We at Forefront Investigations understand that if you have landed here on our page, you are likely going through a tough situation and you are looking for help. Allow us to answer some general questions you may have prior to making that initial free consultation call.
Are you licensed as a Private Investigator and is being licensed required?
The answer to this question depends on what state you are hiring a private investigator in. Not all states require private investigators to be insured. If you are unsure simply ask the company prior to hiring them or conduct a quick internet search to see if that state requires licensing for Private Investigators.
With that, California requires Private Investigators to be license. Forefront Investigations is licensed by State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. You can visit the website for the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services to verify our license by simply clicking this link https://www.bsis.ca.gov/
Are Private Investigators required to be insured?
Absolutely, at least in the state of California. Again, this question would be specific to the state you are requesting a private investigator in. We, at Forefront Investigations are required to carry insurance and would be happy to provide you a copy of our insurance policy upon request.
Will the person(s) under investigation be notified?
We do not notify the person(s) under investigation. We work at your direction, if you do not want the person(s) to be notified they are under investigation, they will not be notified.
Do I have to have an attorney to work a Private Investigator?
No, this is not a requirement, for us at Forefront Investigations. However, depending on the type of case we may recommend that you retain the services or at a minimum discuss your case with an attorney.
Do Private Investigators testify in court?
If your case ends up going to court for any reason and our investigation and evidence collected pertains to your court case, yes, we will go to court.
Do I need to sign an agreement letter or contract to work with a Private Investigator?
The answer should always be yes, and here is why. Agreement letters and contracts are to protect both parties. The client agreement letter or contract should clearly state the terms of the agreement, costs associated with the investigation and what type of investigation is being conducted.
How is the information collected during the investigation? Is it legal? Ethical?
Again, the answer should be yes! All evidence collected during the investigation should be obtained by legal and ethical means.
How much does it cost to hire a Private Investigator? Do I pay up front?
The cost to hire a Private Investigator varies. There are many factors that play a role in determining the cost of an investigation. Here are a few good questions to ask the Private Investigator which will help determine costs; what is your hourly rate? How many hours do you think we will need for my case? Do you charge for mileage? Do you charge for report and admin time? Be sure that you clearly understand what costs are associated with your investigation.
