How to Find Someone's Address to Serve Court Papers

Even a rock-solid claim depends on being able to properly serve the person you're suing. If you've lost touch, or never had a reliable address to begin with, tracking one down becomes a real practical project in its own right.

Why this problem comes up so often

Plenty of disputes arise from relationships that were never particularly formal — a private sale, a casual contractor arrangement, a personal loan. In these situations, you may only have a first name, a phone number, or an old address that's no longer current.

Start with what you already have

Before searching further afield, review everything you already have — old invoices, contracts, email signatures, text message threads, or e-transfer confirmations — since any of these can contain an address or other identifying details you'd forgotten about.

If the defendant is a business

A registered business generally has a formal address on file with the relevant government registry, which can be a more reliable path than trying to track down an individual. See who can sue for the related question of naming a business defendant correctly.

Social media and general online presence

A person's public social media presence, a business's own website, or a professional profile can sometimes reveal a current location, employer, or other identifying information useful for locating them, even without giving you a precise address directly.

Asking people who might know them

If you have mutual contacts, a shared workplace, or a landlord in common, these can sometimes provide a lead on current contact information — approached carefully and reasonably, this is a legitimate way to move your search forward.

When to consider professional help

For a significant claim where locating the defendant has proven genuinely difficult, professional skip-tracing or investigation services exist specifically for this purpose. Whether this cost is worth it depends on the size of your claim and how much effort you've already put in without success.

What if you genuinely can't find them

If reasonable efforts to locate someone don't succeed, substituted service may be available in some circumstances as an alternative way to give notice — this is a genuinely technical area worth discussing with your specific court office or getting a professional opinion on, rather than guessing.

Where to go for the full service guide

This piece is about locating someone before service. For the full process of serving a claim once you have an address, see serving the defendant.

Frequently asked questions