An asset investigation (asset search or asset check) is the locating of public records that confirm personal property or real estate held by a person or corporate entity.
What is an asset search?
Common Reasons for Asset Checks
- Personal Injury Cases
- Motor Vehicle Cases
- Business Due Diligence Compliance
- Collection of Debt Matters
- Collecting Unpaid Child Support
- Divorce Cases
These searches uncover value and any potential liabilities that may be tied to a property. Asset investigations occur daily to help individuals and companies satisfy their due diligence, settle personal injury cases, collect debt, and verify financial statements during a divorce or child support case.
Do I need an asset investigation?
- Are you employed? If you own a business, an asset check can reveal the state of a person or company’s assets. If you work for a company or do business with someone, it is crucial to know the state of their assets. It is one of the few ways you can know with certainty whether someone is financially trustworthy.
- Are you owed money? If you are, an asset investigation can tell you whether you should go to court and get your money back. If someone claims they cannot pay, an asset investigation can confirm or deny this as the case. If you want to go to small claims court or a collection agency, an asset investigation can report how many collectible assets a person or business has and where you stand in relation to other creditors suing the same debtor.
- Are you the victim of fraud? If someone is not paying you because they claim they do not have the money, an asset check can quickly confirm their claims. An asset investigation can give you the proof you need to show that someone has assets that they are simply not declaring.
How does an asset investigation work?
Depending on why you need an asset check, the investigation can include a basic background check, a computer investigation, surveillance work, or a financial investigation. Asset investigations uncover exactly what sorts of collectible assets someone has and how secure these assets are.
Only an asset investigation conducted by a qualified private investigator can find out whether a business or person is using a fictitious business name, committing fraud, hiding assets, or having multiple judgments.
Types of Asset Investigations and What They Uncover
Corporate Asset Search
- Real estate and deeds
- Available mortgage information
- Corporate Filings
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- Federal and state tax liens
- Corporate associates
- Dunn and Bradstreet records
- IRS 500 employee benefit information
- Uniform commercial code liens (UCC Filings)
- Current contact information
- Vehicle Registration
Individual Asset Search
- Real estate and deeds
- Available mortgage information
- Motor vehicle registration and liens
- Watercraft registration and liens
- Aircraft registration and liens
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- Criminal Records
- Uniform commercial code liens (UCC Filings)
- Federal and state tax liens
- A.K.A.s (also known as) or D.B.A.s (doing business as) of the individual
Other types of asset searches
- Liabilities (judgment, liens, and bankruptcy search)
- Civil records search
- Criminal records search
- Missing person search
Who should conduct an asset search?
- Attorneys/Law firms
- Businesses or corporations
- Investors buying or merging with other businesses
- Hiring committees or human resource departments
- Investigative agencies
- Governmental agencies
- Creditors
- Professionals satisfying due diligence
- Spouses going through a divorce
- Individuals who are owed a debt
Who should NOT conduct an asset search?
Online scams are common, so make sure your asset search is conducted by a trusted source who will seek information legally and obtain valuable, relevant information. A good investigator will also help you interpret and use the found information so you can use it effectively.
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