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How do you find someone's hidden assets?

The short answer

Hidden assets are found through a structured asset trace: Land Registry searches across all addresses linked to the subject, Companies House directorship and shareholding analysis, adverse credit, CCJ and insolvency checks, property valuations and, at higher levels, physical enquiries and vehicle checks. Reports start from £150 plus VAT and are most often commissioned before litigation, to enforce a judgment, or in divorce and insolvency cases.

People rarely hide assets cleverly; they hide them administratively, behind a second address, a spouse's name, a dormant company or simple silence. Asset tracing works by mapping the subject's footprint across official records until the picture stops matching the poverty being claimed.

What an asset trace examines

A foundation level report harvests every address linked to the subject through specialist databases, runs Land Registry searches on each one, checks for adverse credit, county court judgments and insolvency, values any property found, and maps directorships through Companies House. Higher levels add employment enquiries, shareholding searches across active companies, estimated rental income on owned property, a physical visit with discreet local enquiries, verification of residency from multiple sources, and details and valuation of associated vehicles. For fraud and insolvency cases specifically, a comprehensive report can lawfully include personal credit data: bank accounts in credit, mortgage and loan balances and monthly commitments.

What cannot be done, and the lawful route instead

Outside those fraud and insolvency gateways, no investigator can lawfully access bank account details, and anyone offering to do so by deception is describing a criminal offence under the Data Protection Act 2018. The legitimate route to compelled disclosure runs through the courts: orders to obtain information from judgment debtors, freezing orders with asset disclosure provisions, and the examination powers available in insolvency. An asset trace is what makes those applications precise, and often what proves a debtor's statement of means is false.

When to commission one

The classic moment is before litigation: a pre sue report answering the only question that matters, whether the defendant is worth suing. The second is enforcement, converting a paper judgment into recovery by finding what can actually be charged, seized or ordered sold. Tremark's instant quote calculator prices every report level in under a minute.

Need to know what someone owns?

Tremark's asset tracing reports reveal property, company interests and more, from foundation searches to comprehensive pre-sue investigations. Get an exact price in under a minute.

Get an instant quote or find out more about our asset tracing services

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    This page provides general information about the law and practice in England and Wales and is not legal advice. Rules change and individual circumstances vary; always take advice from a solicitor on your specific situation. Prices shown are indicative, exclusive of VAT and confirmed in writing before any work begins.