Skip Tracing for Indiana Attorneys: When to Use It and What It Costs

Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who cannot be found at their last known address. For attorneys in Indianapolis, skip tracing is a tool used when a defendant or witness has moved, is avoiding service, or cannot be located through public records alone.

Indiana courts require genuine effort to locate and serve defendants before authorizing alternative service methods under Trial Rule 4.14. That means attorneys who want to request alternative service — such as service by publication — typically need documented proof that they used available tools to locate the defendant. Skip tracing is one of those tools.

Skip tracing combines multiple data sources: public records databases, utility records, DMV records (where accessible), credit header data, and social media cross-referencing. A licensed process server with skip-tracing capability can often locate a defendant within 24 to 48 hours when conventional methods have failed.

Common situations where skip tracing is needed in Indiana civil cases include: defendants who have moved out of Marion County without updating their registered address, individuals who are actively evading service in domestic matters or civil judgments, defendants who live part-time at multiple addresses, and witnesses who have relocated since the incident giving rise to litigation.

At Bowen Integrity Group, skip tracing is available as an add-on service for cases where the defendant's address cannot be confirmed. We use licensed investigative databases to locate current addresses and verify them before attempting service. This saves attorney time and avoids wasted service attempts at stale addresses.

Pricing for skip tracing varies based on the complexity of the search. Simple address lookups through public and commercial databases are typically resolved at low cost. Multi-source investigative searches for elusive defendants require more time and resources. Contact Bowen Integrity Group for current pricing and to assign your case.