Your objective
What you’re trying to find out — and what you’ll do with the answer.
Readiness Checklist
What to prepare before you call.
You do not need every answer before you pick up the phone. But the more you have organized in front of you, the faster we can tell you what is possible, what it will take, and whether an investigation is the right step at all.
Why It Matters
Preparation protects your budget.
Most investigations are billed by the hour. Time an investigator spends assembling information you already have is time not spent in the field. Clients who arrive with names, dates, addresses, and a clear objective consistently get further on the same money — and get a realistic answer sooner about what the evidence is likely to show.
Bring what you have
This is a preparation guide, not a requirement. Missing items are normal, and some cases begin with little more than a name. Gather what you can, note what you cannot, and we will work from there.
The Checklist
What to have in front of you.
Who the case concerns
Identifying details you already have lawfully. Partial information is still useful.
Timing and patterns
When and where things happen. Surveillance is scheduled around this, so specifics here affect cost.
What you already have
Documents in your possession. Copies in one folder; leave the originals as they are.
The legal picture
What’s already in motion. This shapes how findings are documented and delivered.
Practical details
Budget, timing, and how we can reach you safely.
Before You Do Anything Else
What makes a case harder.
Do not confront the subject
Once someone knows they are being looked at, routines change, accounts get cleaned up, and the behavior you needed documented stops. A confrontation can end an investigation before it starts.
Do not post about it
Social media posts, group chats, and comments to mutual friends travel faster than most people expect. Discretion on your side protects the work on ours.
Do not gather evidence yourself
Recording, tracking, accessing accounts, or entering property can carry real legal consequences and can make otherwise useful information unusable. Ask first — the answer is often that there is a lawful way to get the same result.
Do not delete anything
Messages, photos, call logs, and documents can matter later, including material that seems unfavorable to you. Preserve it as it is and let your attorney decide what is relevant.
Do not wait too long
Routines change, people move, and security footage is often overwritten within days. It is generally better to make the call before the situation changes or the subject becomes aware of your concerns — you do not need proof first.
Do not hire on price alone
Verify licensing, ask who will actually perform the work, and be skeptical of anyone who guarantees a result or offers to obtain protected records. A low hourly rate is expensive if the work cannot be used.
Next Steps
What to Expect After Your Call
1
A confidential conversation
You describe the situation and what you need to know. We listen, ask questions, and tell you plainly whether an investigation is likely to help.
2
Scope, cost, and a written agreement
Before substantive work begins, you receive a written agreement identifying the objective, the scope, the billing arrangement, and the limitations that apply.
3
Field work and updates
Work proceeds against the approved budget on the communication schedule set at intake. Material changes to the plan are discussed with you before we proceed.
4
Findings and a closing discussion
You receive the agreed deliverables, we walk through what was found, and you decide what happens next.
Common Questions
Before the first call.
It is generally best to contact an investigator before the situation changes or the subject becomes aware of your concerns. You do not need to have proof before calling. An initial conversation can help determine whether the matter is appropriate for investigation and whether acting now would be useful.
Helpful information may include the subject’s full name, photograph, address, vehicle information, known schedule, relevant dates, court documents, prior reports, and a concise description of what you need to establish. Do not obtain information illegally or confront the subject merely to gather materials.
You do not need to identify the precise service before contacting us. Explain what is happening, what you need to learn or document, where the activity is taking place, and whether an attorney or other professional is involved. We can then discuss what type of investigation may fit the situation.
We listen to the circumstances, ask questions about your objectives, review relevant timing and location information, and explain what may or may not be possible. When an investigation appears appropriate, we discuss the potential scope, budget, and next steps. You tell us what’s going on; we ask the questions that help us understand whether and how investigation can help. By the end, you should have a sense of what’s possible, what it might cost, and whether moving forward makes sense.
The client should receive a written explanation of the planned scope, billing arrangement, and expected budget before substantive work begins. If the scope needs to expand, the investigator should discuss the reason and obtain authorization.
Yes. Tell the team whether phone, email, or text is safest and whether there are specific times when contact should be avoided. The website form should allow clients to select their preferred method.
Ready when you are.
Bring what you have. A short, confidential conversation is the right place to start — we will listen, explain what is possible, and you decide whether to move forward.