There’s a lot of mythology around private investigators. TV shows them tailing spouses through parking lots; clients sometimes expect them to “just look up” anything. The reality is more constrained and, in some ways, more useful.

What we can do

• Run permissible-purpose database searches. Licensed investigators have credentialed access to data sources (credit headers, utility records, court filings, DMV records, business filings) that the general public can’t access. Under GLBA, FCRA, and DPPA, this access is granted only for enumerated purposes — post-judgment collection is one of them.
• Verify findings in the field. Stale database records get cross-checked through physical investigation: drive-bys to confirm occupancy, mailbox checks, observation of vehicles in driveways.
• Document chain of evidence. Every source, timestamp, and corroboration is logged so the report stands up to court scrutiny.
• Trace assets through entities. When defendants hide assets in LLCs, trusts, or via family transfers, we cross-reference Secretary of State filings, recorder data, and beneficial-ownership records to surface them.
• Provide expert testimony. Where required, the investigator who prepared the report can testify to its methodology and findings.

What we can’t do

• Pull credit reports. FCRA reserves these for credit, insurance, employment, and similar consumer-eligibility decisions. Judgment collection isn’t on the list.
• Tell you what’s in a bank account. Exact balances are not legally obtainable without a court order. We provide indicators — where the defendant banks, whether accounts exist — from lawful sources. Subpoenas and writs come from your lawyer.
• Hack, social-engineer, or impersonate. Pretexting a bank to get account information is a federal crime. Reputable investigators don’t do it, and reports built on illegal pretext are inadmissible.
• Make collection decisions for you. We deliver intelligence. Your attorney files the writs.
• Tail someone for entertainment. We work cases with a documented permissible purpose. No purpose, no case.

The licensing question

Private investigation is state-licensed. A “PI” doing investigative work in a state where they aren’t licensed is operating illegally, and their work product is potentially inadmissible. Always confirm your investigator’s license in the state where the work is performed.

When to hire vs. DIY

If the defendant is at the same address that’s on the original case, working a W-2 job, and the judgment is small, you can probably handle it yourself with a wage garnishment. If any of those conditions don’t hold — or if you don’t have time to spend weeks chasing leads — hire a licensed investigator. Most engagements pay for themselves on the first recovery.