Corporate Investigations · Empire Investigation · Pittsburgh, PA
Skip Trace Investigations
Skip tracing is the disciplined process of locating a person who has moved, disappeared, gone off-grid, or actively concealed their whereabouts. Whether the target is a debtor who stopped paying, a witness who must be served, a missing heir to an estate, or a defendant evading process, Empire Investigation LLC has been finding people for clients across Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania, and the entire United States since 1982 — 44 years of refined methodology, proprietary database access, and field investigation experience.
A skilled skip trace combines licensed investigative databases (utility, court, asset, employment, and proprietary aggregators), public records research, social network mapping, surveillance, and direct field work. Free online tools and consumer search sites return outdated, scrubbed, or incomplete information — and a person who is intentionally hiding is rarely findable through public means alone. Our licensed investigators access tiered data sources unavailable to the public and combine them with old-school detective work: interviewing former neighbors, employers, and associates; verifying through utility, vehicle, and address records; and confirming with discreet field surveillance when the situation warrants.
Empire Investigation handles skip trace assignments for attorneys, collection agencies, banks, insurance carriers, process servers, estate administrators, and private individuals throughout Pittsburgh PA and beyond. Most subjects are located within 48 to 72 hours. When a subject is genuinely hard to find — using aliases, moving frequently, operating in cash, or living with associates — we escalate to multi-source verification and physical surveillance. Every case closes with a written report documenting current address, employment, vehicle, and associated parties as applicable.
All work is conducted under Pennsylvania PI licensure and within the bounds of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and applicable privacy laws. Call (800) 860-6068 for a confidential consultation.
What This Investigation Covers
- Current residential address verification and confirmation
- Current employer and place-of-work identification
- Vehicle ownership and registration tracing
- Asset location — bank accounts, real property, business interests (within GLBA limits)
- Associated parties — spouse, family, known contacts, and roommates
- Phone number and email verification for service of process
- Nationwide and international locate when subject has relocated outside PA
When This Service Is Needed
- A debtor has gone silent and traditional contact information no longer works
- An attorney needs to serve a defendant who is evading process
- An estate must locate missing heirs before probate can close
- An insurance carrier is investigating a claimant who cannot be reached
- A witness critical to a case has moved and stopped responding
- A biological parent, sibling, or family member needs to be located
Our Approach
We conduct structured, confidential investigations using proven methodologies and professional-grade tools. Every case is scoped carefully, executed with discretion, and focused on delivering actionable, documented results. We coordinate directly with legal counsel and executive leadership when required.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a skip trace cost in Pittsburgh PA?
Most standard skip trace assignments in Pittsburgh range from a flat-rate locate fee for straightforward subjects to hourly billing for hard-to-find individuals using aliases or multiple relocations. Empire Investigation provides a fixed quote after a brief intake call at (800) 860-6068, and most subjects are located within 48 to 72 hours.
How do private investigators find people who don't want to be found?
Licensed investigators have access to tiered investigative databases (utility records, employment data, asset databases, and proprietary aggregators) that are not available to the general public. We combine database research with old-fashioned field work — interviewing prior neighbors, former coworkers, and known associates; checking vehicle registrations; and conducting discreet surveillance when needed to confirm a subject is at a verified address.
Can you do a skip trace anywhere in the United States?
Yes. Empire Investigation runs nationwide skip trace assignments from our Pittsburgh office. Our database access and investigative network cover all 50 states, and we routinely locate subjects who have relocated outside Pennsylvania. International locate is also available for many countries.
Is skip tracing legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes, when conducted by a licensed private investigator within applicable laws. Pennsylvania licensed PIs operate under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Driver's Privacy Protection Act, and state privacy law. Empire Investigation has held continuous Pennsylvania PI licensure since 1982.
What's the difference between a skip trace and a missing persons investigation?
A skip trace locates someone who is alive and has moved or gone off-grid — typically for legal, financial, or collection reasons. A missing persons investigation is for someone whose welfare is in question, who may be a runaway or endangered, or whose disappearance is unexplained. Empire Investigation handles both.
How fast can you locate someone?
Most subjects are located within 48 to 72 hours of case opening. Subjects who are intentionally hiding, using aliases, or moving frequently may take longer and require physical surveillance to confirm a current address.
Confidential Inquiry
Request a Confidential Consultation
All inquiries are handled with complete discretion. We work directly with executives, legal counsel, and HR leadership to scope engagements appropriately.
All inquiries handled with complete discretion.