There are many reasons why you might need to trace a person or locate assets. Whether you’re a solicitor seeking a debtor, a business trying to recover losses, or an individual hoping to reconnect with someone from your past, professional tracing services can make all the difference.

At its core, tracing is about uncovering the truth – finding accurate, up-to-date information about people or property when it’s not easily available. While it can sound straightforward, effective tracing requires specialist tools, experience, and a deep understanding of data sources and legal requirements.

Why tracing services are needed

People move, change names, or deliberately make themselves difficult to find. Businesses close, reopen, or transfer assets. Digital footprints shift, and online information can be misleading or incomplete. For solicitors, this can create challenges when serving legal documents, recovering debts, or resolving disputes.

For individuals, it might mean the difference between reconnecting with a long-lost relative or never finding closure. One of our earlier cases involved reuniting two childhood friends who had lost contact for more than 60 years – a reminder that tracing isn’t only about legal or financial matters, but sometimes about human stories too.

How professional investigators trace people

Professional tracing investigators use a combination of research techniques and data analysis to locate individuals. This might include:

• Database searches – accessing specialist and legally compliant data sources.
• Address verification – confirming current and past addresses to establish accurate contact details.
• Employment and financial information – identifying a person’s employer or verifying financial activity when relevant and lawful to do so.
• Social media and online research – analysing digital footprints, profiles, and patterns of behaviour to support other findings.
• Interviews and field enquiries – where appropriate, discreet enquiries help confirm information gathered from other sources.

Each case is different, and success often depends on the skill and experience of the investigator in piecing together small details into a full picture.

Tracing assets

Asset tracing is a related but distinct service, often used in cases involving debt recovery, divorce proceedings, or business disputes. Investigators can help identify property ownership, directorships, company holdings, or other tangible and financial assets that might otherwise be hidden.

All information is gathered lawfully, ensuring it can be used to support legal action if required. Reliable asset tracing helps clients make informed decisions about how to proceed – whether that means negotiating settlements, enforcing judgments, or pursuing recovery.

Confidential, compliant and ethical

Confidentiality and compliance are at the heart of all tracing work. A reputable agency operates within data protection law and the principles of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Investigators must balance the client’s legitimate interest in obtaining information with the individual’s right to privacy, ensuring all work is both ethical and legally defensible.

How we can help

We’ve been helping solicitors, businesses, and private clients trace people and assets for decades. Our experienced team combines investigative skill with discretion and integrity, delivering accurate results quickly and efficiently.

Whether you need to find a missing person, locate a debtor, or verify the existence of assets, we can help you uncover the information you need to move forward with confidence.

To discuss your tracing requirements, please contact us on 0208 191 3445 / 01392 278612.