of work required.

Why Diligent Search Services Matter

Attorneys, courts, process servers, fiduciaries, and other legal professionals may need to demonstrate that meaningful and reasonable efforts were undertaken to locate a person before proceeding with certain legal remedies. A superficial database search or a handful of unsuccessful Process Serving attempts may not adequately establish the depth of investigation necessary for the circumstances of the case.

Professional Diligent Search Services provide a systematic approach to investigating the subject's whereabouts, pursuing available leads, documenting investigative efforts, and helping clients demonstrate that reasonable measures were undertaken to find the individual.

Who Uses Nationwide Diligent Search Services?

Our Nationwide Diligent Search Services assist attorneys, law firms, paralegals, process servers, probate professionals, fiduciaries, financial institutions, property managers, businesses, government agencies, and individuals who need professional assistance locating someone whose whereabouts remain unknown after ordinary search efforts have failed.

Diligent Search Services are frequently requested in matters involving defendants who cannot be served, missing witnesses, unknown or missing heirs, beneficiaries, debtors, former tenants, absent family members, probate proceedings, estate administration, family law matters, civil litigation, foreclosure proceedings, and other cases requiring extensive efforts to locate a person.

Nationwide Diligent Search Professionals Prepared to Take Over Where Others Stopped

Below you can access professional Skip Tracers and Diligent Search specialists who provide comprehensive investigative services throughout the United States. These professionals assist clients with difficult locate assignments, previously unsuccessful Skip Traces, failed Process Serving attempts, complex investigations, and matters requiring detailed documentation of the efforts undertaken to find an individual.

Whether you need to locate someone who has repeatedly avoided detection, develop new information after previous searches produced no results, verify a subject's whereabouts, or obtain documentation of a comprehensive Diligent Search and Inquiry, experienced professionals are available to help move your matter forward.

Get Started With Nationwide Diligent Search Services

Have Skip Tracing and Process Serving efforts failed? Do you need a deeper investigation, assistance locating a difficult-to-find individual, pricing information, or answers about Diligent Search Services? Complete the form below to connect with a Diligent Search professional prepared to review your matter, evaluate the information already developed, and begin pursuing additional investigative leads.



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Nationwide Access to Comprehensive Diligent Search Services

Select a state below to connect with experienced Diligent Search professionals who specialize in difficult locate assignments after conventional Skip Tracing, address searches, and Process Serving efforts have failed. These professionals conduct deeper investigations, develop and pursue new leads, and utilize additional investigative resources to locate individuals whose current whereabouts remain unknown.