Private investigations
Asset Searches & Judgment Recovery
A records-based search for what a person or company owns, run in-house for debtors anywhere in the US. We show you what public records support, flag what only legal process can reach, and give your attorney specific targets for post-judgment discovery.
When you need an asset search
An asset search is a records-based investigation into what real estate, business interests, vehicles, liens and other holdings a person or company has, and where they sit. Creditors use it at two points: before filing suit, to learn whether a judgment would be collectible at all, and after winning, to find something to collect from. It is part of our financial investigations work, and it is done in-house no matter which state the debtor lives in.
Clients usually call when:
- A judgment has been entered and the debtor has not paid a cent.
- A debtor claims to have nothing, but still drives a new truck and runs a business.
- Property seems to have moved into an LLC, a relative’s name or another county.
- A lawsuit is being weighed and nobody knows whether the defendant can pay.
- An older judgment is approaching its renewal date and needs a fresh look.
If you are vetting a partner, borrower or acquisition target before a deal rather than collecting after one, our due diligence service is the better fit.
What records show, and what needs legal process
Most disappointment in asset work comes from expecting records to show things they never show. Here is the honest split.
Usually found in records
Deeds, deeds of trust and recorded liens at the county recorder. Assessor data on parcels. Arizona Corporation Commission filings for LLCs and corporations, including statutory agents and listed managers or officers. UCC financing statements. Lawsuits, judgments, bankruptcies and tax liens. Professional and business licenses. Aircraft registrations. Vehicle information, when a permitted legal purpose applies.
Usually needs legal process
Bank and brokerage balances. Which bank a debtor uses, when no record points to one. Account histories and transfers. Payroll details beyond the employer’s name. Tax returns. Retirement accounts. Safe deposit box contents. These come through subpoenas, interrogatories, a debtor’s examination or garnishment, all under court authority.
We do not sell bank balances. Federal law, 15 U.S.C. 6821, makes it illegal to get a financial institution’s customer information through false statements or forged documents. A vendor offering balances without a subpoena is either guessing or pretexting. What we can do is find records that point at a bank: a deed of trust, a UCC filing naming a secured lender, or an account referenced in an earlier lawsuit’s public filings. Those leads tell your attorney where to aim.
How it works
- Intake. You send the judgment or claim, the debtor’s identifiers and anything you already know. We confirm the goal: a pre-suit collectability view or a post-judgment search.
- Confirm identity. We fix the right person or company, including prior names and related entities, so nothing belonging to a namesake ends up in your report.
- Records sweep. Real property in every county and state where the debtor has ties, entity filings, UCC filings, liens, litigation and licenses.
- Locate. When the debtor has to be found for service or a debtor’s examination, our skip tracing team confirms a current address and, where possible, an employer.
- Rank. Each asset is listed with the liens recorded ahead of you and any exemption questions for counsel to weigh.
- Report and roadmap. A court-ready report with sources, plus a short list of subpoena targets and examination questions for your attorney.
Arizona rules for collecting a judgment
- Post-judgment discovery. Under Ariz. R. Civ. P. 69, once any stay has run out, a judgment creditor may obtain discovery from any person, including the judgment debtor, as the rules allow. This is where bank records properly come from.
- Debtor’s examination. Arizona’s supplemental proceedings statutes, A.R.S. 12-1631 and 12-1632, let a court order a debtor to appear and answer concerning their property. Our report gives counsel the questions worth asking.
- Judgment liens on real estate. Under A.R.S. 33-961, a certified copy of the judgment, recorded with the required information statement, becomes a lien on the debtor’s real property in that county. It has to be recorded in each county where you want a lien, so knowing which counties matters.
- Garnishment needs a target. Arizona’s non-earnings garnishment forms ask for the name and address of the garnishee, meaning the bank or other party holding the debtor’s money. Guessing at banks wastes filing and service fees.
- The ten-year clock. A.R.S. 12-1551 allows enforcement within ten years after entry of the judgment, and within ten years after any renewal by affidavit or by an action on the judgment. Calendar the renewal well before the deadline.
