FAQ’s

The responses to questions asked by clients or prospective clients are intended to provide general information about our policies and to discourage individuals from engaging in activities that could be construed to be illegal. At no time should this information be considered as “Legal Advice” or a substitute in any way for seeking legal advice from an attorney.If you have questions that are not addressed in the FAQ section please submit them directly to our staff by clicking on the CONTACT button at the top of this page.

Q1. Can your company provide surveillance and video evidence that is admissible in court?
A1. Yes. It is the policy of our company to build your case based on legitimate, courtroom worthy evidence and testimony. Q2. Can your company obtain my spouses telephone and cellular phone records without them knowing about it?
A2. No. Our company policies prohibit us from acquiring, selling, or providing telephone records to any individuals or entities. Any such records should be obtained through the normal process of legal discovery.

Q3. Can your investigators recover deleted files that my spouse is hiding on our home computer?
A3. Yes. We are experts at performing Computer Forensic acquisitions and analysis of computer and electronic media. More information on Computer Forensics

Q4. Do private investigators need a license? Is your company licensed and insured?
A4. In most states a private investigator must meet specific training and regulatory requirements. Our company is licensed and insured. Ream more about: Our licenses and credentials

Q5. Does your agency provide VIP services for celebrities?
A5. We offer special VIP packages for high profile individuals and celebrities. We also offer Executive & Personal Protection Services. More information on Personal Protection Services

Q6. How much does a private investigation cost?
A6. Reputable agencies require that you post a retainer fee upon contract. The retainer fee is based on location, the type of case, and the estimated time required to accomplish all the objectives ordered by the client. We provide specific quotes and hourly rates upon every consultation. We also provide discounts for active duty military and clients referred by any law firm. Request a quote

Q7. Can I follow my spouse and do my own detective work?
A7. Such activities are frequently perceived by the courts as stalking and in many cases result in a restraining order prohibiting further contact with your spouse. The preferred method would be to hire a reputable, professional investigator that can obtain physical evidence and video as well as provide witness testimony. Read more about: Virginia investigations or Read more about: California investigations

Q8. My spouse is hiding money and assets from me and refuses to tell me where it is. Can your company locate the assets for me?
A8. Our company policies prohibit us from acquiring, selling, or providing 3rd party financial information. Any such records should be obtained through the normal process of legal discovery. We are aware of numerous agencies that advertise online to obtain financial information for large fees. These organizations are operating illegally and you should stay away from them.

Q9. Does your company provide background checks on individuals?
A9. We do provide background checks for clients that have been properly screened, meet all requirements, and have an active agreement for investigative services. Read more about: Employee Screening

Q10. Does your company sell search services online?
A10. No. We provide investigative services exclusively to clients that have formally retained our services by executing a written agreement for services.

Q11. I have failed a DOD drug test but I have never used any drugs. Can you help me?
A11. We have helped clients establish innocence by providing advanced methods of drug testing, including the testing of hair samples. Read more: DNA drug testing

Q12. I have a soiled pair of ladies undergarments that I believe contain male semen. Can you provide testing to verify it?
A12. Yes. We routinely collect, establish a chain-of-custody for, and submit samples for forensic analysis. A serology report will indicate the presence of sperm. See Human DNA Services

Q13. I am involved in a paternity lawsuit. I am 100% positive that I am not the father. How can you help me?
A13. We can arrange for a comparative DNA analysis that will forensically prove that you are or are not the paternal father.

Q14. How many years of computer experience does your senior computer forensic expert have?
A14. Over 25 years experience. Read more: Credentials

Q15. Are you licensed to conduct investigations in California?
A15. Yes. Read more: Licensing

Q16. Does your company use GPS trackers?
A16. Yes. We routinely use GPS technology in our work.

