Bank Account Search: 7 Must-Knows Before You Search in 2022

Infidelity Isn't Limited to the Bedroom

One in five Americans is hiding money from a spouse, according to a survey conducted by Creditcards.com.  That means a whopping 30 million Americans are secreting a hidden account.

So, what's needed to search for hidden bank accounts?

In the case of an individual, we need the subject's name, address and Social Security Number. When searching a business, we need the business name,  address and employer identification number (EIN)

Divorce, Child Support, Judgment Collection

If your purpose for a bank account search is for unlawful reasons then of course this would be a criminal act. For instance, it would be illegal to conduct a bank account search to determine the credit worthiness of someone in order to make a loan. Likewise, you cannot request a search for curiosity purposes.

What is a fiduciary interest?

Generally speaking, having a fiduciary interest is someone that is legally entitled to the money or property.  As an example, in a divorce action, a spouse is legally entitled to be knowledgeable of all marital assets. If collecting on a judgment, the judgment holder is legally entitled to the money in order to satisfy the court-awarded judgment.

Consult With An Attorney

We are not attorneys. Therefore you should always consult with a competent attorney for advice regarding the legality of any financial investigation.  Remember, all of our hidden asset searches are completely GLB compliant and no financial institution is ever pre-texted or surreptitiously contacted by us.

3. What will a bank account search reveal?

A hidden asset search normally returns the name and address of the financial institution, account title (if different than the subject), account type, current balance and amount of the last deposit, when provided. We can also discover the location of safe deposit boxes, though the contents will be unknown.

Can all accounts be found?

Unfortunately not. Sometimes there's an opt-out agreement on file.  This is where the account-holder specifically requests in writing that information regarding the account not be disclosed.  When this occurs, we may only know that an account exists at the institution, but nothing further.  To garner further information, your attorney will need to file an information subpoena to the institution.

What can't be found?

We can only find accounts associated with your subject's Social Security Number, or in the case of a business; the EIN. Whether they be located at banks (online or brick & mortar), credit unions, or brokerage firms, most deposit accounts can be found.   We cannot locate any accounts associated with an insurance product, such as life insurance or annuity.  Also, 401k's that are held with an employer cannot be found because they are associated with the employer until converted to an IRA.

Time Considerations

Plan ahead, as locating bank and brokerage accounts take time to research, on average 2-3 weeks.  In certain circumstances, we can expedite the investigation, however this will increase the cost.

The Final Report

When our research is complete, we will notify you by email so that you may review and/or print the results.  Remember that our report is a snapshot in time of accounts at a given date and time.  Account balances can change daily and often do.  However, with the information that is provided, your attorney can subpoena the institution for updated balances and further account details.

5. What are the costs for a bank account search?

The costs to find bank accounts and hidden assets depends on several factors. Do you want to search statewide or nationwide? Do you want to search for only bank accounts or do want also want to search for brokerage accounts? The answer to these question will determine the base price for the search and what you will pay when you place your order.

In addition to the base price, we also charge $50 for each account found, to maximum of 10 accounts.  We only charge for accounts that have a balance of over $100; although we will report all accounts, regardless of balance. These account fees are charged after your order but before we return your results.

To further reduce costs, you may exclude known banks or brokerages, though you may not exclude specific accounts within a bank.  Further details are provided on each search description and under the FAQ tab.

7. Why Should I Trust Docusearch?

Reputation, and 35 years of experience. 

Docusearch has been assisting attorneys and judgment collectors find hidden bank and brokerage accounts for 35 years.  Our tools and experience are unprecedented in the investigative and legal industry.  We suggest that you ask your attorney about us.  If they are successful, then they have likely requested our services and will gladly provide a recommendation .  In fact, we are the favorite among other smaller private investigative firms.

A Reputation That Is Unparalleled

Don't trust your financial future to an unproven investigator or anonymous website, just to save a few bucks.  They will leave you disappointed.  Our track record has shown that have the proven experience to find all hidden bank & brokerage accounts, anywhere in the USA.