Is hiring a private investigator stalking? What you need to know.

Is hiring a private investigator stalking? What you need to know.

None of what you are about to read below is legal advice. You should consult a licensed attorney for legal advice. What you read below is the opinions of a private investigator, not legal advice. So, when you ask the question, “Is hiring a private investigator stalking?” your first step should be to ask an attorney.

Private investigators are licensed by the Secretary of State and by State Police Departments in most states in the United States. Being licensed and regulated gives private investigators abilities and access that normal citizens don’t have available to them. They are able to subscribe to data services that reveal people’s personal information and private data. They use this data for a number of legal reasons: locating people, finding heirs, determining fraud, criminal background checks and many other areas of investigation.

So you might think you want to hire a private investigator to follow someone, and you might wonder is hiring a private investigator stalking? Well, the following should help you determine is hiring a private investigator stalking:

1. Restraining orders – if you have a restraining order filed against you, you may be prohibited from hiring an investigator and you should definitely talk to your attorney before you do. In fact, it may be better for your attorney to hire the private investigator for you. This way you are not seen to be the one as the aggressor in the situation. If you have a restraining order filed against you this does NOT mean you can’t investigate your case but you have to be very careful not to violate that restraining order. Be sure to consult with your attorney.
2. Private investigators aren’t dummies – most competent private investigators will be able to tell if you’re hiring them to do something illegal and will be more than happy to tell you so. If your goal is to hire a private investigator to harass someone or to have them know they’re being followed, no private investigator with any professionalism will assist you with this type of activity. In fact, you may find yourself being reported to the police for even requesting such a thing.
3. Use common sense – if what you think you want to hire the private investigator for seems illegal to you, then it’s probably illegal for the private investigator to conduct those services for you. Here’s some examples of things a private investigator won’t do:

1. 1. Tap phones or place wiretaps on phones
   2. Hack computers or phones
   3. Crack passwords to accounts, computers or phones
   4. Stalk someone for your entertainment
   5. Break into a building or structure
   6. Threaten someone to pay a debt
   7. Steal something for you

If you have a legitimate need for assistance from a private investigator, they will be more than happy to assist you and gather the evidence that you need, legally and fairly. Again, if you think that what you’re asking the private investigator to do is illegal, then it probably is. So the answer to the question, “Is hiring a private investigator stalking?” is easily answered by asking, “Do I have a valid, common sense legal reason to have this person followed?”

If you are looking for an affordable licensed private investigator, with 20 years of experience assisting individuals, attorneys and corporations feel free to contact us here. You can also view a portion of our extensive client list here, and see what actual clients say about us here.