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Pre-litigation asset verification and post-judgment asset searches — what is legally discoverable, regulated-data boundaries under GLBA/FCRA, and how attorneys use the results strategically.
An asset search answers a simple question with complex mechanics: what does this person or entity own? The answer drives collection strategy after a judgment, informs settlement posture during litigation, and supports due diligence before any major transaction. This guide covers what an asset search finds, how it is lawfully conducted, and when to order one.
What an asset search finds:
Common scenarios:
County real property records are the backbone of most asset searches. A competent search covers:
Real estate is searched county-by-county in most states, with some states providing consolidated statewide searches. Nominee ownership — property held in the name of a family member or LLC — is a recurring complication.
DMV records (where accessible under the Driver's Privacy Protection Act), Coast Guard vessel registries for documented boats, and FAA aircraft registries for planes all feed into an asset search. Vehicle title ownership is relatively easy to verify; beneficial ownership of vehicles held in LLCs requires entity analysis.
Secretary of State filings reveal ownership, officers, registered agents, and formation dates for corporations, LLCs, and partnerships. These records connect individuals to the entities they operate. Cross-referencing against UCC filings, litigation records, and tax liens builds a picture of operating businesses and their solvency.
UCC-1 filings show secured interests in business personal property — equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, intellectual property. They reveal who has pledged what, and to whom. UCC searches are particularly useful for identifying undisclosed debts and for mapping the security-interest landscape of a business defendant.
Existing judgments against the target reveal prior creditors, outstanding obligations, and the general volume of legal exposure. Federal and state tax liens (IRS Form 668(Y), state equivalents) take priority and dramatically affect collectability. Bankruptcy filings — especially open chapter 7, 11, or 13 cases — change the entire posture of any collection effort.
For professional defendants — doctors, lawyers, accountants, contractors — licensing records confirm identity, reveal disciplinary history, and may indicate income sources. Regulated industries (broker-dealers, insurance agents, public accountants) have additional disclosure and filing regimes that can surface assets.
Bank account information is the most regulated area of asset investigation. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and state financial-privacy laws restrict pretext-based or unauthorized bank inquiries. Lawful pre-suit bank investigation is largely limited to:
Specific account numbers and balances are generally obtainable only through post-judgment discovery — subpoenas, depositions in aid of execution, or debtor's examinations.
Professional investigators avoid pretexting (misrepresenting identity to obtain information). Pretexting bank records is a federal crime under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Pretexting phone records is a federal crime under the Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act. Obtaining information through these techniques is not only illegal — it makes the resulting information inadmissible and can expose the client.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) has become a significant part of modern asset searches. Social media reveals lifestyle indicators: vacation homes, luxury vehicles, expensive hobbies, business relationships. Public posts can also yield admissions against interest that are useful in subsequent discovery.
Basic searches start around $200 for a single-jurisdiction public-record scan. Comprehensive multi-state searches with entity analysis typically run $500 to $2,000. High-net-worth investigations with international components can exceed $5,000. Price is a function of jurisdictions covered, complexity of entity structure, and depth of OSINT work.
An asset-search report is the foundation for:
Lawful asset searches require a permissible purpose. The Fair Credit Reporting Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and the Driver's Privacy Protection Act all restrict data access. Permissible purposes include litigation, judgment enforcement, and certain due-diligence contexts.
Basic searches turn around in 3 to 7 business days. Comprehensive national searches run 2 to 4 weeks. Rush service is available for time-sensitive matters.
Public-record searches leave no trail visible to the target. Certain database providers notify the target in some consumer-reporting contexts, but professional investigative searches generally do not.
Cryptocurrency identification is emerging. Blockchain analytics can trace known wallet addresses and identify on-chain activity. Pre-suit identification of a target's wallets is difficult without court-ordered discovery.
We combine real-property, entity, UCC, judgment, lien, and OSINT searches into actionable reports. Our investigators work lawfully — no pretexting, no unauthorized bank inquiries, no shortcuts that would poison the evidentiary record. For post-judgment work, we coordinate with counsel on writs of execution and garnishment based on the asset picture.
Request a quote for an asset search and we'll scope the jurisdictions and depth.
