Recovery research: know whether a claim is recoverable before you litigate

In brief: recovery research (in Dutch: verhaalsonderzoek) answers whether someone who owes you money, or whom you intend to sue, actually has assets against which a claim can be enforced. NCRB conducts this research for law firms, bailiffs, insolvency trustees, companies, and private clients across the Netherlands, using public and lawfully accessible sources. You receive a report with a source and confidence rating per finding. We report facts and indicators; we do not guarantee a collection result.

When do you commission recovery research?

• A claim remains unpaid and you want to know whether collection or attachment has a chance of success before incurring costs.
• You are considering proceedings and want to know in advance whether the opposing party can pay a judgment.
• You have a judgment and the bailiff finds no assets; you need leads for attachment.
• In a divorce or estate you suspect concealed assets, such as real estate, a business, or crypto holdings.
• As an insolvency trustee you want to map the asset position of a director or related party.
• You want to assess whether a settlement proposal is realistic given the counterparty's asset position.

What we research

• Real estate: ownership, mortgages, and attachments via the Dutch land registry, including property held through a company.
• Companies and interests: Chamber of Commerce registrations, directorships, shareholdings, UBO information where accessible, annual accounts, and foreign registers.
• Vehicles, vessels, and other registered goods.
• Receivables and income sources: employer, clients, rental income, and other indicators from public sources.
• Crypto assets: wallet addresses and transaction flows through blockchain analysis.
• Lifestyle and signals: public online activity pointing to assets, spending, or the relocation of possessions.
• Insolvencies, debt restructuring, litigation, and attachments from case-law and insolvency registers.

All lawful and with a documented legal basis. We have no access to bank accounts or tax data and never pretend otherwise. Distrust any agency that promises you that.

What you receive

• A report with, per finding, the source, the time, and a confidence rating, structured for use by your lawyer or bailiff.
• An overview of recoverable assets and the practical points of attention per asset (for example a mortgage that limits the equity).
• Screenshots and documentation with metadata as annexes.
• On request a short note on the feasibility of next steps, without legal advice; that remains with your counsel.

Recovery research for private clients

Private clients can also commission recovery research, for example for an unpaid loan, a contractor who does not deliver, an ex-partner who does not pay maintenance, or a scammer from whom you want to recover money. The condition is a legitimate interest, such as a claim or a judgment. For small amounts we say honestly when research is not proportionate to the claim.

Recovery research for law firms, bailiffs, and trustees

For legal practice we work as an extension of your office: after a conflict check and intake you receive a defined scope and a fixed price or cost ceiling, a point of contact, and reporting that can be used directly for an attachment request, petition, or negotiation. International components (real estate or companies in Belgium, Germany, Spain, Dubai) are included, with an honest indication of the limits of public sources per country.

• For law firms: our support for civil and insolvency practice
• Asset tracing (service page): scope, deliverables, and client groups
• Crypto tracing: when a debtor holds crypto
• Investigation agency in Limburg: where we are based, working internationally

Cost and turnaround

A first indicative picture of a natural person in the Netherlands is often possible within a few working days. A full report covering corporate structures and foreign components usually takes one to three weeks. There is no fixed price list. The first conversation and a short feasibility check are free; after the intake you receive a scope and a fixed price or cost ceiling before any work begins. Urgent timelines can be discussed.

Frequently asked questions about recovery research

What is the difference between recovery research and asset tracing?

In practice the terms overlap. Recovery research focuses on whether a specific claim can be enforced; asset tracing is broader and maps the full asset position, for example in a divorce, insolvency, or fraud case. NCRB does both.

Is an investigation agency allowed to research someone's assets?

Yes, with a legitimate interest such as a claim, a judgment, or proceedings, and within the GDPR and the Wpbr licence (NCRB: POB 1737). We use only public and lawfully accessible sources and document the assessment per engagement.

Can you find bank accounts or balances?

No. Bank data is not public and an investigation agency has no access to it. We can document indicators, such as an employer or company where a bailiff can levy attachment. An agency that promises you balance information is acting unlawfully.

Can the report be used for attachment or proceedings?

Yes. Every finding has a source, time, and confidence rating so that your lawyer or bailiff can proceed with it, for example to substantiate an attachment request. Whether and how to submit it is a procedural choice for your counsel.

Does NCRB conduct recovery research abroad?

Yes. Real estate in Belgium or Spain, a company in Germany or Dubai, or crypto assets: we research in multiple countries and indicate honestly per country what public sources do and do not show.

What does recovery research cost?

It depends on scope: a natural person in the Netherlands is more compact than an entrepreneur with several companies and foreign holdings. The first conversation and a short feasibility check are free; after the intake you receive a scope and a fixed price or cost ceiling. For a small claim we say honestly when research does not pay off.