Last Updated: March 2026
Skip Tracing to Locate Individuals in BC
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person whose current whereabouts are unknown or difficult to determine. Shadow Investigations is based in British Columbia and has been conducting locate investigations throughout BC and across Canada since 1990. We offer skip tracing at a flat rate of $650 per individual with most searches completed within 1 to 14 days. The investigation uses a combination of professional database research, public records analysis, open-source intelligence, association mapping, and, where necessary, field verification to identify a person’s current address, contact leads, or other location indicators.
Shadow Investigations is based in British Columbia and has been conducting locate investigations throughout BC and across Canada since 1990. Whether you need to find a former spouse for a family law matter, locate a witness for litigation, track down a debtor, identify a beneficiary for an estate, or reconnect with a family member, a professional skip trace produces documented results through methods that are lawful, accurate, and defensible.
On This Page
- What Is Skip Tracing?
- Who Uses Skip Tracing Services?
- How Does a Skip Tracing Investigation Actually Work?
- What Makes Professional Skip Tracing Different From an Online Search?
- What Information Helps Start a Locate File?
- What Results Can You Expect?
- How Much Does Skip Tracing Cost?
- How Long Does It Take?
- Legal and Privacy Considerations
- FAQ: Skip Tracing and Locate Investigations
What Is Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing, sometimes called a locate investigation or people search, is the process of finding a person who has moved, changed contact information, stopped responding, or otherwise become difficult to reach through normal channels. The term comes from the concept of someone “skipping” from a known address, though in practice most locate files involve people who have simply moved on with their lives rather than deliberately hiding.
A professional skip trace goes well beyond what someone can accomplish with a Google search or a consumer people-finder website. It involves systematic research across multiple professional-grade databases, public records, court filings, corporate registrations, property records, and open-source intelligence, cross-referencing and verifying leads to identify the person’s most current and reliable location information.
Who Uses Skip Tracing Services?
Skip tracing serves a wide range of clients, each with a different reason for needing to locate someone. The common thread is a legitimate purpose and a situation where ordinary efforts to find the person have not worked.
Legal Professionals
Lawyers, paralegals, and process servers are among the most frequent users of skip tracing services. Common legal use cases include:
- Locating a witness who needs to be served with a subpoena or interviewed for a case
- Finding a respondent or defendant for service of legal documents
- Locating a former spouse for family law proceedings—divorce, support enforcement, or variation applications
- Identifying the current address of a debtor for collections or judgment enforcement
- Locating a beneficiary or heir for estate administration
For legal professionals, the quality of the locate matters as much as the result itself. A confirmed current address documented in a professional report is what the lawyer needs to proceed. A “possible” address from a consumer website is not sufficient for service or legal follow-up.
Individuals With Personal Reasons
Private individuals retain skip tracing services for personal matters including:
- Reconnecting with a family member they have lost contact with, such as a parent, sibling, child, or other relative
- Locating a former friend or contact who has moved and stopped responding
- Finding someone connected to a personal matter that requires resolution
- Confirming whether a person is still at a particular address before taking other steps
Businesses and Organizations
Businesses use skip tracing to locate individuals connected to commercial or operational matters:
- Finding a debtor who owes money and has moved or stopped responding
- Locating a former employee, contractor, or business partner
- Identifying the current location of a person connected to an insurance claim or legal dispute
- Verifying address information for compliance, due diligence, or regulatory purposes
Other Investigators and Professionals
Skip tracing is often a component of a larger investigation. An infidelity, custody, or claims investigation may require locating a specific individual, such as a new partner, a suspected associate, or a witness, before the primary investigation can proceed. In these cases, the skip trace is a supporting step within the broader file.
How Does a Skip Tracing Investigation Actually Work?
A professional skip trace follows a structured process designed to identify the person’s most current location as efficiently as possible. The investigation progresses through several stages, with each stage building on the information developed in the previous one.
Stage 1: Intake and Information Assessment
The investigator reviews all available information about the person, including name, date of birth, last known address, prior phone numbers, vehicle details, employer information, known associates, and any other identifying details. The quality and recency of this starting information directly affects how quickly the locate can be resolved. A file with a full name, date of birth, and a last known address from two years ago is a much stronger starting point than a first name and a city.
Stage 2: Database and Records Research
The investigator searches professional-grade databases and public records that are not available to the public through consumer websites. This is the stage where a professional skip trace diverges most significantly from a DIY online search.
