Professional Support With People Tracing In The UK
Assist Process Serving provides people tracing services to help clients in the UK make further enquiries where a person’s current address is unknown, incomplete or out of date. A trace enquiry may be useful where an intended recipient has moved, is avoiding contact or cannot be reached at the address available. Each case is reviewed on the information provided, with a discreet and practical approach.
Trace results depend on the information available. A trace enquiry cannot guarantee that a person will be located, contacted or successfully served. If a current or alternative address is identified, we can explain the available options for arranging document service.
What Is a Trace Enquiry?
A trace enquiry involves making further enquiries to help identify current address or location information for a person.
It may be appropriate before attempting service of a court order, claim form, statutory demand, bankruptcy petition, witness summons or another legal document. It can also be useful where attempts at service have not succeeded because the person no longer appears to live at the available address.
The information identified through a trace may help an instructing party decide on the next practical step. This could include arranging a process server to attend a possible new address, making further enquiries or seeking legal advice about another method of service.
Assist Process Serving does not provide legal advice. If you need advice about your case, service requirements or the options available where a person cannot be found, please speak with your solicitor, the court or another relevant professional.
When a Trace Enquiry May Help
People tracing services can be considered where a known address no longer appears to be current or where only limited information is available.
A trace enquiry may be suitable if:
- 01.
A person has moved from their last known address
- 02.
Attempts at document service have been unsuccessful
- 03.
You have an incomplete, historic or unverified address
- 04.
You need to establish whether another address may be available
- 05.
You have a name but limited contact information
- 06.
You need to make proportionate enquiries before discussing the next step with a solicitor or the court
Discreet and Practical Trace Enquiries
Assist Process Serving approaches trace enquiries with care, discretion and respect for the circumstances behind the instruction. Where appropriate and permitted, the team may be able to assist with practical enquiries, including:
- 01
Address and location enquiries
- 02
Discreet contact enquiries to help gather further information or arrange contact with an agent
- 03
Police checks where formal agreements permit
- 04
Prison checks, including identifying an HMPS location or prisoner number where possible
- 05
Probation-office liaison where appropriate
What Information Do We Need to Begin?
The more accurate information you can provide, the better placed we are to assess whether a trace enquiry may help.
Please send any information you hold, including:
- 01.
The person’s full name and any previous names
- 02.
Date of birth, if known
- 03.
Last known address and the date it was believed to be current
- 04.
Previous addresses, workplaces or known locations
- 05.
Telephone numbers, email addresses or social media details, where relevant
- 06.
A recent photograph, where available and appropriate
- 07.
Information about the legal document that needs to be served
- 08.
Any previous service attempts or enquiries already made
- 09.
Your reference number and preferred contact details
What Happens After a Trace Enquiry?
Once the enquiry has been completed, we will explain the outcome and any information that may be relevant to your instruction.
Where a possible current address is identified, you may wish to arrange service of the documents at that address. Where no suitable address is identified, you may need to discuss alternative options with your solicitor or the court.
A trace enquiry is not a guarantee of a successful result. It cannot confirm that a person will be present at a particular location or that documents can be successfully served.
If service is arranged and completed, Assist Process Serving provides a statement of service. The evidence required may depend on the document type, court rules and any directions made in the case.
Trace Enquiry Costs and Next Steps
Trace enquiries are available at an additional cost. The cost and likely scope will depend on the information available, the nature of the instruction and the enquiries that may be appropriate. Once we have reviewed your details, we will explain the next practical step. If a suitable address is identified and you need legal documents served, process serving can be arranged separately.
Our process serving options are:
Standard Service
Professional process serving adhering to standard court and statutory schedules.
- Up to three attempts at personal service
- Electronic service where applicable
- Statement of service included
Priority Service
Accelerated instruction handling for time-sensitive filings and legal notices.
- First attempt within 24 hours
- Up to three attempts at personal service
- Electronic service where applicable
- Statement of service included
Same-Day Service
Immediate dispatch for critical court claims, emergency injunctions, and petitions.
- Same-day first attempt
- Up to three attempts at personal service
- Electronic service where applicable
- Statement of service included
The available process serving option will depend on the document, service address, court directions and required deadline.
People Tracing UK Across England and Wales
Assist Process Serving accepts trace enquiry instructions throughout England and Wales. Our nationwide process serving network supports instructions in London, Birmingham, Kent, Essex, Merseyside, South Wales, the West Midlands and selected LL postcode areas, alongside other locations nationwide.
Find out more about local process serving support:
- What is a trace enquiry?
A trace enquiry involves making further enquiries to help identify current address or location information for a person where the available details are incomplete, historic or uncertain.
- Can you find someone’s current address?
A trace enquiry may identify possible current address information, depending on the details available and the circumstances of the instruction. Results cannot be guaranteed.
- Can I request a trace before arranging process serving?
Yes. A trace enquiry may be useful before process serving where you do not have a confirmed service address or previous attempts have not been successful.
- What information do you need for a trace enquiry?
Please provide the person’s full name, last known address, date of birth if known, previous contact details and any information about the legal document that needs to be served. Details of previous service attempts can also be useful.
- Can you help if the person may be in prison?
Where appropriate, prison checks may help identify an HMPS location or prisoner number. This depends on the information available and the circumstances of the enquiry.
- Can you contact the police or probation office?
Where appropriate and permitted, we may assist with relevant police checks or probation-office liaison. This does not guarantee that information will be available or shared.
- Can you arrange service once you have identified an address?
Yes. If a suitable address is identified, we can discuss process serving options. The appropriate service method will depend on the documents, court rules and any directions in the case.
- Do you provide legal advice?
No. Assist Process Serving provides practical trace enquiries and document service but does not provide legal advice. Please speak with a solicitor, the court or another relevant professional if you need advice about your case.
- How much does a trace enquiry cost?
Trace enquiries are available at an additional cost. Please send the information you hold so we can review the instruction and explain the likely scope and cost.
Need Help With People Tracing In The UK?
If you need help locating someone before serving legal documents, send us the information you hold, the person’s last known address and the type of document involved. We will review the instruction and explain whether a trace enquiry may be appropriate.
Please include:
- 01The person’s full name and any previous names
- 02Last known address and other known location details
- 03Date of birth, if known
- 04Previous contact information, where relevant
- 05Details of the documents that need to be served
- 06Any previous service attempts or trace information
- 07Your required timescale and contact details