With more than 50,000 private investigators licensed in the United States, you might be confused as to how to hire a private investigator.
Below we have outlined some tips to help you out.
Ask Around
The most logical place to find investigators is through referrals. Ask attorneys or friends who may have some direct knowledge and experience with a private investigator. Also, search the Web to find investigators who may have specialty skills in the area you are interested in pursuing.
Do Your Due Diligence
Don’t let a fancy website or a referral from a friend of a friend of a friend fool you. Do your homework. Do some searches on the Web to see if they have been mentioned in the media or in other publications. Make sure they are licensed.
Check Licensing
Most states have licensing requirements for private investigators. Make sure you check the local state licensing board to make sure they are licensed and there are no disciplinary actions filed against them.
Related Experience
You wouldn’t hire a wills and estates attorney to represent you in a criminal matter. Investigators have specialties too. Make sure they have experience in cases that are similarly related. It doesn’t need to be a perfect fit, but make sure you are comfortable with their previous experience.
Retaining an Investigator
Before retaining a private investigator, you should determine if you want to hire a private investigator on your own or through an attorney. Hiring a private investigator through an attorney gives you some additional protection in keeping the investigation confidential.
Engagement Letter
Most investigative firms will require a signed engagement outlining the general terms of the engagement. The engagement letter will also include terms of payment as well as deliverables, such as a report or a surveillance video.
Retainer/Deposit
If you are using an investigator for the first time, most private investigators will require a retainer. The retainer/deposit will be applied against any investigative activities.
Totally agree, however I also agree with Brian.
When you are Hiring a Private Investigator please make sure you know who you are using and always phone up multiple companies and get qoutes and ask for experiance. They are alot of Private Investigators in the UK who are setting up all over from their bedroom with very little knowledge, experiance, man power and equipment.
A must ask question is; How long have you been trading for and where are you based.
I know plenty of great investigators who work out of their home office, so I am not sure that is a reason to disqualify someone. Fortunately, investigators can work from almost anywhere.
Hire a investigator is very easy, Find investigators is through referrals. Ask attorneys or friends who may have some direct knowledge and experience with a private investigator. Also, search the Web to find investigators who may have specialty skills in the area you are interested in pursuing.
We have also one detective agency and I have gene the knowledge how we will hire what quality of the one professional detective and also I have share this blog to my all detective friends.
I’m the owner of a “Private Investigators Agency” in Bangkok (Thailand). The advises here up are good but for us (in Thailand) it has to be changed a little => We do not have licenses for Professional PI! BUT you should look if the Agency is Registered on the DBD (Department of Business Development)! All “official” business have too! We have a lot of scamers here!
I own a private investigators firm and I will take care before hire the private investigators in my firm according your above information. Thanks for sharing this blog once again many thanks for this.
I really enjoy visiting your blog! your interesting system to see things is what keeps me interested. Thanks so much!!!!