Research at this stage may include:
- Cross-referencing the subject’s name and identifying details across multiple professional locate databases to identify current and historical address records
- Searching property records and land title databases for real estate connected to the individual
- Reviewing corporate and business registrations for active businesses, directorships, or registered agent addresses
- Searching court records, including civil, criminal, and family, for filings that contain current address information
- Reviewing phone directory records, and other address-linked data sources
- Identifying linked names, such as maiden names, married names, aliases, or alternate spellings, that may produce additional leads
The investigator is not simply running a name through one database and reporting the result. They are cross-referencing multiple sources, assessing which leads are most current, and eliminating outdated or conflicting information to narrow the search to the strongest leads.
Stage 3: Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
OSINT supplements the database research by reviewing publicly available online information. In a locate file, OSINT may reveal:
- Public social media profiles that indicate the person’s current city or region, such as recent posts, check-ins, geotagged photographs, or location references in their content
- Online marketplace activity (Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Kijiji) where the person is buying or selling items, as listings often include a general location
- Business profiles, professional networking accounts (LinkedIn), or industry directory listings that show current employment or professional location
- Public forum posts, community group memberships, or event registrations that suggest where the person is currently active
- Publicly available photographs with embedded location metadata
OSINT is particularly valuable when the person has moved to a new city or province and their database records have not yet caught up. A public social media post from last week showing the person in Kelowna may be more current than a database address record from two years ago.
Stage 4: Association and Pattern Analysis
Many locate files are solved not by a single record but by mapping the person’s associations and identifying patterns. The investigator examines:
- Known family members, such as a parent, sibling, or adult child whose current address is identifiable may indicate the general area where the subject has relocated
- Known associates, such as a business partner, former coworker, or close friend whose location is known may provide a geographic lead
- Shared addresses if the subject previously shared an address with another person and that person’s current address may provide a lead
- Repeated geographic patterns if the subject has moved multiple times but always within the same region, the next address is likely in that area
- Employment patterns if the subject works in a specific trade or industry, professional licensing records or union directories may indicate their current location
Association analysis is where investigative experience matters most. A skilled investigator recognizes which connections are worth pursuing and can distinguish between a promising lead and a dead end more efficiently than automated tools.
Stage 5: Field Verification (When Necessary)
In some files, the research produces a strong lead, such as a likely current address, that needs to be confirmed before the client can act on it. Field verification involves the investigator or an associate attending the location to determine whether the subject appears to reside there.
Field verification may involve:
- Observing the address to confirm the subject’s vehicle is present or that the subject is seen at the location
- Checking for indicators that the subject lives there, such as mail, name on a buzzer panel, vehicle in the driveway
- Conducting a brief period of surveillance to confirm the subject’s connection to the address
Field verification is not required in every file. Many locates are resolved through research alone, but when the client needs a confirmed address, particularly for legal service or court proceedings, field verification provides the additional certainty that database research alone may not deliver. Field verification beyond the flat-rate locate is billed at standard surveillance rates ($75 per hour plus $0.79 per kilometre) if required.
Stage 6: Reporting
The investigator delivers a written report documenting the findings. The report identifies the strongest current lead (typically a current address), supporting information that corroborates the lead, the sources and methods used, and the investigator’s assessment of the reliability of the result. If the locate did not produce a confirmed address, the report documents the strongest leads developed, what was ruled out, and any recommendations for further steps.
What Makes Professional Skip Tracing Different From an Online Search?
Consumer people-search websites, the kind that appear when you Google someone’s name, aggregate publicly available data and present it with minimal verification. They often show outdated addresses, list multiple possible matches without distinguishing which is correct, and provide no assessment of whether the information is current or reliable. They also cannot cross-reference professional databases, court records, or property records that are not part of their data sources.
A professional skip trace conducted by a licensed private investigator differs in several key ways:
- Access to professional databases: Licensed investigators have access to subscription databases, records systems, and information sources. These professional tools provide deeper, more current, and more accurate information than consumer websites.
- Cross-referencing and verification: The investigator does not simply report what a single database shows. They cross-reference multiple sources, compare dates, assess consistency, and identify which lead is most likely to be current. A consumer website may show five addresses. The investigator determines which one the person actually lives at now.
- OSINT and association analysis: A professional investigation incorporates online intelligence and relationship mapping that automated tools do not perform. The investigator reviews social media, marketplace activity, business connections, and family associations to develop leads that records alone may not reveal.
- Professional judgment: An experienced investigator recognizes patterns, identifies promising leads, and avoids dead ends based on years of locate experience. This is the difference between running a search and conducting an investigation.
- Documented, reliable results: The result is delivered in a professional report suitable for legal use, court filings, or formal follow-up, not a printout from a website with a disclaimer that the information may not be accurate.
For casual curiosity, a consumer website may be sufficient. For any situation where accuracy matters, such as legal service, debt recovery, family law, estate administration, or any matter where acting on a wrong address wastes time and money, a professional skip trace is the appropriate investment.
