What Does an Asset Search Show? Complete Report Breakdown
Considering an asset search but not sure what you’ll get? This guide breaks down exactly what a professional asset search report includes—from real property and vehicles to business interests and court records. Know what to expect before you order.
📌 Key Takeaways
- Asset searches reveal real estate, vehicles, business interests, and employment
- Reports include liens, judgments, and bankruptcies affecting the subject
- UCC filings show business equipment and secured interests
- What’s NOT included: bank account balances, investment portfolios, cash holdings
- Scope varies by provider—comprehensive searches cover more ground
- Results help target collection efforts, due diligence, and litigation strategy
📑 Table of Contents
🏠 Real Property
What’s Included
- Property addresses owned by the subject
- Property type (residential, commercial, land)
- Assessed value and estimated market value
- Purchase date and purchase price
- Mortgage information (lender, amount, recording date)
- Equity estimate (value minus liens)
- Co-owners if property is jointly held
- Transfer history showing previous sales
Real property searches typically cover nationwide records, though some budget services only search specific states. For judgment collection, knowing property equity helps determine if a lien will result in payment.
🚗 Vehicles & Watercraft
What’s Included
- Vehicles registered to the subject (cars, trucks, motorcycles)
- Year, make, model, VIN
- Registration address
- Lien holder information (if financed)
- Boats and watercraft (Coast Guard registered)
- Aircraft (FAA registered)
- RVs and recreational vehicles
Vehicle information comes from DMV records (restricted access) and vessel/aircraft registrations (public). Leased vehicles typically won’t appear as owned by the subject.
🏢 Business Interests
What’s Included
- Corporations where subject is officer, director, or registered agent
- LLC memberships and manager positions
- Partnership interests
- DBA (doing business as) filings
- Business addresses and formation dates
- Active vs. inactive status
- UCC filings showing secured interests in equipment, inventory, receivables
Business ownership often reveals hidden income and assets. Someone claiming to be broke while owning 50% of a profitable LLC raises questions worth investigating.
💼 Employment Information
What’s Included
- Current or recent employer name
- Employer address
- Employment dates (when available)
- Position/title (sometimes available)
Employment information is essential for wage garnishment. Note that employment data may be weeks to months old—people change jobs. Some asset searches don’t include employment; verify before ordering if this is important to you.
⚖️ Court Records & Liens
What’s Included
- Civil judgments against the subject
- Tax liens (federal, state, local)
- Mechanic’s liens
- Bankruptcy filings (Chapter 7, 11, 13)
- Civil lawsuits where subject is a party
- Divorce filings (in some jurisdictions)
Existing liens and judgments affect your collection priority. If the subject has $100,000 in IRS liens on a $150,000 property, your judgment lien may recover little. Bankruptcy filings are critical—you may need to file a claim in the bankruptcy court.
❌ What Asset Searches Do NOT Include
⚠️ Important Limitations
Professional asset searches have legal and practical limits. Understanding what’s NOT included prevents unrealistic expectations.
| Not Included | Why | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Bank account balances | Protected by banking privacy laws | Court subpoena after judgment |
| Investment portfolios | Brokerage records are confidential | Discovery in litigation |
| Cash holdings | No paper trail for physical cash | Lifestyle analysis, depositions |
| Retirement accounts | Protected records; often exempt anyway | Discovery; limited collectability |
| Cryptocurrency | Decentralized, difficult to trace | Specialized forensic investigation |
| Safe deposit box contents | Private; contents unknown | Court order if box location known |
💡 The Role of Discovery
Asset searches tell you what someone owns on paper. For liquid assets like bank accounts and investments, formal legal discovery (interrogatories, subpoenas) during litigation provides access to records that can’t be obtained otherwise.
📊 Scope Varies by Provider
Not all asset searches are equal. Compare what’s included:
| Component | Basic Search | Comprehensive Search |
|---|---|---|
| Real property (home state) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real property (nationwide) | — | ✓ |
| Vehicles | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boats/Aircraft | — | ✓ |
| Business filings | Limited | All 50 states |
| Employment | — | ✓ |
| UCC filings | — | ✓ |
| Court records | Limited | Comprehensive |
🔍 Get a Comprehensive Asset Search
Our asset searches include real property, vehicles, business interests, employment, UCC filings, and court records. Know what you’re dealing with.
