An asset search is an investigative service conducted to locate and identify a person’s or business’s financial holdings, property, and other assets. Whether due to legal disputes, financial recovery, or business due diligence, asset searches help uncover hidden, undisclosed, or misrepresented assets that individuals or companies may attempt to conceal.

Asset searches are commonly used in divorce cases, debt recovery, fraud investigations, and corporate transactions to verify financial claims and ensure transparency. In Canada, strict privacy laws regulate how financial investigations are conducted, meaning only legal, ethical, and publicly accessible sources can be used to locate assets.

Why Would You Need an Asset Search?

Divorce and Family Law Cases

During divorce proceedings, both spouses are legally required to disclose all financial holdings. However, it is not uncommon for one spouse to attempt to hide money, property, or other valuable assets to avoid fair distribution.

A private investigator can uncover assets that may not have been declared, including:

• Undisclosed bank accounts
• Investment properties
• Luxury vehicles, boats, or valuable possessions
• Offshore or hidden financial holdings

If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets during divorce proceedings, an asset search can help ensure a fair division of property.

Debt Collection and Financial Recovery

If someone owes you money and claims they cannot pay, an asset search can determine whether they truly lack financial resources or are deliberately concealing assets to avoid repayment.

A private investigator can identify assets such as:

• Real estate holdings
• Vehicles and recreational assets
• Corporate affiliations and business ownership
• Bankruptcy filings, liens, or financial judgments

This information can assist with legal action, garnishments, or court proceedings to recover owed funds.

Fraud Investigations

Asset searches are often conducted in fraud or embezzlement cases to track misappropriated funds or hidden assets. Individuals committing fraud may transfer assets to:

• Family members or associates
• Shell companies or offshore accounts
• Unreported real estate or businesses

Uncovering these hidden assets can be crucial in recovering stolen funds and holding fraudulent individuals accountable.

Corporate Due Diligence

Before entering a business partnership, investment, or contract, companies conduct due diligence to ensure that the other party is financially stable and trustworthy.

An asset search can reveal:

• Undisclosed business liabilities
• Financial mismanagement
• Past bankruptcies or fraud-related issues
• Assets that verify or contradict a company’s financial claims

This information helps protect businesses from fraudulent transactions and high-risk deals.

What Can Be Legally Uncovered in an Asset Search?

Due to Canada’s strict privacy laws, private investigators must only use legal methods to obtain asset information.

Asset searches can identify:

• Real estate holdings (ownership records, property transfers, mortgage filings)
• Business and corporate ownership
• Vehicle ownership (cars, trucks, boats, recreational vehicles)
• Liens, bankruptcies, and financial judgments
• Legal name variations (aliases, AKA names)
• Tax liens and outstanding debts

What Cannot Be Accessed Due to Privacy Laws?

• Bank account details or balances
• Credit card statements
• Confidential financial records
• Tax returns or CRA filings

Private investigators must comply with Canadian privacy laws, ensuring that all information obtained is legally admissible in court.

How Are Asset Searches Conducted?

Public Records and Database Searches

Private investigators legally access a variety of public records to gather information on assets, including:

• Property ownership records
• Corporate registry filings
• Vehicle and boat registrations
• Bankruptcy and lien searches
• Court records related to financial disputes

These searches provide insight into an individual’s financial standing and undisclosed assets.

Surveillance and Lifestyle Investigations

In cases where someone claims financial hardship but continues to live a lavish lifestyle, surveillance may be used to verify discrepancies.

For example, if an individual drives luxury cars, makes high-end purchases, or frequently travels while claiming to be financially insolvent, these findings may indicate hidden assets.

Corporate and Business Research

If an individual owns a business, investigators can analyze corporate records to determine whether assets have been:

• Transferred to business accounts to hide personal wealth
• Registered under different corporate entities
• Used to fund undisclosed ventures

This type of research helps uncover business assets that may be excluded from financial declarations.

Get Help

For legal advice or representation, contact a lawyer.

To have someone conduct an asset search or for any other investigation service, contact our preferred Investigators, Smith Investigation Agency.

								
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