What Information Helps Start a Locate File?
The more identifying information you can provide at intake, the faster and more efficiently the locate can be conducted. The most useful starting information includes:
- Essential: Full legal name (including middle name if known), date of birth or approximate age, and last known address. With these three pieces of information, most skip traces can proceed efficiently.
- Very helpful: Prior phone numbers, email addresses, vehicle details (make, model, colour, plate), known employer or occupation, and a recent photograph. Each of these provides an additional avenue for research.
- Useful context: Names of family members, former partners, close associates, or business connections. Known aliases, maiden names, or alternate spellings. Social media usernames or online profiles. The approximate date the information was last known to be accurate. The reason the person may have moved or become difficult to find.
A file can sometimes move forward with less, as even a name and a city may be enough if the name is distinctive. But common names with minimal identifying details require more research time, and some files may not be resolvable if the starting information is too thin. The investigator will assess the available information during the consultation and give you an honest assessment of the likelihood of success before you commit.
What Results Can You Expect?
The outcome of a skip trace depends on the quality of the starting information, how long the person has been out of contact, and how traceable their movements have been. In most cases, the investigation produces one of the following outcomes:
- Confirmed current address: The strongest outcome. The investigator has identified the person’s current address through multiple corroborating sources, and in some cases has confirmed the address through field verification. This result is suitable for legal service, court filings, or formal follow-up.
- Strong lead with high confidence: The research has identified a likely current address supported by recent data from multiple sources, but field verification has not been conducted. The investigator assesses the lead as reliable based on the evidence. This is the most common outcome for flat-rate locates.
- Multiple leads requiring further investigation: The research has produced two or three possible addresses or locations, but the available evidence does not clearly indicate which is most current. The report documents each lead with the supporting evidence and an assessment of reliability. The client may choose to authorize field verification on the strongest lead.
- Partial results: The investigation has identified useful information, such as a city or region, an employment lead, a family connection, but has not produced a specific current address. The report documents what was found and recommends next steps.
- Unable to locate: In a small percentage of files, the person cannot be located with the available information and resources. This may occur when the starting information is very old, the person has moved internationally, the person has deliberately concealed their trail, or the available records do not contain sufficient current data. The report documents what was searched, what was ruled out, and why the investigation reached its limits.
The flat rate of $650 covers the full investigation regardless of outcome. You are paying for professional investigative time and resources, not for a guaranteed result. In most cases, the investigation produces a usable result. In the cases where it does not, you receive a documented report showing what was searched and what was found, which may still be useful for your purposes.
How Much Does Skip Tracing Cost?
At Shadow Investigations, skip tracing is offered at a flat rate of $650 per individual. This is an all-inclusive fee covering the full investigation, including database research, public records searches, OSINT, association analysis, and the final report. The flat rate applies regardless of the complexity of the file or the outcome.
The flat rate does not include field verification, which is an optional additional step. If field verification is needed to confirm that the subject is at a specific address, it is billed at standard surveillance rates ($75 per hour plus $0.79 per kilometre). Most locates do not require field verification, but it is available when the client needs an investigator to attend the address to confirm the subject resides there, or to monitor a location where the subject is likely to appear and follow them to confirm their current address.
For context:
- A consumer people-search website might cost $20–$50 and produce unverified, potentially outdated results with no professional assessment
- A professional skip trace at $650 produces cross-referenced, professionally assessed results from multiple sources, delivered in a documented report suitable for legal use
- The difference is the difference between a guess and an answer. For any situation where accuracy matters, the professional investigation is the appropriate investment.
All consultations are free and carry no obligation. If the investigator assesses during the consultation that the available starting information is unlikely to produce a useful result, they will tell you before you commit to the fee.
How Long Does Skip Tracing Take?
Most skip tracing investigations at Shadow Investigations are completed within 1 to 14 days. The timeline depends on:
- The quality and recency of the starting information, as a file with a full name, date of birth, and a recent address may be resolved in one to three days
- The complexity of the search, as a person who has moved once within BC is typically easier to locate than someone who has moved multiple times across provinces
- Whether the person has a distinctive or common name, as common names require more research to distinguish the correct individual
- Whether OSINT and association analysis are needed to supplement database research
- Whether field verification is requested, as this adds time for scheduling and conducting the observation
If there is urgency, for example a legal deadline for service, let the investigator know during the consultation. Priority handling may be possible depending on the circumstances.
Legal and Privacy Considerations
Skip tracing investigations in British Columbia must comply with BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and the Criminal Code of Canada.
