An asset search is the disciplined process of identifying what a person or business owns and is owed. It is central to three situations: divorce, where one spouse may be hiding marital assets; judgment enforcement, where a creditor needs collectible property to recover on a win; and business disputes, where a party's real financial position determines strategy.
This guide explains the methods a licensed investigator uses, what is legal under New York and federal law, and when an asset search pays for itself. We match you with NYS-licensed investigators who conduct these searches lawfully; we do not perform them ourselves.
What an Asset Search Can Locate
Through lawful database access, public records, and skip-tracing methods, a licensed investigator can locate a wide range of holdings. The reachable picture is broader than public records alone, though no legal search reaches everything.
- •Real estate holdings and recorded mortgages and liens.
- •Business ownership, corporate officer positions, and UCC filings.
- •Vehicle, vessel, and aircraft registrations.
- •Publicly recorded financial instruments and judgments.
- •Professional licenses and regulatory filings.
For concealed or offshore assets, investigators work with forensic accountants and vetted international networks. They are transparent at the outset about what the search is likely to reveal given how well assets have been hidden.
What Is Legal, and What Is Not
The hard line in financial investigation is pretexting for financial records. Federal law, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, makes it illegal to obtain a person's bank or financial account information through false pretenses. A legitimate investigator does not call a bank pretending to be the account holder, and you should walk away from anyone who offers to.
If an investigator promises to pull exact bank balances quickly, treat it as a red flag. Lawful asset work locates and documents ownership through legal channels. Account-level balances generally come through formal discovery, subpoena, or court process, not a phone call.
What is lawful is substantial: public records across jurisdictions, proprietary databases, and analysis that connects a subject to entities and property. In litigation, the investigator's findings frequently guide where an attorney directs formal discovery.
When an Asset Search Is Worth It
Asset searches are most valuable in high-asset divorce where disclosure is incomplete, in judgment enforcement where you need to know whether a debtor has collectible property before spending on collection, and in due diligence before extending credit or entering a deal. Standard searches start in the low four figures; multi-jurisdiction or offshore work runs higher and is scoped individually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a private investigator find hidden bank accounts?
A licensed investigator can lawfully locate evidence of banking relationships and many financial holdings through legal database and records work. They cannot obtain account balances by pretexting, which federal law prohibits. Exact balances generally come through formal discovery or subpoena in litigation.
When is an asset search most useful?
Most often in high-asset divorce to identify undisclosed marital assets, in judgment enforcement to find collectible property before spending on collection, and in due diligence before extending credit or entering a partnership.
How much does an asset search cost?
Standard searches start in the low four figures. Multi-jurisdiction or offshore searches, and matters involving forensic accounting, run higher and are scoped individually. A good investigator tells you what the search is likely to reveal before you commit.
Get a Free Manhattan Consultation
Every consultation is free and confidential. Tell us about your situation and we will match you with a licensed investigator who handles cases like yours.