Digging Into the Past: How We Help Lawyers Find the People and Evidence Time Forgot

When lawyers take on historic cases – whether involving institutional abuse, civil claims, or long-buried allegations – one thing quickly becomes clear:

Finding the facts is hard. Finding the people can feel impossible.

That’s where we come in.

At Online Investigations Pty Ltd, we specialise in helping legal professionals uncover critical information from decades past – locating witnesses, identifying key parties, and building a clearer picture of what actually happened.

The Work Behind the Headlines

Many of our clients are lawyers representing plaintiffs in historic abuse or misconduct cases. Others act for institutions and professionals who are now facing claims based on events that occurred 20, 30, even 50 years ago.

Regardless of which side we’re working with, our job remains the same:

• Find the people who were there
• Verify what can still be verified
• Deliver clear, court-ready reporting

Sometimes we’re asked to locate a witness last seen in the 1970s. Other times, it’s about researching whether a particular individual held a role at a school, hospital, or church during a critical window of time. In some cases, we’re tasked with identifying who should be held accountable when the known parties are deceased or untraceable.

How We Do It: Strategies That Work in Historic Matters

Historic investigations are a different beast. The usual tools – modern social media, standard databases – only get you so far.

Here’s what we bring to the table:

1. Witness Location – Even Decades Later

We’ve successfully tracked down individuals who haven’t appeared on an electoral roll in 30 years, thanks to layered data sourcing, archival research, and long-form OSINT methods. Sometimes it means cross-referencing addresses from a 1985 telephone directory with probate notices, land title shifts, and even old sporting club newsletters.

Witness location for historic abuse claims, institutional misconduct, or civil proceedings is a core legal service we support.

2. Identifying Who Was There at the Time

Need to know who was working in a particular institution during a specific year? We’re able to reconstruct staff rosters and community records through a mix of open source research, industry contacts, and public archives.

3. Deep Background Investigations

We don’t just locate people – we learn about them. Lawyers rely on us to provide in-depth profiles of claimants, alleged perpetrators, or third-party witnesses. This often includes:

• Prior litigation or disciplinary history
• Associations with known entities
• Timeline verification of employment, residency, or activity

4. Supporting Plaintiff and Defence Lawyers Alike

Whether you’re acting for a survivor or for an institution now defending itself, we provide impartial, accurate, and detailed investigative support. We understand how emotionally and reputationally charged these cases can be – and we handle each matter with discretion and respect.

We also provide Expert Reports when required, to support affidavits or court submissions involving hard-to-trace individuals or historic data findings.

What We’ve Learned Along the Way

• Memories fade. Paper trails don’t always exist. But every case leaves footprints – you just need to know where to look.
• Names change. Records don’t always match. It takes experience to sort through inconsistencies and come out with verified facts.
• Timing matters. If you’re preparing a case, the sooner we begin searching, the better your chances of building a full evidentiary picture.

Why Law Firms Trust Us with Historic Investigations

• We specialise in long-term missing person searches
• We understand the sensitivity of trauma-related cases
• We’re experienced in dealing with plaintiff, defendant, and institutional matters
• We provide thorough, reliable reports that stand up in legal proceedings

Need Help With a Historic Case?

We’re here to support your legal team – whether you’re preparing a Statement of Claim, responding to one, or conducting internal due diligence.

Get in touch today for a confidential discussion.

We work with legal professionals Australia-wide on historic witness location, institutional claims, deep background checks, and more.

Online Investigations Pty Ltd – Intelligence. Integrity. Results.