You suspect your husband or wife of cheating on you, but don’t know how to prove it. Any possibilities of resolving the sensitive matter privately have gone out the window. Maybe it’s time to bring in the big guns and ask for help from a professional. There are lots of private investigators out there to choose from. But which one is right for you?

Before heading out to find a private eye on your own, consider asking for a referral from someone you trust. You don’t want the whole town getting wind of you hiring a private detective do you? If nobody close to you has hired a PI in the past, there’s always the Yellow Pages and the Internet. Hiring a detective that is located in the same area where the search and investigating will occur will be smart. This is one way to cut down on private investigator costs.

Detective Shopping ‘To-Do’ List

Here’s a list from AskMen.com of what you need to do when searching for a reliable private investigator:

•    Status of license – All US states save for Alaska, Idaho, Alabama, South Dakota and Colorado require PIs to have government-issued licenses. It’s not easy to obtain a PI license. The requirements are pretty stringent, demanding that the applicant have no criminal record. There are also state-specific exams for gauging individual qualifications and level of experience.

Once you find a PI to your liking, ask to see their license and take down the number. It’s illegal to hire someone who’s not licensed. It’s likewise against the law to act as a private eye without any license. Verify the number by checking the public records. Contact your state’s licensing office for this info. Make sure the license is current and the name matches the private investigator’s. Inquire about any complaints lodged against the investigator.

•    Insurance coverage – Look for bonding and liability insurance coverage. Most states insist that licensees be covered by insurance policies specifying a monetary amount for client protection. Insurance (its presence or absence) is one way to separate the amateurs from the pros. PIs serious about their business have coverage upwards of a million dollars. Insurance coverage is a matter of public record so it’s easy to verify their existence.

•    Interviews – Once you’ve determined the investigator to be legit, making sure he’s competent is next. Spend a few minutes talking to him. Your aim here is to find out how solid his reputation is. Check on the Internet and the newspapers if he has been in the news lately and received good press. Inquire about the investigator’s specific experience and see if it’s suited to what you need. Ask about additional certifications if the PI has any besides the license. Don’t forget to ask whether the investigator provides and stands by confidentiality agreements.

•    Hiring – You’ve made your choice, now it’s time to hire the investigator. Here is where you discuss payment. An hourly rate of $45 to $60 is the accepted billing method for this business. This is on top of job-related expenses like long distance phone calls, hotel fees and airfare. Some PIs are okay with working for a flat rate, but you have to provide a deposit. Ask for an estimate of total costs upfront so you don’t wind up paying an exorbitant amount.

A real-life private eye does not resemble the one you see in the movies or on TV. His days are seldom filled with action-packed adventure, shooting thugs in side streets or fighting international crime. However, if you’re looking for people to do some stakeouts, surveillance and general snooping, a private detective is just the person to do it.

Re-Tweet This Post