Paper Trails and Social Security Numbers
The last two categories can be difficult because they usually keep their paper trails to a minimum. They deliberately put any records such as utilities, telephone, cable TV and even large purchases in another persons name or an alias.
Let's take a few minutes to examine this so called paper trail. What it is and how it can be used is very relevant to your search.
It has been said that the average person will generate more than five miles of paper during a lifetime. What happens to this trail? This trail of paper begins at birth with a birth certificate, which usually lists both parents, hospital, town, date and sometimes other information on the parents as well. Along with the birth certificate there might be a local newspaper article birth announcement with details of the birth and sometimes even a photograph, depending on the size of the town. So hometown information is very important.
Other documents that are generated might be church records, such as baptism, then school records. Medical records may exist which might show a condition where medical care would be needed wherever your person might go. However, it is illegal to access medical records of anyone now.
The social security number, of course, is high on our priority list and is now generated at the time of birth. It is becoming more difficult to get the social security number of someone, but it is not impossible.
Bank accounts, checking and savings records as well as loan and credit card information and bad debt and collection data, may not be accessible but is part of the trail.
Driver's license and vehicle registration information will usually exist and be accessible. There may also be accident reports, related tickets or charges on record.
There might be records of attendance at colleges, trade schools or government sponsored programs, as well as the high school attended.
Voter registration is frequently a good source of information. Military records are helpful as are marriage and divorce records. Utility companies, business licenses as well as professional licenses. Mortgage records, tax records, corporate records, employment records, information generated by credit reporting companies.
