An investigator is someone who is licensed to investigate various kinds of cases, both civil and criminal. When you hire a private investigator, he or she will do their best to get the information for you by means of surveillance on the person of interest. The information they gather can then be used in court as evidence to help prove your case against another person.
Will the private investigator work for me?
You should know that the investigators are independent contractors. When you engage a private investigator, you are not hiring him or her to work for your company. Instead, you are contracting with them to do a specific job for you–like find out if your spouse is cheating on you or help with an insurance fraud claim.
Therefore, the investigator will not work for you directly. In addition, the contract must be in writing, so everyone knows their obligations to each other before they start working together.
How much does an investigator cost?
The costs of hiring an investigator depend on the type of case, the type of investigator and the length of time required for the investigation. The cost will also vary depending on an investigator’s credentials and experience.
There are three factors that determine what your case will cost. These include.
- Type of Case–Certain types of jobs cannot be done by all investigators. For example, if you need someone to track down stolen property or perform surveillance at your home or business, it’s unlikely that a licensed bail bondsman would take on those tasks because they don’t have proper training or licensing for them.
If you contact an unlicensed bail bondsman or one who doesn’t specialise in tracking down missing people, vehicles or other items, they may end up costing more than necessary because they lack specific training needed for these types of investigations.
- Investigator Type–there are different types of investigators; some specialise in certain areas such as forensic science, cybercrimes, financial fraud, etc., while others have teams capable of handling various types of cases.
- Investigation Length–The longer an investigation takes, the greater your costs are likely to be. Some investigators specialise in handling long-term investigations, but they will cost you more.
Is it legal to hire investigators?
If you’re debating whether or not to hire an investigator, the first thing you should do is check your local laws. The investigators are regulated by each state they work in and may have different rules pertaining to their job depending on where they live.
Some states require them to obtain additional licences or permits, while others only require that they be licensed to practice as a private investigator.
If you want to make sure your PI is legit, ask how long he’s been doing this kind of work before enlisting his services.
What are the common types of cases that the investigators handle?
The investigators handle a variety of different cases, including:
- Child custody and support
- Criminal defence
- Criminal investigation
- Divorce and domestic violence (including wrongful death) investigations
- Employee theft, embezzlement and fraud investigations
- Foreclosure investigations
- Forensic accounting (e.g., examining financial documents)
- Personal injury lawsuits (e.g., slip-and-fall or car accidents)
Investigators have skills that go beyond observing and reporting.
When you hire an investigator, you’re not just hiring someone to observe and report. Investigators are trained in the art of questioning people and collecting evidence. They learn how to analyse the collected information and conduct surveillance if needed.
Conclusion
Investigators are a great resource for people in need of additional help. They are experts at getting to the bottom of things and have a wide range of skills. If you’re looking for someone who can help you investigate something or someone discreetly, you may want to consider reaching out to your local PI agency.
