Skip Tracing in Michigan | How Investigators Find People

When someone goes missing—or simply doesn’t want to be found—it takes more than a quick Google search to track them down. Whether it’s a debtor avoiding repayment, a witness needed for court, or a family member you’ve lost touch with, locating people requires skill, persistence, and lawful access to information. This process is known as skip tracing. In Michigan, skip tracing is one of the most requested investigative services. But it’s also one of the most misunderstood. At BOB’s PI & Company, we use advanced OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) methods to conduct skip tracing that is fast, accurate, and always compliant with the law.

OSINT INVESTIGATIONS

10/2/20253 min read

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What Is Skip Tracing?

Skip tracing is the investigative process of locating individuals who are difficult to find. The word “skip” comes from the idea that the person has “skipped town,” while “tracing” refers to the act of following their trail.

A professional skip trace does far more than enter a name into a search engine. Licensed investigators combine public records, digital footprints, and data analysis to uncover the most recent and accurate information about a person’s location.

Some of the most common sources used in skip tracing include:

Property and court records
Driver’s license and vehicle registrations
Utility records and change-of-address filings
Social media accounts and digital activity
Business registrations and professional licenses
Online classifieds, forums, or marketplace listings

It’s about connecting dots others miss—and ensuring that the results are reliable.

Why People Need Skip Tracing in Michigan

There are many reasons individuals, attorneys, and businesses turn to skip tracing services. Some of the most common include:

Debt Recovery & Financial Disputes → Creditors, collection agencies, and attorneys often need to locate debtors who have disappeared without repayment.
Witness Location → Attorneys may require a witness’s testimony but cannot find them.
Missing Persons → Families sometimes need help reconnecting with loved ones who have disappeared or cut off contact.
Heirs & Beneficiaries → Estate cases may require locating heirs in order to settle a will or trust.
Pre-Litigation Due Diligence → Businesses and law firms often need to verify the location of individuals before pursuing legal action.

In each of these cases, speed and accuracy matter—and having a professional PI ensures that no time is wasted on false leads.

How Investigators Use OSINT in Skip Tracing

At BOB’s PI & Company, we specialize in OSINT skip tracing. That means we leverage legally accessible, open-source intelligence from hundreds of potential sources to build a complete picture of where someone is likely to be.

Some methods we use include:

Property & Court Records → Deeds, mortgages, evictions, and judgments often point to addresses.
Social Media Footprints → Photos, geotags, connections, and activity patterns reveal clues.
Digital Breadcrumbs → Usernames, email addresses, and phone numbers can link to hidden accounts.
Professional & Business Licenses → From barbers to contractors, licenses often track addresses.
Deep Web Resources → Information not indexed by Google but still publicly available.

The real value lies in cross-verification. A single social media post may suggest a location, but when matched with property filings and phone records, accuracy is confirmed.

Legal Boundaries of Skip Tracing in Michigan

One of the biggest misconceptions about skip tracing is that it’s invasive or unlawful. In reality, professional skip tracing is completely legal when conducted by a licensed investigator.

At BOB’s PI & Company, we ensure compliance with:

Michigan PI licensing requirements
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) when background checks involve employment or credit
Privacy laws protecting individuals against harassment or discrimination

What skip tracing is not:

It is not hacking into private accounts.
It is not stalking or harassment.
It is not misuse of confidential databases.

Hiring a licensed investigator protects you from crossing these lines—and ensures the information can be used in court or business decisions.

Benefits of Professional Skip Tracing

Why hire a professional PI when so much data seems available online? Because the difference is accuracy, legality, and efficiency.

Benefits of professional skip tracing include:

Faster Results → We know where to look and how to connect data quickly.
Accurate Information → Multi-source verification prevents chasing false leads
Court-Ready Reports → Findings are documented with timestamps and citations.
Confidential Handling → Sensitive information is handled securely, never shared or resold.

A do-it-yourself attempt may waste days or weeks with no result—or worse, risk legal liability.

Why Choose BOB’s PI & Company for Skip Tracing

Founded in 2023, BOB’s PI & Company is a Michigan-based investigative firm with nationwide OSINT reach. Our skip tracing services are trusted by attorneys, businesses, and private clients who need answers fast.

Here’s what sets us apart:

Expert OSINT Methods → Our skip tracing follows a proven playbook.
Broad Capabilities → We locate debtors, witnesses, heirs, and missing family members.
Clear Deliverables → You’ll receive a written report with verified findings.
Quality Assurance → Every case follows our OSINT Playbook QA standards.

When you need to find someone—and need it done right—you can trust us to deliver.

Conclusion / Call to Action

Skip tracing is not guesswork. It’s a professional process built on lawful intelligence gathering, rigorous verification, and years of investigative expertise. In Michigan and beyond, individuals and businesses rely on skip tracing to recover assets, win cases, and reconnect with people who matter.

At BOB’s PI & Company, we specialize in OSINT skip tracing that gets results without crossing legal or ethical boundaries.

📧 Email us at help@bobspinco.com

📞 Call us at 810-545-7419

🌐 Or learn more on our Services page