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Skip Tracing & Asset Investigations

Find out what the debtor actually has — and whether the file is worth working — before you commit.

Quick summary: Recovery depends on knowing who you’re dealing with and where their money is. Skip tracing and asset investigation aren’t optional—they’re the foundation of every collection strategy. Here’s what you need to know.

 

The Leverage Problem

You have a judgment. Or a valid debt. But the debtor isn’t easy to find, and you don’t know if they have anything worth collecting.

This is where most creditors get stuck. Without knowing where the debtor is and what assets they hold, you have no leverage. You can’t demand payment from someone you can’t locate. You can’t enforce against assets you don’t know exist.

Skip tracing and asset investigation aren’t luxuries. They’re the difference between a valid claim and an uncollectible one.

 

What Information Changes

The right investigation uncovers:

  • Debtor location. Where they are now, where they’ve been, where they’re likely to be. Contact information that actually works.
  • Employment. Who they work for, where, and whether salary can be garnished.
  • Financial assets. Bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts—what’s there and where it can be reached.
  • Real property. Houses, commercial property, land. What’s owned, what’s mortgaged, what’s available for lien or sale.
  • Business interests. Do they own part of a business? Is there an ownership stake worth pursuing?
  • Hidden transfers. Has the debtor moved money or property to avoid collection? That itself becomes actionable.

Each piece of information opens a collection path. Without it, you’re guessing.

 

Why Investigation Matters Before You Move

Pursuing a debtor costs money. Litigation costs money. Garnishment and enforcement cost money. You need to know whether the cost is justified—whether there’s actually something to collect.

A thorough investigation before litigation saves you from chasing someone who has nothing. It also shows you where the real leverage is. Sometimes the debtor has assets but won’t acknowledge them. Sometimes they’ve hidden everything. Sometimes they actually can’t pay.

Knowing which is true before you spend money matters.

 

Why Kass

Kass Shuler has spent over four decades locating debtors and identifying assets in commercial collection matters. Our attorneys know the investigation tools, the public records to search, the questions that uncover hidden information, and the legal limits on collection.

What we don’t do is waste time on dead ends. Investigation is thorough, not exploratory. It’s designed to answer the questions your collection strategy actually needs answered.

 

FAQ

Q: How long does a skip trace investigation take?

A: That depends on how hard the debtor is to find and how complex their financial situation is. Straightforward cases can be done in days. Complicated ones take longer.

Q: What if we already know where the debtor is?

A: Location is one piece. The real value is in finding assets—bank accounts, property, income. That’s where enforcement actually happens.

Q: What information can you actually find?

A: Public records (property, court filings, business registrations), financial databases, employment records, and asset searches. Some information is freely available; some requires professional tools.

Q: What if the investigation shows no assets?

A: That’s valuable information. It tells you whether pursuing litigation makes sense, or whether a different strategy (settlement, write-off, ongoing monitoring) is better.

Q: Can you help us with litigation if we find assets?

A: Yes. Investigation and litigation strategy work together. Once we know what’s there, we can pursue it effectively.

 

Bottom line: you can’t collect from someone you can’t find, and you can’t enforce against assets you don’t know exist. Establishing which of those you’re dealing with is the cheapest step in the whole process.

Place a file · (813) 229-0900 · 1604 N. Marion St., Tampa, FL 33602 · Serving creditors statewide across Florida

Related: Pre-Suit Resolution & Demand Strategies · Judgment Enforcement & Post-Judgment Recovery · All collections services