Systems and methods for processing an index are described. Searches are scope checked more efficiently using a forward lookup process based on the size of the requested search scope. In addition, an index is partitioned into separate stores based on a search scope that is learned based on where the user commonly conducts searches. As an example, a separate store may be created for a user's home directory should the user be conducting most of his or her searches in that directory. In addition to limiting the size of the index, during retrieval, intelligent index partitioning avoids the need to scope check a common search location.