What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What is an asset search and why you might need one - From lawsuit collections to divorce proceedings, estate matters, and due diligence for business transactions
• Common reasons people hire investigators for asset searches:
  • Collecting on won lawsuits and judgments
  • Verifying someone has assets before suing them
  • Divorce proceedings and asset discovery
  • Estate planning and probate matters
  • Due diligence for business transactions and lending
• Types of assets investigators can find:
  • Vehicles and automotive assets
  • Real estate properties
  • Bank accounts and financial assets
  • Stock holdings and investments
  • Intellectual property (patents, trademarks, websites, copyrights)
  • Online businesses generating income
  • Tangible property and collections (equipment, stamps, coins)
• How asset records are actually stored and searched:
  • Real estate records maintained at county level (recorder, deed recorder, county clerk)
  • Vehicle records kept at state level (DMV, Department of Transportation)
  • No single national database exists for all assets
  • Most records are still paper documents, not electronic databases
• The truth about bank account searches:
  • Bank accounts are NOT recorded in any government database
  • Only the account holder and the bank know about the account
  • Information is completely private between these two parties
• How investigators actually find bank account information (OSINT method):
  • Open Source Intelligence techniques
  • Tracking when banking information "escapes the bubble"
  • Following digital footprints from wire transfers, direct deposits, bill payments
  • Check verification systems and third-party payment processors
  • Online payment platforms like Zelle and PayPal create discoverable records
• Why asset search pricing varies so dramatically:
  • No legal definition of what constitutes an "asset search"
  • Range from $10-20 basic searches to $5,000-6,000 comprehensive investigations
  • Basic searches might just be Google searches with "assets" added
  • Comprehensive searches involve hundreds of hours of document review
• How to get the right asset search for your needs:
  • Work directly with certified, licensed investigators
  • Find agencies that specialize in asset searches (not all investigators do this)
  • Clearly describe what you're trying to find and why
  • Get searches tailored to your specific requirements
  • Avoid paying for unnecessary depth or missing crucial information
• Key takeaway: Asset searches are like buying a car - you need to specify exactly what you need rather than asking for a generic quote

Resources Mentioned:

• Live one-on-one consultation with licensed certified experts available
• Additional training materials on conducting your own asset searches
• Professional asset search services for complex cases

Want to learn more about asset searching techniques or need professional assistance? Check the links in our show description for additional resources and expert consultation options.