An essential part of being a private investigator is developing the ability to find, track, monitor and obtain information.  These are essential skills you have to learn so you can succeed in this industry.  If you will be conducting research using court records as a private investigation newbie, here are tips you should use:

Know where to look
Not every court record you need to obtain about an individual can be found in only one source.  Many times, you’ll find that you will have to go through different database sources in order to obtain a comprehensive report.  Certain court records, for example, may be available only through county or state databases while others will only require you to go local.

Learn how to use court records legally
If you’re a private investigation newbie, you’ve probably heard of the secret or exclusive national database that you can access in order to obtain not just court records but every other personal record known to exist on anyone in the country.  Well, this is a myth.

There is one such records database but it can only be accessed and used by authorized law enforcement personnel of the FBI.  In case you or someone you know obtain court records from this database through illegal means, you should understand that there are legal consequences you’ll have to face.

If you want to use court records efficiently, find out any restrictions that are in place in your state.  Some states, for example, restrict the use of court records that have been sealed or expunged.  There are also states that limit how you can use first-offense records or non-conviction records.  These restrictions can significantly affect how efficiently you can use these court records on behalf of your client.

Learn how to interpret information
There are ways people can access court records without the help of a private investigator but many still turn to professionals for help.  The reason is that there are terminologies used in court records that most people do not readily understand.

In the course of your training as a private investigator, you should be able to learn what these terminologies are.  You will be able to use court records more efficiently if you can read and interpret court records without having to turn to another professional for help, saving time and money in the process.

Be careful when dealing with personal information
In your capacity as a private investigator, you are expected to be discreet about whatever information you might uncover.  This is especially true if you are a newbie.  Be careful about making copies of the documents, even if they are permissible copies.  Do not be careless about handling them.  A good part of your value as a private investigator newbie lies not just on your ability to use court records efficiently but also in helping protect an individual’s right to privacy.

image credits to sxc.hu

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A nanny plays a crucial role in many family’s lives.  They don’t only take care of your children, they also help you maintain a career, keep your sanity and otherwise live a normal, stress-free life.  But not all nannies are perfect and some of them may even mean bad news.  So how to screen your nanny?  Do it the way a private eye should.  Here are some tips you can use:

Look for a professional nanny service
Unless you know the nanny very well, best hire someone who works for a nanny service agency.  These are companies that screen, hire and deploy nannies to households.  What they do is to essentially function as the nanny’s employers and offering the nanny’s services on his/her behalf.

Always look for an agency that has had good standing.  If the agency has sufficient experience, they will be able to offer you guaranteed service – which, in the long run, will keep you and your children safe.

Ask for a resume
Nannies should have a list of employers on their resume.  This piece of paper should give you a good idea of the extent of the nanny’s experience.  Review the list carefully and take note of certain information, such as:

- the nanny’s employers
- the number of children under their care
- the length of service
- types of services she can perform such as tutoring

Ask for referrals
The nanny’s list of referrals is very important information.  The list should have the complete name of these referrals, along with their contact information such as addresses and phone numbers.

Referrals are generally the nanny’s former employers – the family who hired them and the agencies they worked with.  Get in touch with these referrals and ask them about how the nanny performed while in their employ.  This should give you a good idea of the nanny’s skills, temperament and overall capability in taking care of your children.

If the list of referrals is not enough for you, don’t hesitate to ask for more.  Or, you could get in touch with the list of employers found in your nanny’s resume.

Interview the nanny
Never hire a nanny that you haven’t talked to.  Always schedule an interview with a potential candidate to assess what they are like in person.  Introduce them to your child and see how they interact.

Do a background check
Once you’ve narrowed down the list of nannies that you can potentially hire, you might want to screen further.  Always check your nanny’s criminal background.  If your potential nanny’s past is littered with crimes such as theft, robbery, assault and the like, they should have no business raising your kids.

If you need help, you could also hire a professional private eye to assist you.  This is if you don’t have the time or resources necessary to help you perform the screening yourself.  A private eye should be able to give you the information you need within 3 to 5 days, cutting your screening period significantly.

image credits to sxc.hu

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