Fees

At Byrd, Stillinger & Associates we work hard to help you obtain the information you need in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.  We provide a free initial consultation for anyone considering our firm's services. Our base rate for investigator time is competitive for our industry, and we have flat-rate fees for specialized equipment such as GPS units.   Like most professional service firms, we require a retainer fee to be paid in advance.  We then bill against that fee for services we provide and costs we incur in working your case. Some database research matters require smaller retainers, often ranging from $500 to $2500.  Infidelity, child custody, insurance fraud and civil investigations typically start at $800 - $5000.  Criminal defense matters typically start at $1000 - $3500.  In cases where a judge has signed an order approving fees for Public Defender or appointed cases, we do not require an advance retainer, and we bill at the approved hourly rate.  We will discuss the details of your case with you during your free initial consultation, then determine a retainer fee based on a wide range of factors.

Some of the factors that help us determine the amount of the retainer are:

  • the amount of information the client is able to provide us in advance
  • the amount of local travel involved
  • airline, hotel and other costs
  • the estimated number of hours of surveillance needed to obtain the required information
  • need for specialized equipment evaluations and installation
  • the level of detail required - is the client seeking peace of mind or specific evidence for a court proceeding?
  • the inclination and ability of the subject of the investigation to thwart efforts at surveillance - a subject who is alerted to the possibility he is being investigated or who is naturally cautious and observant makes the case much more difficult and time-consuming
  • location - remote areas and some other situations require additional investigators and/or equipment
  • urgency - we will take urgent matters as long as our manpower and equipment availability allow us to do so without compromising ongoing investigations; rush service rates may apply. 

In many cases, particularly Family Court matters, your attorney can ask the Court to require the subject of the investigation to reimburse you for your cost in proving their wrongdoing.  Choosing a Private Investigator can be stressful and difficult.  Take your time, visit several websites, and if you can, interview several firms before making your choice.   When you are ready to talk to us about your case, contact us via email, phone, or in person to schedule a free initial consultation.

Current Rates:

Investigations - hourly - $65.00 per investigator

Mileage - $0.45 per mile

GPS monitoring - $250 per week

Home "bug sweep" - $350.00 (Richland and Lexington Counties) 

Vehicle "bug sweep" - $75.00 (when you bring the vehicle to our office)

Witness location - $125 standard search

Mobile Device Examination - $300

Identify cell phone number - $90

Covert video site analysis - FREE (Richland and Lexington Counties)

             Short and long-term system rentals and installation available

Process Service - $50.00 per hour/$0.45 per mile

Vehicle registration search - $20

SC Criminal record - $40 (client provides full name and date of birth)

SC Driver History - $40 (client provides full name and date of birth)

SC LAW REQUIRES A WRITTEN CONTRACT BEFORE SERVICES BEGIN.

ADVANCE RETAINER FEE REQUIRED FOR ALL INDIVIDUAL CASES. Insurance companies, businesses and law firms are encouraged to Contact Us for account-based services.
 

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