Business skip tracing locates a debtor company and the people who control it after it moves, changes its name or stops answering. We search Secretary of State filings, UCC liens, court records, bankruptcy filings and commercial data to find who to contact and what can be collected.
What we search
- Secretary of State entity records and registered agents
- UCC filings, tax liens and judgments
- Federal bankruptcy filings (PACER)
- Commercial credit data and related entities
- Successor companies and asset transfers
How we find a business that disappeared
A business that goes quiet usually leaves a trail. Secretary of State records show whether the entity is active, dissolved or revoked, who its registered agent is, and the names of officers or managers on recent annual reports. UCC filings show which lender holds a security interest and in what collateral, which also tells us where the business banks. Court dockets show other creditors suing, and bankruptcy records on PACER show whether collection must stop.
From there we look for signs of a successor: a new entity with the same officers, address, phone number or website, a new business license at the old location, or the same trucks, staff or customers operating under a different name. Professional and industry licenses, such as contractor, carrier and health-care licenses, are often required to stay current, which makes them good places to find people who have moved.
Successor liability: when a new company owes the old debt
As a general rule, a company that buys another company's assets does not take on its debts. Most states recognize exceptions, though they apply them differently: the buyer expressly or implicitly agreed to assume the debts, the transaction was in substance a merger, the new company is a mere continuation of the old one with the same owners and business, or the transfer was made to escape creditors.
These theories depend heavily on facts, so we document them carefully: common ownership, shared addresses and phone numbers, the same customers and employees, how much was paid for the assets and when. Strong evidence of continuation often persuades a successor to settle without suit.
What we do when the debtor has dissolved
- Confirm whether it was dissolved voluntarily or administratively for failing to file reports, since administrative dissolution can sometimes be reversed and the business may still be operating
- Check whether a dissolved company is still winding up, which in most states means it can still be sued and must address creditor claims
- Look for distributions to owners after dissolution, which in many states can be recovered from the owners up to what they received
- Pursue any personal guarantee signed on the credit application
- Review transfers to insiders or related companies that may be challenged under state voidable transfer laws
What you receive
Research is included in every contingency placement and is recorded in your client portal. For each account you see the debtor's current legal status and registered agent, the names of the people who control it, any related or successor companies we found, open liens, judgments and lawsuits, and any bankruptcy filing. When the research shows the debtor is collectible, collection continues the same day. When it shows the opposite, such as a Chapter 7 filing with no assets or a company that dissolved years ago with nothing left, we tell you plainly so you can write the account off with documentation for your records and your accountant.
Frequently asked questions
Is skip tracing an extra charge?
No. Research is included in every contingency placement.
Do you search individuals as well as businesses?
We focus on the business and the people who control it. When an individual signed a personal guarantee, we locate that guarantor using data sources the law permits for that purpose.
Can you find out where a debtor banks?
Often we can identify likely banks from UCC filings, payment history and other records. Specific account details usually come through post-judgment discovery, which requires a court judgment first.
What if you cannot find the debtor at all?
Some businesses truly vanish. We keep the file open for periodic re-checks, because a debtor that reappears with a new entity, a new license or a new lawsuit against it often becomes collectible again. There is no fee unless we recover money.
Related services
- Commercial collections
- Pre-collection letters
- Legal collections
- Judgment enforcement
- International collections
- Bankruptcy claims
- Lien & bond claims
Industries we serve
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