How To Conduct Asset Searches for Litigation and Judgments

Amaro Hesen • April 17, 2025

Whether you are an attorney looking to uncover assets during a case investigation or a creditor needing to collect money as part of a judgment, knowing how to conduct asset searches can come in handy. Ethically uncovering a person’s assets lets you understand their financial circumstances and determine whether they may be hiding something.

Learn how to conduct asset searches for litigation and judgments.

Determine the Goals for the Asset Search

Different types of asset searches can reveal different information. Start by determining your goals for the investigation and listing the types of accounts or funds you are looking to uncover. Asset searches can provide information about a person’s or business’s:

Bank accounts
Bankruptcies and judgments
Real estate
Corporate filings

If you are conducting asset searches for litigation, you may want to look for fraudulent activity, such as the illicit transfer or concealment of assets. If you need to satisfy a judgment, locating an individual’s assets lays the proper groundwork for seizure.

The nature of asset searches means you may not always know exactly what you need to uncover, but having a general goal can narrow your search.

Explore Different Methods of Uncovering Hidden Assets

A wide range of public records can give insight into a person’s financial picture and asset inventory. Many of these financial records are available for free through government websites.

Real estate/property ownership
Tax records
Annual business reports
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings

You can also find other financial records, such as a person’s bank account information, through legal channels that may not be as readily available.

Online databases may also give you information about a person’s finances. Private investigators use specialized databases to find corporate affiliations, property records, liens, and judgments.

Only so much information is available online. You may need to go out into the field to conduct investigations, interviews, and legal surveillance. This may involve:

Speaking with the person’s neighbors, colleagues, or family members
Covertly talking to the person of interest in the hopes that they will reveal information
Conducting on-site visits to survey and locate physical assets

Understand Ethical Considerations To Abide By

No matter how important your reason for conducting an asset search may seem, you are not above the law. You must adhere to ethical and legal guidelines when searching for a person’s private information. Keep these considerations in mind:

Avoid biases and try to maintain an objective mindset. Your goal is to uncover the truth, not confirm your own assumptions or expectations about a party’s assets.
Maintain integrity and honesty. You may be tempted to manipulate evidence in your favor, but this won’t effectively accomplish your goals.
Respect the target’s privacy and confidentiality. Avoid illegal practices like unauthorized surveillance or trespassing, and only seek information that is publicly available.

Hire a Professional Investigator for Assistance

Thoroughly conducting asset searches for litigation and judgments requires you to gain access to a wide range of databases, records, and accounts. Uncovering the necessary information on your own may be challenging, which is why creditors and attorneys often turn to professional investigators to handle the task for them.

Investigators undergo special training to learn reliable methods of finding targeted information. They adhere to all privacy laws and maintain the highest ethical standards during their searches. They often have access to specific databases that make uncovering records faster and easier than you could do on your own.

Call Upon Professional Process Servers & Investigators, Inc.

If you need help conducting thorough, legally compliant asset searches for litigation or judgments, Professional Process Servers & Investigators, Inc., can take this responsibility off your shoulders. Call us today at 844-722-8835 to request a quote.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Asset Searches for Litigation

What types of assets can be found during asset searches for litigation?

Asset searches can reveal bank accounts, real estate, corporate filings, bankruptcies, judgments, and intellectual property.

Why is it important to conduct ethical asset searches?

Ethical asset searches ensure legal compliance, maintain integrity, respect privacy, and avoid biases, leading to accurate results.

When should I consider hiring a professional investigator for asset searches?

Hire a professional investigator when you need access to specialized databases, require in-depth investigations, or want to ensure legal compliance and efficiency.

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