Person Locate Investigations

Developing Current Information Through Professional Investigative Research

Locating an individual can require more than entering a name into a database.

People move, change telephone numbers, use different addresses, share names with others, leave outdated information in public records, or have limited current information associated with them.

Cochran & Co. provides person locate services for legitimate personal, legal, and professional investigative purposes. Locate work may combine investigative research, records information, source comparison, and field verification when appropriate.

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Reasons Clients May Need to Locate Someone

Cochran & Co. may accept appropriate locate assignments involving:

Witnesses or potential witnesses
Individuals relevant to litigation or an attorney's investigation
Family members or other known individuals
Subjects relevant to an authorized investigation
Individuals associated with records, property, or other investigative information
Other legitimate personal or professional purposes

The reason for the locate matters.

Cochran & Co. reviews the purpose of the request and does not provide locate services when the information appears intended for harassment, stalking, intimidation, retaliation, unlawful contact, or another improper purpose.

How a Locate Investigation Works

Locate research begins with the information already available.

Useful starting information may include:

Full name and known variations
Approximate age or date of birth
Previous addresses
Known telephone numbers or email addresses
Relatives or associates
Employment or business information
Known locations
Relevant court, property, or other records
Other identifying information connected to the person sought

Not every item is necessary, but accurate identifiers can help distinguish the correct individual from people with similar names.

Cochran & Co. may compare information across multiple appropriate sources rather than relying on a single record or database entry.

A Possible Address Is Not Always a Confirmed Location

Investigative databases and public records can contain outdated, incomplete, or incorrectly associated information.

For that reason, Cochran & Co. distinguishes between information that identifies a possible location and information that provides stronger support for a current location.

Depending on the client's objective, additional research or field verification may be appropriate before information is treated as current.

Privacy & Appropriate Purpose

The ability to develop information about a person's whereabouts does not mean that information should be provided to every requester.

Cochran & Co. evaluates the stated purpose of locate assignments and may decline requests when the objective is unclear, unlawful, unsafe, or otherwise inappropriate.

The availability of particular information may also depend on applicable privacy, access, and permissible-purpose requirements.

No Guarantee of Location

Some people are relatively easy to locate. Others have limited records, outdated identifiers, common names, frequent address changes, or circumstances that make current information difficult to establish.

Cochran & Co. does not guarantee that every person can be located.

The objective is to conduct appropriate investigative research, evaluate the information developed, and accurately communicate the strength and limitations of the findings.

Discuss a Locate Assignment

When contacting Cochran & Co., provide the identifying information you already have and explain why you are attempting to locate the individual.

Cochran & Co. can evaluate the request, determine whether the purpose is appropriate, and discuss the potential investigative approach, scope, applicable rates, and anticipated costs.

Submitting an inquiry does not guarantee case acceptance or that a current location can be established.