The main job of a process server is to serve documents in accordance with the law.

While the applicant in a legal case who wants the documents served may be able to provide the process server with information to easily find the respondent (usually the defendant in a court case) and serve them, this is not always the case. In some circumstances, the whereabouts of the defendant or the individual for whom the process is meant are unknown.

Skip tracing

Skip tracing is a common method used to locate a person whose location is not known. It may be used to locate a person’s whereabouts for any number of reasons.

A process server, serving as a skip tracer, will try and locate the respondent by learning information about them. This can include:

• a first and last name (or name of company)
• a last known residential (or business) address
• last known phone number, email
• date of birth or approximate age
• a Social Insurance Number
• last know employment
• information on spouses, parents, other relatives, friends, business associates
• any criminal history, etc.

Tracers will collect, analyze or verifying information found from online search tools, databases and other sources to locate the missing person. For more information on skip tracing, go to topic 997 Skip tracing.

Use a private investigator

A process server can also use the services of a private investigator. Private investigators use a number of methods to locate missing people, for any number of reasons. It is important to note that it is illegal to sell or carry out private investigation services without a private investigator agency license. Visit the Private Investigation section of Legal Line for more information on their services.

								
You now have 3 options:
								

									
More answers about Process Serving
									
Master List: 2,500 Legal Answers
																													
																		
Government Links