Private investigators serve many important functions that are distinct from the services provided by a lawyer. Due to the variety of services that a private investigator can provide, many lawyers keep private investigators on retainer or contract with them frequently. Some of the best uses of a private investigator include:
Locating People
A lawyer may need to locate a person in order to have him or her served in a lawsuit, to inquire about information that he or she may know as a potential witness or to find an heir. In other situations, a private investigator may need to locate a person who is actively hiding from law enforcement or process servers due to some type of misconduct. Still yet, a private investigator may be hired to help reunite family members due to a move or adoption. A private investigator can help locate a person so that a lawyer can interview, investigate or serve the person.
Locating Things
In other situations, a private investigator may be hired in order to find things rather than people. A business partner or spouse may be actively hiding assets so that the other person will not receive the portion that he or she is entitled to. In other situations, a lawyer may want to garnish a person’s wages or bank account or seize property in order to satisfy a judgment. Private investigators may be able to search special databases in order to find assets of value, including offshore bank accounts, domestic bank accounts, registrations of aircraft, watercraft, real property and other assets.
Reviewing Electronic Evidence
Today, most information is recorded in some type of electronic format. The electronic evidence in a case may make or break it. Private investigators may be able to recover electronic files even if they have been deleted by a user. A private investigator may review the emails, documents, voice files and audio files of a target of an investigation, whether this is an investigation for a lawsuit or an internal investigation.
Monitoring of Intellectual Property
Intellectual property can often be the most valuable form of property that helps to protect a person’s trademark, copyright or other intellectual property. Private investigators can monitor if a person’s patent or other intellectual property is being violated so that the inventor can ensure that he or she is not losing value anywhere in the world.
Reconstructing the History
A private investigator can often provide important intel in a case. He or she may be able to interview witnesses, review documents and conduct other investigative techniques to help reconstruct the history and background of a case. This history may be a corporate history involving the foundation of a business. It may involve the acquisition of property involved in a business or marriage. It could also involve the chain of title in a real estate case. It could also involve a family history when the heirs are being sought. Private investigators are often skilled at identifying documents, witnesses and facts that are significant in a given case.