Blog
Plain guides on hiring a private investigator, checking a license and reading proof of woman ownership. Written for first time clients.
What a Private Investigator Can and Can't Legally Do
What a private investigator can legally do, and the lines she can't cross on recording, GPS trackers, records, badges and private property, by state.
Read the guide7 Places a Private Investigator Looks for Hidden Assets
Where a private investigator finds hidden assets, why lying to a bank for account facts is a federal crime, and how your lawyer gets the bank records.
Read the guidePrivate Investigator Background Check vs an Online People Search
What a private investigator background check covers, what people search sites get wrong, the FCRA rules for jobs and rentals, and when to hire one.
Read the guideHow a Private Investigator Finds a Missing Person, and When to Hire One
How a private investigator finds a missing person, what she cannot legally do, what to bring, and the FBI numbers on who goes missing and why.
Read the guideNeelum Khan on Running Investigations at New York Intelligence Agency
Guest feature. Neelum Khan leads investigations and research at New York Intelligence Agency. How she staffs surveillance, prices it and says no.
Read the guideHow Private Investigator Surveillance Works, and What the Law Allows
How a private investigator runs surveillance, what she can legally film, and the recording and GPS tracker laws in California, Florida, Texas and Virginia.
Read the guideCan a Private Investigator Get Phone Records?
No. A private investigator cannot legally get someone else's phone records from a carrier. The law is clear on this, and an investigator has other ways to help.
Read the guideCan Private Investigators Be Charged With Stalking?
Yes. A license does not protect a private investigator who harasses, threatens or follows someone in a way that breaks stalking laws. Learn where the line is.
Read the guideDo Private Investigators Work With Police?
Sometimes, but they are not police. A private investigator has no power to arrest, search or demand records. The two sometimes meet, and the limits are clear.
Read the guideCan You Sue Someone for Hiring a Private Investigator?
Hiring a private investigator is legal, so the hiring alone is rarely a reason to sue. A lawsuit usually turns on what the investigator did.
Read the guideCan Private Investigators Carry Guns?
A private investigator license is not a gun permit. Whether an investigator can carry depends on state law and a separate permit. Know the rules before you ask.
Read the guideHiring a Female Private Investigator for a Cheating Spouse
What a private investigator can do in an infidelity case, what is legal, how to pick an agency and what the report should show. Plain steps.
Read the guideHow Much Does a Female Private Investigator Cost?
What drives the price of a private investigator, how agencies bill, and how to keep the cost down without cutting corners. Plain steps.
Read the guideHow to Check a Private Investigator's License in Five Steps
A simple way to check a private investigator license before you hire. What to ask, where to look it up, and what the result should show.
Read the guideHow to Find a Female Private Investigator Near You
Where to look, what to filter by, and what to ask when you want a woman owned private investigation agency in your state or nearby.
Read the guideQuestions to Ask Before You Pay a Private Investigator Retainer
What a private investigator retainer is, what to ask before you pay, and what should be in the written agreement. Plain answers for first time clients.
Read the guideWhat Does Woman Owned Mean for a Private Investigator Agency?
SBA certified, federal self certified, or in their own words. What each kind of proof of woman ownership means, and what it does not tell you.
Read the guide
Looking for the short version? Start with the hiring guide, then explore woman owned agencies.