Q17. Can your company get into my estranged wife’s house and plant a listening device for me?
A17. No. This action will violate numerous local, state, and Federal laws. We suggest you leave such activities to appear on Magnum PI reruns. We offer Electronic Courtermeasure Detection (Bug Sweeps) to detect illegal listening devices in homes, vehicles, and offices. Read more: Bug sweeps

Q18. I want to place a keystroke recording device on my home computer to monitor my wife. Is this legal?
A18. There are several software applications that will be able to perform this task. Currently, we are unaware of any local, state, or Federal law that prohibits the installation of such software on community property. Be advised that installing such software on a work computer may have several layers of legal complexity. It is advised that you consult legal counsel before pursuing such an endeavor.

Q19. I wish to have my competitors followed and to have a record of their business contacts and collect inside information about the company’s business ventures. Can you take the job?
A19. No. It is our professional opinion that such activity falls under the category of Corporate Espionage. We encourage you to seek legal counsel as due diligence before contracting anyone to perform such activities.

Q20. We have an employee that we believe is stealing from the company? Can you help us?
A20. We perform fraud investigations that deploy an array of different skill sets to uncover such activities. You may also wish to consider hiring an investigator to perform undercover operations to catch the thief. Read more: Fraud

Q21. Are you licensed in Virginia?
A21. Yes, we are licensed by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Read more: License and Credentials

Q22. How long has your company been in business? How much experience do you have?
A22. Our company was established in 2001. Our chief investigator obtained his first private investigators license in 1980.

Q23. We have a company hard drive that our computer can not read. Can you recover the data?
A23. We do perform data recovery services. If the hard drive is not physically damaged there is a high probability that your data can be safely recovered.

Q24. Do you guys carry guns while conducting investigations?
A24. Our agents are required to obtain basic and advanced handgun training, certification, registration, and a Concealed Handgun Permit. Agents that have completed the requirements, training, and registration may be authorized to carry a firearm, as required.

Q25. Can you obtain someone’s driving record for me?
A25. An individuals driving record is protected under privacy laws. Although we do have authorized access to DMV databases we may only access these records for legitimate, verified purposes. For example, if an individual applies for a job that requires a background investigation or due diligence check, the prospective employee must sign a release form and present it to the employer. This form will then be provided to us as evidence that the request is legitimate and meets local, state, and Federal requirements. We do not perform these services for the general public.

Q26. I called and asked to purchase some phone records from your company and you refused to take the job, why?
A26. Our company does not acquire, sell, or handle, in any capacity, any personal or business phone records. This practice was widely used by investigators over the years. In 2006 it was determined that many information brokers are using “pretexting” to acquire this information. New laws are being drafted to make the acquisition and sale of this type of information illegal. We strongly suggest you use the legal discovery process.

Q27. I am interested in becoming a private investigator. How do I get started?
A27. Contact the regulating authority in your state and ask them to send you an application package. Be prepared to be closely examined before receiving a license to transact business. Some states require a comprehensive written examination.

Q28. I have a spouse that lives in Virginia and she takes frequent trips to California. Can you work in both states?
A28. Yes, we are licensed in California and in Virginia.

Q29. How do I know that my investigation will be kept confidential?
A29. It is the policy of our company to never reveal the identity of our client to any second parties without the explicit, written authorization by the client. The obvious exception to this rule is that we will follow any legal directives, subpoenas, or court orders requiring us to unseal the case file.

Q.30 I tried to hire your company to perform an investigation but you refused the case, why?
A30. I am not familiar with your specific request. It is the policy of our company to properly screen every client. We also reserve the right to screen the intentions of our prospective clients. If we feel that the requests made by any client could (1) pose an inherent danger to any investigator, or (2) pose a threat to the general public, or (3) appear to be the actions of a stalker, we reserve the right to refuse to provide services.

Q31. How long does it take to activate a case?
A31. In most cases, if the client is available to be screened, a case can be activated within 24 hours.

Q32. Can you help us recover our runaway teenager??
A32. Yes, we have recovered runaway teenagers before. See this help page on runaway children and private investigators.

Q33. How can I track where my spouse goes each day?
A33. You can purchase a GPS Tracking Device. We recommend the LIVE Tracking devices that report the vehicles position ever few minutes. You can ever see the position on a map online!