How Much Does Skip Tracing Cost in New York? Real Prices from a Licensed Investigator

You need to find someone.

Maybe it is a former tenant who left owing rent. A defendant your process server cannot locate. A debtor hiding from a judgment. A witness who moved twice since the accident.

So you searched "skip tracing cost" and found the same thing everyone finds. Twenty websites, zero prices. "Call for a quote." "Every case is different."

Here is something different. Real numbers, published, from a licensed New York private investigator.

The Short Answer: What Skip Tracing Costs

Easton Secure Solutions LLC publishes two flat-rate skip tracing packages, priced per subject:

▪ Basic Skip Trace: $169
▪ Investigative Skip Trace: $399

In-person locate investigations are billed hourly, with the rate and scope confirmed in writing before work begins. Consultations are free.

The right option depends on the identifying information available, the difficulty of the search and whether field investigation is needed. A higher-priced package provides additional investigative work, not a guaranteed result.

Why Most Investigators Won't Publish Prices

Walk through the websites of private investigators across New York City and Long Island and you will notice the pattern. Services listed everywhere. Prices listed nowhere.

Some of that is habit. Some of it is strategy, getting you on the phone before talking money.

We publish our rates for a simple reason. The people who need a skip trace, attorneys with stalled cases, landlords chasing former tenants, families trying to reconnect, are already dealing with enough uncertainty. The cost of solving the problem should not be one more unknown.

What Each Tier Actually Gets You

Basic Skip Trace: $169

The Basic Skip Trace is a records-based search for straightforward locates where solid identifying information is available. It requires a full name and date of birth, or an SSN.

The written report provides likely current and recent address information. A records-based address finding does not establish that the person was physically observed there or that service will succeed.

Typical uses include developing an address for a former tenant, debtor or defendant when accurate identifiers are available and a more extensive investigation is not initially needed.

Investigative Skip Trace: $399

The Investigative Skip Trace includes everything in Basic plus a focused four-hour digital investigation. It is designed for difficult searches, limited identifiers, recent moves and subjects who may be avoiding service.

Multiple independent sources are cross-referenced. Identity and address inconsistencies are examined, wrong matches are separated, and additional research develops or corroborates leads. The case is reviewed by a retired NYPD Lieutenant.

Findings are delivered in a written investigative report explaining the available support and remaining limitations. A new address, physical presence or successful service is not guaranteed.

The package includes 45 days of Active Address Monitoring at no additional charge, beginning upon delivery of the initial report, whether or not a new address is identified. Relevant new address information identified during that period is reviewed and reported to you.

Typical uses include defendant, witness and judgment-debtor searches. Heir and beneficiary searches are separate assignments with their own scope.

If your case involves a defendant dodging service, we covered exactly how courts evaluate those situations in our article on what New York courts require before nail-and-mail.

In-Person Locate Investigation: Hourly Pricing

Some cases require field investigation because records leave important questions unanswered. A developed address may need to be checked, or the circumstances may require interviews, neighborhood inquiries or observation.

An in-person locate builds on investigative research with field work conducted in New York City and Long Island. The hourly rate, authorized work and anticipated costs are confirmed in writing before the investigation begins.

The purpose is to investigate the person's connection to a location and document what the work establishes. Field investigation does not guarantee that the subject will be present, that contact will occur or that legal papers will be successfully served.

Our person locating services page explains when field investigation may be appropriate.

What Drives the Price of a Locate

The scope of the work determines which option fits:

▪ The quality of the starting information, including accurate identifiers and useful address history.
▪ The difficulty of resolving conflicting records, recent moves or limited leads.
▪ Whether digital research is sufficient or field investigation is needed.

A legal purpose does not automatically require the Investigative package. A straightforward defendant search with accurate identifying information may fit Basic. A difficult search with partial identifiers or conflicting addresses may require more work.

The recommendation should explain what the investigation includes and what it can reasonably establish. Paying for additional research does not purchase guaranteed court acceptance, successful service or a particular outcome.

People-Search Websites and Professional Investigation

Consumer people-search products vary in price and scope. Their results can provide leads, but an address listing should be checked before someone relies on it for a legal matter.

Similar names, outdated addresses and mixed records can point to the wrong person. Acting on an unsupported address can waste service fees, delay a case and create problems when service is challenged.

A people-search result supplies a lead, a private investigator evaluates the evidence supporting it.

At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, the report explains what was found and the confidence supported by the available information. The work is conducted under New York State PI license #11000228434.

What New York Clients Should Expect for the Money

Whatever investigator you hire, in Nassau County, Suffolk County, or the five boroughs, a legitimate skip trace should come with:

▪ A licensed New York private investigator conducting the work, with a license number you can verify with the state
▪ Pricing confirmed in writing before work begins
▪ A structured written report, not a screenshot or a raw printout
▪ Clear communication about what was found and how confident the finding is

If any of those are missing, keep looking.

Getting a Locate Started

Begin with a free consultation about who needs to be located, why the information is needed and what identifying details are available. The proposed scope and price are confirmed in writing before work begins.

Remote skip tracing is available throughout New York State and nationwide. In-person locate investigations cover New York City and Long Island. Most investigations begin within one business day.

The investigation can develop information that helps you decide what to do next. Any unresolved questions or limits in the findings should remain clear.

About Easton Secure Solutions LLC

Easton Secure Solutions LLC is a Licensed NYS Private Investigator #11000228434 serving Long Island, NYC, and nationwide skip tracing. Services: skip tracing, person locates, missing persons, asset searches, identity verification, litigation support for attorneys, corporations, and private clients. Every case handled with discretion and accuracy.

☎️ Call: 516-962-1267
✉️ Email: [email protected]
💻 Website: https://eastonsecuresolutions.com
📅 Schedule: https://calendly.com/eastonpro-eastonsecuresolutions/30min
📝 Intake: https://eastonsecuresolutions.com/client-intake
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