Not all private investigators bring the same skills and experience to the job. Surveillance, missing person, and insurance fraud cases all require different expertise. One of the most diverse services that a private investigator offers is asset searches. A PI with experience performing asset searches can deliver peace of mind––fast––across an array of case types, including fraud, missing persons, and more. Here are five reasons to request an asset search from a private investigator.

Pre-litigation asset search

Before going into litigation, as an attorney, you want to have the complete picture of your opponent. It’s hard to know for sure the assets someone has at their disposal by what they tell you alone. Even someone’s lifestyle isn’t a clear indication of the wealth they might have. Someone could live extravagantly but have little in terms of property or ownership. Conversely, someone with substantial assets may live frugally.

With a pre-litigation asset search, you and your client can get the complete picture of a person’s wealth. Especially in civil cases, an asset search confirms it’s worthwhile to pursue damages. After all, if an individual doesn’t have substantial assets, a judgment in your favor won’t amount to much.

Recovering judgment

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for individuals or groups who receive a judgment against them to go to some length to avoid paying the debt. Depending on the sophistication of the person or group, you have to move quickly to do an asset search to leverage your findings against securing payment.

A skilled investigator knows all the tricks someone can try to hide their wealth, including finding offshore and brokerage accounts, shell companies, and trusts. An investigator provides insight and answers with an asset search when someone obscures their wealth.

Uncover fraud or embezzlement

Unfortunately, companies have to deal with the potential of fraud and embezzlement from their employees. A private investigator can help find employees who may have a greater potential to commit fraud, such as those living paycheck to paycheck.

An asset search also reveals if employees seem to be living beyond their means, such as purchasing a property that exceeds their declared assets. Private investigators give answers that you need. An asset search, in particular, will illuminate the inner financial workings of your company for total peace of mind.

Establish a settlement

When a legal adversary suggests settling a case out of court, you want to have a crystal clear picture of the financials. The timing of the settlement offer may indicate they believe their assets to be well hidden, causing you to propose an amount that’s disproportionate to their ability to pay.

Before deciding between settling and trial, reach out to a private investigator for an asset search. They’ll discover if your opponent hid assets, and you’ll have the information you need for a balanced settlement offer.

Skip tracing

Skip tracing is the process of finding individuals who’ve gone missing. Often, those individuals are alleged perpetrators of a crime or a debtor fleeing their repayment. Asset searches often reveal someone’s location when other traditional strategies have failed.

Rather than assuming defeat when an individual you need to contact goes missing, hire a private investigator with asset search experience to find them.

Harris Investigations brings decades of experience in law enforcement and legal defense to asset searches.

Harris Investigations is the culmination of decades of investigative and law enforcement experience. After a career including roles as a police officer, deputy sheriff, and lieutenant, I’m well versed in major case files and passionate about providing my clients with insightful, savvy legal expertise. Based in Tacoma, Harris Investigations work across Seattle and nationwide to offer attorneys the support they need for criminal defense cases. Whatever mitigation specialist services you need, we provide well-versed expertise.

Our mitigation investigation services combine years of law enforcement experience with legal defense insight to provide clients with asset search results that exceed their expectations.