Different Tools for Different Purposes

Skip tracing and background checks are both investigative services, but they answer fundamentally different questions. Skip tracing asks 'Where is this person?' while a background check asks 'What is this person's history?'

In practice, the two services are often complementary. You might need a skip trace to locate someone, then a background check to learn more about them — or vice versa.

When to Use Skip Tracing

Use skip tracing when you need to find someone's current location, contact information, or whereabouts. Common scenarios include serving legal documents, collecting debts, finding property owners, and locating witnesses.

Skip tracing focuses on current, actionable information — where someone is right now, how to reach them, where they work, and what assets they own.

When to Use a Background Check

Use a background check when you need to verify someone's history — criminal records, employment history, education verification, or identity confirmation. Common scenarios include hiring decisions, tenant screening, and due diligence.

Background checks focus on historical information — what someone has done in the past, their track record, and any red flags that might be relevant to your decision.

Feature	Skip Tracing	Background Check
Primary Purpose	Locate a person	Verify a person's history
Focus	Current information	Historical records
Key Output	Address, phone, employment	Criminal, employment, identity
Common Users	Attorneys, collectors, PIs	Employers, landlords, lenders
Turnaround	Same day	1-7 business days