Be Wise Selecting Private Investigator

1. What is a Licensed Private Investigator (LPI)?

• A paid licensed individual that gathers confidential information and carries out investigations on behalf of individuals and companies.
• Instrumental in ensuring a successful outcome of the trial.

2. What does a Private Investigator do?

• Performs searches, analyze data and organize facts.
• Interviews suspects and witnesses.
• Works undercover in companies/organizations.
• Performs Surveillance – Photo/video surveillance and technical surveillance counter measures (TSCM).
• Does Juror profiling and trial preparation.
• Testifies in court.

3. Types of Private Investigations:

• Domestic cases – Pre-marital checks, matrimonial infidelity, divorce, alimony, child custody/visitation/recovery, missing persons, wrongful death and tracing hidden assets/income.
• Corporate investigations - Asset searches, protection of intellectual property/trade secrets, anti-piracy/fraud, suspicious claims, copyright infringement, due diligence, tracing absconding debtors (skip-tracing), workers compensation, pre-employment background checks, accidents, theft, absenteeism, employee misconduct, tracking company vehicles, collection assistance and the mystery shopper.
• Computer and Internet Fraud - Cyber investigations, computer forensics, electronic data discovery and Internet profiling.
• Crime Investigations - Crime scene, criminal defense, covert surveillance, arson, forensic polygraph and homicide.
• Personal delivery of summons, subpoenas and other legal documents and Bounty Hunter repossession.

4. Most important Traits of Private Investigator (PI):

• A well-groomed and honest professional that you have to be able to trust. Remember, you are likely to disclose substantial personal and financial information, pay a retainer and trust that the investigation will be completed to your satisfaction.
• Intelligent, articulate, open, accessible and interested in helping you with your problem.
• Good researcher/investigator - Keeping detailed notes and using multiple sources of information. Acquires information quickly and efficiently through the use of informants and various sources.

5. Licensing of Private Investigators:

• Florida statute 493 to be licensed in the state of Florida.
• Need to display their Florida private investigative agency license number.
• Verify licensing organization that private investigator license is currently valid.
• Make sure that your PI is only using true W-2 employees, and/or subcontracting out to only ‘licensed' and ‘insured’ investigators.

6. Searching for a Private Investigator:

• Get recommendations from a trusted friend, an attorney or another professional who have used private investigators.
• Need to be licensed and hold a valid business permit.
• Formal credentials on work experience, education and training.
• Affiliations and Certification - National Association of Legal Investigators and American Society of Industrial Security.
• Adequate liability or Professional Liability Coverage - Errors and omissions (E&O) or "malpractice" insurance.
• Research their background and experience and their specialty field.
• Obtain references and follow them up.

7. Cost and Fees of Private Investigator:

• Rates for surveillance/special investigative work and the cost for conducting research depend on the duration, amount of information, cost of informants and urgency of the investigation.
• Fees charged are not regulated and range usually between $45 to $125 per hour.
• A retainer is normally required prior to starting an investigation.
• Clearly establish any additional expenses that will be billed during the course of the investigation.
• Be aware of minimum surveillance hours (minimum surveillance fee) for a particular day.
• Ask what happens to retainer paid if the investigation has been completed or you change your mind to continue before the retainer was used up – do they provide refunds.
• Request detailed estimate and subsequent billing.

8. Create Formal Working Relationship:

• Conduct a formal interview and find out how long they have been practicing, how many similar cases (like yours) have they investigated and what were the results.
• Discuss your options and goals in detail and whether an outcome is possible, legal and ethical.
• Ask the best course of action in your case.
• Written contract - Define responsibilities, duties, deadlines, fees, frequency of reports, estimated costs, etc.
• Call for progress reports and a detailed investigation report when the investigation has been completed.

9. Do Not Use a Private Investigator…

• That has an unlicensed Private Investigation company. Insist that the persons who are involved also be personally licensed.
• That has limited experience in performing research and dealing in government bureaucracy.
• That does not have a clean record – There should be no complaints or disciplinary proceedings filed against them.
• That is not prepared to testify in court and/or has never testified in similar cases.
• That does not have a registered office.
• That you do not have a good connection and understanding with.

10. Can You Handle the Truth?

• The outcome might not be the one that you have wished for.
• Are you willing to take the next step and react to the information presented?
• Private Investigator work may also prove to be of no value to you – It may not obtain the desirable or favorable results.