- Exemptions. Arizona’s homestead exemption, A.R.S. 33-1101, shields a set amount of equity in a debtor’s home from forced sale and is adjusted each year for cost of living. Your attorney decides how exemptions affect strategy. We report the equity picture records support.
- Vehicle records. The federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act permits use of motor vehicle records in connection with civil proceedings, including the enforcement of judgments. We document the permitted purpose on every request.
Arizona’s growth shapes the search. A Phoenix debtor may own a rental in a new Pinal County subdivision, a cabin up north or a lot in another state. Property in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties is recorded separately, so a single-county search misses a lot.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Searching only the debtor’s home county. Liens attach county by county, and property often sits somewhere else.
- Paying for an online “bank account search.” If it is legal, it is a guess. If it is not a guess, it may not be legal.
- Ignoring entities. Businesses, LLCs and trusts tied to the debtor can hold the real assets. We map those links from public filings.
- Letting the judgment lapse. A missed renewal can end your ability to enforce.
- Waiting too long. Debtors refinance, transfer and sell. A search right after judgment catches more.
- Overlooking digital assets. If the debtor has talked about cryptocurrency, a known wallet can be traced on public blockchains through our blockchain forensics team.
Who this is for
- Judgment creditors and their attorneys
- Collection and commercial litigation firms
- Businesses holding unpaid commercial judgments
- Landlords and property managers with money judgments
- Plaintiffs weighing whether a defendant can pay
- Out-of-state creditors with an Arizona debtor
How it is priced
We do not publish prices. Scope depends on how many people and entities are involved, how many states the search covers and whether field work is needed. We quote in writing before any work starts.
| Included | Quoted separately |
|---|---|
| Identity confirmation and related-entity mapping | Certified copies of recorded documents |
| Real property, lien and UCC searches in the scoped states | Field checks to confirm a business or property in use |
| Litigation, bankruptcy and license history | Service of process and debtor’s examination papers |
| Written report with sources | Testimony or declarations |
| Discovery roadmap for counsel | Ongoing monitoring for new filings |
Frequently asked questions
Can you tell me how much money is in the debtor’s bank account?
No. Balances and account details come through legal process such as Rule 69 discovery, a debtor’s examination or a garnishment. We find leads that point to likely institutions so those tools are aimed well.
Is the search limited to Arizona?
No. Records research is done in-house for debtors anywhere in the US. Field checks outside Arizona go through vetted, locally licensed partner agencies under our coordination.
What happens after the search?
Your attorney uses the report to record liens, serve discovery, schedule a debtor’s examination or file a garnishment. We can locate the debtor and coordinate process serving in Arizona for any of those steps.
Can you guarantee we will collect?
No. Some debtors truly have little, and some assets are exempt or already encumbered. A good search tells you that early, before more money goes into collection.
Is it worth searching an old judgment?
Often. Circumstances change, and A.R.S. 12-1551 allows renewal. Have counsel confirm the judgment is still enforceable, then search before the next renewal date.
Related services
- Litigation support and witness location
- Open-source intelligence (OSINT)
- Background checks
- eDiscovery and litigation support
- Private investigations
Related guides
- Judgment recovery: locating a debtor’s assets
- Asset searches: what is findable
- Offshore asset investigation: what is realistic
Sources: A.R.S. 12-1551, writ of execution and renewal, A.R.S. 33-961, judgment liens on real property, Pima County Superior Court, supplemental proceedings, Maricopa County Justice Courts, non-earnings garnishment, 15 U.S.C. chapter 94, including section 6821.
Request this service
Tell us what you need in a few lines. Your request goes straight to the right team, and you get a written quote before any work starts.
Guides on this topic
Find out what is collectible
Send the judgment and what you know about the debtor through the online request form, and it goes straight to the investigations team. If you believe assets are being moved right now, tell your attorney and use our urgent intake form.