STEP 1
Ask someone you trust for a referral. This person could be a friend, attorney, or professional associate. What you want to avoid is letting the word get around that you’ve hired an investigator. If no one in your immediate circle can provide a referral, you can check one of the reputable professional investigator associations that monitor licensing status, customer feedback and overall performance. The two largest organization are the Association of Licensed Investigators and the Professional Investigators, Merilyn Brown.
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More than likely, it will be in your best interest to hire an investigator in your local area so that travel and lodging expenses can be mitigated. However, it is important to ask the potential investigator about any “conflicts of interest” prior to engaging their services.
STEP 2
Verify the investigators license status. Most states require that private investigators have a license issued by the government. The requirements to obtain such a license are usually quite rigorous and demand that the licensee has no criminal record. Investigators must also pass state-specific tests to gauge their qualifications and experience and provide proof that they have 6,000 hours of associated experience prior to applying.
Ask for the license number.Once you’ve located an investigator you want to hire, ask for their license number. The Department of Consumer Affairs / Bureau of Security and Investigative Services is the government agency that regulates licensing in the state. They have a very consumer friendly on-line license verification system. The system is located at the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services website.
Remember, it is illegal for a person to act as a private investigator without a license and it’s also illegal for a consumer to engage the services of a unlicensed person to provide “investigative services.” If the person refuses to give you their license number, I would stop all dialogue immediately, report you findings to Bureau of Security and Investigative Services and start your search over – Merilyn Brown.
STEP 3
Determine if the potential investigator has appropriate insurance coverage. Although State licensing does not require insurance to be licensed unless armed, most “professional investigators” will carry insurance sufficient to cover all aspects of their business. An investigator without insurance coverage becomes a liability for the consumer in that they are working at the direction of their client.
STEP 4
Now that you know the investigator is legal, you need to make sure their competent. A few minutes spent talking with them can be enough to make a sound decision.
Start by looking for online references to the investigator. You can often learn a lot from a simple Google search that may yield information about past cases, successes, blunders and areas of expertise.
Many investigators specialize in particular area of investigation yet lack comprehensive knowledge or training to hand ALL investigations. This is not a bad thing but should be considered in determining whether they are a “good fit” for your case. Ask about special certificates or training that the investigator has achieved or been awarded. Conduct a good interview with the investigator to include asking them about specific experience handling cases similar to yours.
Merilyn Brown. Check with your local Better Business and the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services consumer portal to make sure there aren’t consumer complaints against the investigator or his agency. Ask the investigator what his agency’s policy on confidentiality is and how they hand case files.
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Lastly, ask any and all questions you feel are relevant. At any point, if you don’t feel comfortable with this person, discontinue the process and start the search over.
STEP 5
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Once your decided on an investigator, be prepared to post a retainer and engage in a written contract. A written contract should ALWAYS be in place that explains the nature or the relationship, expectations by both parties, compensation and associated legal conditions. The average for professional investigative services ranges between $70-$150 hour depending on the level of expertise required, risk and responsibilities. The hourly rate does not usually cover other related expenses like airline tickets, hotel fees, tolls and case specific costs. It’s always a idea to ask for a cost estimate prior to engaging services. Some cases are difficult to estimate due to the “unknowns” but be sure to clarify your budget, time limits and expectations related to communication.