How to Find a Female Private Investigator Near You
By David Schassler, licensed New York private investigator. . Updated
Start with your state. Browse woman owned agencies there, filter by the kind of case, check the license and ask for a woman on your case by name. If nobody is close, many agencies work with partners across state lines.
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Searching near me works best when you know what to look for. This guide shows how to narrow a list, and how to ask the right questions on the first call.
Start With Your State
Most states require private investigators to be licensed, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That makes the state the best first filter. On Shleuth you can open the page for your state and see the agencies listed there, with their towns and the work they take. If your state has few listings, look at neighbors too.
On October 17, 2026, Shleuth listed 156 woman owned agencies in 39 states. Florida had the most with 20, then Virginia with 17, California with 16, New York with 10 and Georgia with 9. These are our own counts.
Filter by the Kind of Case
Agencies tend to focus. One may do infidelity and custody work. Another may do insurance cases for companies. A third may find people. The Explore page lets you filter by proof and by type of work, so you can start with agencies that fit your case.
- Surveillance.
- Background checks.
- Child custody.
- Skip tracing and missing persons.
- Process serving.
- Insurance fraud.
Look at the Proof
Each listing shows how we know a woman owns the agency. SBA certified is the strongest, then federal self certified, then in their own words. Pick the proof level that matters to you, then check the license.
Distance Matters Less Than You Think
For some work, like records and background checks, distance hardly matters. For surveillance, local knowledge helps because the investigator knows the roads and the places people go. Ask each agency whether the work will be done by its own people or by a partner.
Questions for the First Call
- What is your license number.
- Who will work my case, and can it be a woman.
- How do you bill, and what is the retainer.
- What does your report look like.
- Have you handled a case like mine.
If Nobody Is Close
Ask the closest agency how it handles cases outside its area. Many work with licensed partners across state lines. Ask who the partner is and whether that person is licensed where the work happens. In California the written agreement must list the investigator's license number, so you can see who is doing the work (Business and Professions Code 7524). In New York you can check a name with the Department of State licensee search (NY Department of State).
A Short Example
Say you live in a mid sized city and need help with a child custody matter. Open your state page and look for agencies that list custody work. Pick two or three. Check each license. Call and ask who would work your case, how they bill and what the report looks like. Compare the answers. Pick the one that gave you the clearest plan, not the lowest price.
When the State Has Few Listings
Some states have only a few agencies listed, and a few have none. That does not mean no woman owns an agency there. It means we have not found proof yet. In that case, look at neighboring states, or ask a listed agency how it handles work across the line. If you own an agency and are not listed, the Verify page is the way in.
Use the Proof as a Guide
If two agencies look alike, let the proof and the license tip the balance. An SBA certified agency with a checked license gives you the most information. Still ask the same questions of every agency, because paperwork cannot tell you how they treat clients.
A Word on Reviews
Some listings show a star rating. It is the real figure from public reviews of that agency, and we never write or invent one. Read a few reviews yourself. Look for comments about communication, plain talk about cost and clear reports. A few reviews are not proof of anything, so use them with the license check, the proof and your own call.
If an agency has no rating shown, that only means we do not have one. Do not read it as a bad sign.
Keep Your List Short
Two or three agencies is plenty. More than that and the calls start to blur together. Write the answers down in a simple table so you can compare them the same evening. Pick the agency that gave the clearest plan, the clearest cost and the most candid limits.
Be Safe Online
Do not send private details in an open message. Keep your first note short. Say the type of case, the state and your deadline. If you are in danger, call 911 first.
Fast Answers
Can I search by city?
Browse the state page to see the towns where agencies are based. Use the Explore page to filter by state and type of work.
Do I need to hire someone in my own state?
Not always. Many agencies work with partners. Ask how they handle it.
Is it free to use Shleuth?
Yes. Shleuth is a directory and does not take cases.
Which states have the most woman owned agencies on Shleuth?
On October 17, 2026, Florida had the most with 20, then Virginia with 17, California with 16, New York with 10 and Georgia with 9. Shleuth listed 156 agencies in 39 states that day.
Primary Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Private Detectives and Investigators
- New York Department of State, Private Investigator licensing and licensee search
- California Business and Professions Code 7524, written agreements
- Shleuth listing data, counted October 2026
All sources were read in October 2026.