PIs can provide a variety of services, including background checks, tracking down child support or custody, providing electronic and video surveillance, or tracking down individuals. You can hire a private investigator to help with legal proceedings, including gathering more information for use at a trial, or to provide you with information that may lead to legal actions. [2] X Research source
Once you have some names, take a look and see if they have websites, which will allow you to learn more than just seeing a line in the phone book. Most sites will list the business’ skills and services, which should help narrow down your list of people to consider. PIs who are good at looking for information will do much of their work in an office, using the internet and telephone to track people down. This can be a useful service, though less so if you want a PI to follow someone for surveillance. Make sure you also consider your location. If you want to track down someone you think is in California, hiring a PI near you in New York will be less helpful than contacting one already in California.
Good references to talk to include the duty agent of your local FBI office, a clerk at your county’s police department, the watch commander of the sheriffs department, investigators working in the District Attorney’s office, and criminal defense lawyers. [5] X Research source
License information is available through your state’s licensing board, so it should not be difficult to track down. Additionally, when you call the PI, they should be able to give you the licensing number. This licensing body should also be able to provide you with information about any complaints against the investigator. Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Mississippi, and South Dakota do not require licensing for private investigators. Colorado has a state license, but it is voluntary, so your PI may not have one.
In addition, you should take notice of where and how the investigator interacts with you. People you interview should have a professional office that you can visit, and will clearly spell out the fees for their services. If a potential investigator isn’t giving you this information, don’t hire him.
For example, if you want the PI to conduct surveillance on someone, make sure you are prepared to give a picture of the person, a list of his address and other significant places he goes, his typical schedule, and a picture or description of his car. As you talk to the PI about your case, you may have forgotten something. That is fine, as this is just a first meeting to get a sense of the case and what it might take to solve it. The investigator should be able to tell you what more he will need from you to do his job properly.
Another thing to look for is formal education. It isn’t necessary, but a degree in a field like criminal justice, criminology, sociology, or psychology is a big benefit. Several other professional certifications like Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Protection Professional (CPP) are offered by reputable trade organizations, and require good work to receive.
If you don’t know the answer to a question, say so. Lying or making something up will not help you or the PI, and might make your situation worse. Remember, you are hiring him to find information you don’t know, so don’t be afraid of not knowing something.
Remember that you are paying for the service, not the results. If you hire a PI to track your girlfriend, and it turns out she isn’t having an affair, you’re still on the hook.
You should be able to trust your PI with private information. If you start to feel uncomfortable sharing that information, you may consider hiring a different investigator, one you feel more comfortable sharing with.
