| Do you have a runaway teenager? Do you need | | | | ask questions of friends, prior boyfriends or |
| to investigate to find a witness for a legal court | | | | girlfriends, school authorities, neighbors, etc. |
| case? Are you trying to resolve a worker | | | | Tips to Find the Right Private Investigator |
| compensation matter, or collect information for | | | | You should be sure to hire an investigator that is |
| anti piracy or fraud? Unfortunately, these | | | | licensed to practice in your particular state. Many |
| situations and others do come up occasionally and | | | | states require that investigators obtain a license. |
| only thorough investigations can help resolve | | | | For instance, if you live in Dallas, Texas and want |
| these matters. It's occurrences like these when | | | | to hire someone to conduct investigations within |
| the services of a private investigator may help. | | | | Dallas, make sure they are licensed with the state |
| A private investigator (a.k.a. private eye or PI) is | | | | of Texas. Ask to see a copy of their license. |
| someone who undertakes investigations for a | | | | If you're not sure whom to contact, check with |
| group or individual and uses skill and knowledge to | | | | local or statewide PI (private investigator) |
| gather hard-to-find information. Parents might hire | | | | associations. Or, ask a lawyer or insurance agent |
| someone to investigate if they have a runaway | | | | to recommend an investigator. You might also be |
| teen. Lawyers often hire private investigators in | | | | able to locate investigators by searching the Web. |
| civil cases. During divorce cases, an investigator | | | | If you live in Dallas, for instance, type in a search |
| may be hired to gather evidence of infidelity or | | | | phrase such as "Dallas Texas private investigator" |
| other illegal conduct against the institution of | | | | or "investigations in Dallas Texas." This will help |
| marriage. Insurance companies sometimes rely | | | | you narrow the search to your local area. |
| upon investigations to protect against insurance | | | | When you meet with a potential investigator, ask |
| fraud. | | | | if he/she can produce examples of reports from |
| Private investigators must keep detailed records | | | | similar cases. Also, be sure to agree on a price |
| of all their findings, and must be willing and ready | | | | before getting started with the investigation. Ask |
| to testify as a witness in court if necessary. Also, | | | | about retainer fees, hourly fees, special rates for |
| they must remain within the scope of federal, | | | | surveillance during off-hours, etc. |
| state and local law while conducting investigations. | | | | When seeking a private investigator, choose one |
| Their work may involve surveillance for long hours | | | | that is experienced in the type of work needed. |
| or during irregular hours, sifting through hundreds | | | | Whether you need to know the whereabouts of |
| of files and records, visiting various locations to | | | | a runaway teen, investigate a case of fraud or a |
| gather information, and even questioning those | | | | worker compensation case, or find a long lost |
| persons involved in the situation. For example, in | | | | loved one, a private investigator will use his/her |
| the case of a runaway teen the investigator may | | | | wisdom and resources to get all the facts! |