Under PIPA, a private investigation firm may collect personal information without the subject’s consent when it is reasonable to expect that collection with consent would compromise the investigation and the collection is reasonable for an investigation or proceeding. A locate investigation conducted for a legitimate purpose, such as legal service, debt recovery, family law, estate administration, or another lawful reason, falls within this framework.
The legal boundaries include:
- The investigator uses lawful databases, public records, and open-source information, not hacking, social engineering, or unauthorized access to private accounts
- The investigator cannot access the subject’s email, social media accounts, or messaging platforms
- The investigator cannot obtain financial records, medical records, or tax information without proper legal authority
- The investigator cannot impersonate the subject or misrepresent their identity to third parties to obtain restricted information
- Field verification must be conducted from public places and cannot involve trespassing, harassment, or improper surveillance
- The investigation must be conducted for a legitimate purpose, as a private investigator cannot locate someone for the purpose of harassment, stalking, or any other unlawful activity
That last point is important. A reputable investigation firm will assess the legitimacy of the request during intake. If the purpose of the locate appears improper, or if there are red flags suggesting the client intends to use the information to harm, harass, or stalk the subject, the firm will decline the file. This protects the subject, the investigator, and the client.
Frequently Asked Questions
Skip tracing at Shadow Investigations is a flat $650 per individual. This covers the full investigation including database research, online public records, OSINT, association analysis, and the final report. Field verification, if needed, is billed separately at $75 per hour plus $0.79 per kilometre.
Most searches are completed within 1 to 14 days. Files with strong starting information (full name, date of birth, recent address) are often resolved in one to three days. More complex files or those with limited starting information may take longer.
In a small percentage of cases, the person cannot be located with the available information. The flat rate still applies because you are paying for professional investigative time and resources, not a guaranteed outcome. You receive a documented report showing what was searched, what was ruled out, and any partial leads that were developed.
Yes. A licensed private investigator can conduct a locate investigation using lawful databases, public records, OSINT, and field verification. The investigation must comply with PIPA, PIPEDA, and the Criminal Code, and must be conducted for a legitimate purpose.
Yes. Shadow Investigations is based in British Columbia but conducts locate investigations across all Canadian provinces and territories. The professional databases and records sources used are national in scope. If the person has moved outside BC, the investigation can follow the trail.
International locates are more complex and are not always resolvable through the same methods used for domestic searches. If you believe the subject has moved outside Canada, discuss the circumstances during the consultation. The investigator will assess whether the file is likely to produce results and whether additional resources or methods would be needed.
Skip tracing focuses on finding a person’s current location, meaning where they are now. A background check focuses on gathering information about a person’s history, associations, criminal record, and other contextual details. The two services address different questions, though they sometimes overlap. A locate file may incorporate background research as part of the search process.
A full name alone may be sufficient if the name is distinctive. Common names such as John Smith or David Lee require additional identifying information, including date of birth, last known city, age range, or other details, to distinguish the correct individual. The investigator will assess during the consultation whether the available information is likely to be sufficient.
Yes. Skip tracing is frequently used to locate individuals for service of legal documents. The investigation produces a documented current address that can then be used by a process server. If you need both the locate and the service, let the investigator know during the consultation.
No. The investigation is conducted through research and records review. The subject is not contacted or notified during the locate process. If field verification is conducted, it is done discreetly from a public vantage point.
Yes. Locating family members is one of the most common personal uses of skip tracing. If you have basic identifying information, such as a name, an approximate age, or a last known city, the investigation can proceed. These files are handled with particular sensitivity given the personal nature of the matter.
Consumer people-search websites use a limited subset of publicly available data. A professional skip trace uses professional-grade databases, cross-references multiple sources, incorporates OSINT and association analysis, and applies investigative judgment. Many files that fail through consumer websites are resolved through a professional investigation because the tools and methods are fundamentally different.
Yes. All consultations are free, confidential, and carry no obligation. The investigator will assess the available information, give you an honest evaluation of the likelihood of success, and explain the process before you commit.
Related Knowledge Pages
- Locating a Person for Legal Purposes in BC
- How to Find Someone Who Doesn’t Want to Be Found
- Skip Tracing in BC — Frequently Asked Questions
Related Articles
- 7 Steps to Hiring a Private Investigator
- What Can a Private Investigator Do and Not Do in Canada in 2026?
Need Help Locating Someone?
If you need to locate someone in British Columbia or anywhere in Canada, contact Shadow Investigations by phone at 604-657-4499 or through our confidential inquiry form below.
Skip tracing is a flat $650 per individual, with most searches completed within 1 to 14 days. We will assess your starting information, tell you honestly whether the file is likely to produce a result, and explain exactly what to expect. All consultations are free, confidential, and carry no obligation.
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