Skip tracing

How to find a phone number from a trust name for skip tracing

Finding a phone number for a property held by a trust requires skip tracing the trustee, not the trust itself. You need to identify the individual responsible for the trust and then use their personal information to find contact details.

October 17, 2026 · 3 min read

The challenge of trusts in skip tracing

When a property is owned by a trust, you cannot directly skip trace the trust name itself. Trusts are legal entities, not individuals with phone numbers. Your goal is to find the contact information for the trustee, who is the person legally empowered to make decisions regarding the trust's assets, including real estate.

This adds an extra step to your skip tracing process. You must first identify the individual trustee before you can search for his or her phone number. Without this initial step, your skip tracing efforts will likely yield no useful results.

Identifying the trustee

The most common place to identify the trustee is on the property's deed. When the property was transferred into the trust, the deed would typically list the trust as the grantee and name the trustee. Access public records at your county recorder or assessor's office to find this document.

If the property recently went through probate, the probate court records might also name the trustee or the personal representative who established the trust. Always look for official documents that clearly state the individual's role as trustee for the specific trust in question.

Using public records for trustee information

Once you have the trustee's full name, you can cross-reference this information with other public records. Property tax records might list a mailing address for the trustee, which could be different from the property address. Voter registration records, if publicly accessible in your state, sometimes include current addresses.

The more current personal information you have for the trustee, such as a last known address or date of birth, the more accurate your subsequent skip tracing will be. Compile as much data as possible before moving to the next step.

Leveraging a data vendor for skip tracing

After you have identified the trustee by name and gathered any available personal details, you can use a professional skip tracing data vendor. These vendors specialize in compiling public and private data to link individuals to phone numbers, email addresses, and other contact information. You will input the trustee's name and other identifying information you found.

A good data vendor will return multiple phone numbers, including mobile and landline numbers, associated with that individual. Understand that not all numbers will be current or correct, but it provides a starting point for your outreach. For a better understanding of what skip tracing actually returns, you can read /learn/what-a-skip-trace-actually-returns.

What to do with the results

Once you receive the skip trace results, prioritize the mobile numbers, as these are often the most effective for initial contact. Be prepared for some numbers to be disconnected or belong to other family members. It is part of the process, and persistence is key.

Carefully manage your outreach, ensuring you comply with all communication regulations. Remember, the goal is to start a conversation with the person who can make decisions about selling the property. For more on how to work your leads effectively once you have contact information, see /how-to-work-your-leads.

Questions people ask

What if the trustee lives out of state?

If the trustee lives out of state, the process remains the same; you just need to find his or her contact information. Be aware of any specific state laws regarding out-of-state communication.

Can I text the trust directly?

No, you cannot text a trust directly as it is not an individual with a phone number. Your communication must be directed to the trustee, who is a person.

What if multiple people are listed as trustees?

If there are multiple trustees, gather information for each of them. Your skip trace vendor should be able to provide contact details for all listed individuals, and you may need to attempt to contact more than one to reach the decision-maker.