Australia-wide · Licensed · Cross-verified
Skip Tracing Services Australia
Licensed skip tracing across Australia, led by a former Police Detective with 20+ years’ experience. Cross-verified, court-ready location results for law firms, finance providers, insolvency practitioners, businesses and private clients.
What is skip tracing?
Skip tracing is the lawful process of locating a person whose current address or contact details are unknown, outdated or deliberately concealed. It goes well beyond a single online search or one database record: our investigators assess the known identifiers, examine lawful information sources and cross-check every potential match before we confirm a location.
We do more than hand over the first database match. A name sitting against an address does not prove the person currently lives there — addresses age, numbers change and people share names. Every matter starts with a legitimate purpose and a clearly defined scope, and every result comes in a concise written report stating the level of confidence attached to our findings.
The process
How our skip tracing process works
Purpose & case assessment
We confirm who is requesting the search, why the person needs to be located and how the information will be used, then set the appropriate level of investigation.
Identity & information review
We examine the identifiers you supply — name, date of birth, previous addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, known associates, business interests and previous employment.
Investigative research
Databases, public records, corporate registers and lawful open-source intelligence, to establish whether a record genuinely relates to the person you are seeking.
Cross-verification
Potential findings are tested against multiple identifiers wherever possible. Where we cannot corroborate a result, we say so plainly.
Reporting
A written report sets out the relevant findings and our assessment. Where further work would materially improve the result, we explain the options before undertaking it.
Who we help
Who we locate people for
Skip tracing helps locate debtors, defendants, witnesses, beneficiaries, former directors, family members and other individuals wherever a client holds a legitimate and lawful reason for the enquiry.
Law firms & legal professionals
Reliable location information to progress civil, commercial and family-law matters — defendants, respondents, witnesses, former clients and parties requiring service.
Finance, insolvency & debt recovery
Locate borrowers, debtors, guarantors and former directors, verify residential information, identify interstate movement and progress authorised asset recovery.
Probate & estate matters
Locate beneficiaries, executors, family members and other parties relevant to estate administration.
Businesses & employers
Locate former employees, contractors, directors and other parties connected with legitimate commercial, employment or legal matters.
Private clients
Assistance wherever a genuine and lawful reason exists, including certain family, legal and welfare matters. We assess the purpose of every search before accepting an instruction.
Interstate & national matters
Every state and territory, coordinated from Melbourne by a single case director — one point of contact and one reporting process.
Why The Find Group
Why choose The Find Group for skip tracing.
A database match is not a verified skip trace. We examine the information collectively and establish how strongly the evidence supports the reported result.
Investigation, not just data
We analyse potential findings rather than passing on the first database result.
Cross-verification
Wherever reasonably possible, we test findings against multiple identifiers and sources before we report them.
Legal and commercial experience
We work daily with professional clients who need clear information, defined scope and reliable reporting.
Australia-wide capability
Enquiries coordinated across every jurisdiction, so interstate matters deal with one provider and one reporting process.
Clear reporting
Reports separate confirmed findings, strong indicators and information that remains inconclusive.
Confidential case management
Case information is restricted to the authorised personnel managing or conducting the investigation.
Packages
Which skip trace is right for you?
Not every matter needs the same depth of investigation. We recommend the level of enquiry based on the information available, the purpose of the search and how firmly the result needs to stand up. Indicative packages only; we confirm final scope and fees before any work begins.
Quick trace
Straightforward matters where reliable identifiers already exist. Core database enquiries, address indicators, basic contact verification and concise written findings.
Standard trace
Legal, finance and commercial matters needing greater confidence. Multi-source investigation, address cross-verification, contact analysis, business enquiries, open-source research and a written confidence assessment.
Advanced trace
Complex, interstate, high-value or long-running matters. Expanded historical research, associated-address analysis, business-interest enquiries, digital-footprint analysis, interstate enquiries and, where separately authorised, field enquiries.
Case studies
Skip tracing in practice
Names, dates, locations and identifying information have been removed or altered to preserve client confidentiality.
Interstate lead developed after a previous address was eliminated
A finance client seeking updated location intelligence for an ongoing recovery matter.
The address on file no longer linked to the individual, and existing contact information had proven unreliable.
We reviewed historical investigation records, field-enquiry outcomes, address history, employment information and open-source intelligence, then cross-referenced multiple leads for signs of interstate relocation.
A credible interstate lead and a further property connection, allowing the client to focus recovery efforts on a more relevant area.
Historical intelligence review uncovers a new recovery opportunity
A commercial lender needing updated intelligence after earlier skip tracing did not establish a current location.
Previous investigations had not identified a current residential address; records held outdated contact details and historical locations.
A comprehensive review of historical records, property interests, business information, employer details and recent intelligence, re-evaluating existing leads against newly available information.
A stronger investigative direction, a current lead for field enquiries, and clear recommendations for progressing the matter efficiently.
Related services
Specialist capabilities
Surveillance investigations
Covert field operations for legal, corporate, insurance and personal cases.
Asset protection & security
On-site audits, security assessments and proactive loss prevention.
Risk management
Identify and reduce exposure before it becomes a loss.
Intelligence gathering
Online analysis, interviews and surveillance, alongside law enforcement when needed.
Skip tracing
Locate debtors, heirs, witnesses or missing persons Australia-wide.
Get in touch
Start a confidential conversation.
A licensed investigator reads every enquiry personally and responds within one business day. Urgent matters can often begin within 24 hours.
Frequently asked
Skip tracing questions answered
Is skip tracing legal in Australia?
Yes, when a licensed investigator conducts it for a legitimate purpose and in line with privacy law. Before accepting any instruction, we confirm who is requesting the search, why the person needs to be located and how the information will be used. We handle all information under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles.
How much does skip tracing cost?
It varies with the information available, the complexity of the search and whether the person has taken steps to avoid being located. Contact us for a fixed-fee assessment.
How long does a skip trace take?
Some straightforward enquiries resolve quickly, while cases requiring multi-source verification take longer. If your matter is urgent, tell us when you enquire and we will advise what is realistically achievable.
Can you locate a debtor?
Yes. We regularly help authorised legal, finance and recovery clients locate debtors, borrowers, guarantors and other relevant parties, after confirming the client’s connection to the matter and the legitimate purpose.
Can you locate witnesses or defendants?
Yes. Skip tracing helps solicitors and other authorised parties locate witnesses, defendants, respondents and other individuals relevant to legal proceedings.
Can you locate beneficiaries or family members?
Yes, for solicitors, executors and authorised private clients with certain beneficiary, estate and family-location matters. We assess the circumstances and purpose before accepting the instruction.
Do you contact the person being traced?
Generally no. Desktop enquiries do not usually require direct contact. If field enquiries or another approach may be required, we discuss it with you before proceeding.
What if I have very little information?
Contact us with what you have. A full name, approximate age, previous address, phone number, email or employer may be enough to determine whether a viable investigation is possible.
Can you locate someone interstate?
Yes. We conduct and coordinate skip tracing across Australia, managed through a single case director for interstate matters.
What happens if you cannot find the person?
No investigator should promise to locate every person. If we cannot establish a current location with sufficient confidence, our report explains the findings and their limitations rather than presenting an unverified address as fact, and recommends further options — expanded enquiries, field enquiries or surveillance where lawful and appropriate.