Is a 'skip tracer' required to be licensed and bonded in Texas?

Answer 1

Skip Tracing in TexasYou should check this out with the Texas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies. Before I retired some years back, I was a Texas Licensed Private Investigator, and I seem to recall that the then governing State statute required anyone who did any kind of investigative work [skip tracing included] was required to have a Texas license to work on their own, OR to be registered if they worked for a Licensee. As I recall, licensing and registration required both insurance and bond. I have since heard that the requirement for bonding [only] was done away with.

I'm not aware of any requirement for "certification," as I suspect the Registration or License substituted. To stay out of trouble, check this out with the TBPIPSA, as they used to go real hard on anyone caught violating the Statute.

EDIT: First time answering on this site, I don't want to edit the previous answer, though I would like to clarify some things.

A licensed PI can locate missing loved ones, long lost friends, or really anyone for any legal non-threatening reason.

Anyone else, like a skip tracer in Texas, can only look for people for debt related reasons. For repomen, and lenders, etc., The cannot "legally" look for your long lost adopted mother, that would be stepping on a PI's toes and they hate that. If you can get licensed, I'd highly recommend doing so.

If not, don't advertise looking for anyone but debtors. Florida and other states have different laws that require a PI license to skip trace, but my answer applies to Texas.

RealTimeSkips@Gmail.com