Private investigator: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What private investigator is

A private investigator gathers information through research, interviews and surveillance for matters such as background checks, missing persons or evidence for a legal case, within the law. Clients hire investigators when they need facts that they cannot collect on their own or that must be documented for a dispute.

Signs you need it

  • You need to confirm the background of a business partner, a landlord or a service provider before you sign a contract
  • You need evidence documented for a legal matter, such as a dispute over a claim or a contract
  • A family member or friend has gone missing and the police need additional help or information
  • You suspect a business employee is stealing or breaking agreements and need the facts confirmed
  • You need to locate a person for a lawful purpose, such as serving legal papers

What the pro does

  • Review the matter, the purpose of the investigation and the legal limits that apply
  • Set the scope, the sources and the methods to be used, and the budget and time frame
  • Gather information from public records, databases, interviews and other lawful sources
  • Conduct surveillance or field work only where it is lawful and consistent with the purpose
  • Document each step, source and finding so the results can be verified
  • Deliver a written report with findings, the sources used and any limits on what was found

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The scope of the investigation and how many people or locations are involved
  • How many sources must be searched and how long the research takes
  • Whether surveillance or field work is required, which takes more time than desk research
  • Whether the report must be prepared for use as evidence, which requires more documentation
  • Whether the investigator must travel or work in another state or country
  • How quickly the findings are needed

What a written quote should spell out

  • The scope of the investigation and the questions it will answer
  • The methods used and any that will not be used, such as covert recording
  • The time frame, the milestones and the expected report date
  • The format of the report and whether the investigator will testify
  • How the investigator handles personal information and records

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Is your license current, and do you hold the registration this work requires?
  • What methods will you use, and which ones are you not willing to use?
  • Will the findings be usable in court, and what documentation will you provide?
  • Will you give me a written report with your sources listed?
  • What happens if the subject is not found or the facts do not support my concern?
  • How do you keep my case and the people involved confidential?

Red flags

  • Offers to access private phone records, bank accounts or email without a lawful basis
  • Promises a particular result, such as locating a person or proving a fact by a set date
  • Cannot show a license or explain the legal limits on the work
  • Asks for a large upfront payment without a written agreement

What you can do yourself

You can gather documents you already have, write a dated timeline of events and list the people who may have information. Do not follow, record or track another person without understanding the laws where you live, and do not try to get private records you are not entitled to. Hire a licensed investigator when the matter needs professional research, documentation that holds up or lawful field work.

Licenses and permits

Private investigation is commonly licensed, and rules on licensing, registration and permitted methods are set by each state or local licensing agency. Check with that agency for the license that applies where the investigator works, and ask for proof that the license is current.

Private investigator questions

Can a private investigator get my ex's bank records?

No, not without a lawful basis such as a court order. An investigator must work within the law, and a good one will tell you what they cannot obtain.

Will the investigator's report hold up in court?

It can, if the methods were lawful and the sources are documented. Ask the investigator how they will document the findings, and consult your attorney on how the report will be used.

What if the investigator finds nothing?

That is a valid result. Ask for a written report that explains what was searched and what was not found, so you know what that means.

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