Private Investigative Services Can Save You Money in Legal Fees.

When most people think about a private investigator, they envision Sherlock Holmes or some such figure, running around dark and dingy cities, saving damsels in distress. In real life, there are a variety of investigative services, all of which are designed to provide professional evidence or information. In many cases, these services can save individuals a considerable amount of time and money, especially when it comes to court cases. Here are some examples of how investigative services can save your money in legal fees, whether they be billable legal hours or court room fees accrued from unnecessary visits.

3 Examples of How Investigative Services Can Save You Money

Asset Checks. We have blogged quite a bit about how asset checks can help you in certain business and legal transactions. For example, an asset check is a good idea before going into a business partnership in order to ensure the individual(s) are being honest and forthright about their financial means - both negative and positive. They are also helpful if you are planning to bring a law suit against a person or business. Legal fees can be expensive and you may find the defendant doesn't have the assets to pay you if the courts decide in your favor. Doing your research ahead of time will save you time and money. Family Law issues, such as child support payments, can also be settled in a more timely manner if you have evidence to present to the judge from the get go.

Complete Background Checks. Do you use a complete background check or a national criminal background check as a part of your pre-employment screening protocol? If not, you may want to consider it. Every business owner knows how time consuming - and financially draining it is - to find and replace good employees. A background check can help you to sort your "Yes" and "No" pile much more quickly. However, you may not realize that a complete background check can also save you in court. If your employee commits a crime while s/he is on your clock, YOU can be liable if you didn't provide an accurate background check and it turns out they had a criminal record. This is especially true in situations where the person in question has priceless responsibilities and/or access to vulnerable persons, such as medical care facilities, childcare, and elder care providers. It's your responsibility to do your homework on potential employees before granting them access to people's homes, personal space, or access to sensitive information.

Surveillance Services. Whether you suspect a cheating spouse, need proof that an ex-spouse is working in order to increase your child support, or are in the process of settling an insurance fraud case, surveillance services are one of the most important investigative tools a licensed P.I. can provide. Nothing looks better in a courtroom than professional photo or video surveillance footage that proves the defendant wrong. A licensed surveillance investigator will also be able to provide a professionally written report, in addition to the videos and photos, documenting the times/activities/frequency/etc. of illegal or nefarious activities. Getting the evidence before you seek a lawyer or file your court case can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Hire a Licensed Private Investigator for Investigative Services

Make sure your private investigator is licensed, experienced, and has a successful track record with the investigative services you are interested in. Here are 10 Questions to ask before you hire a private investigator.  These questions can help you to figure out which private investigator is the right fit for your case. As with all things in life, the more prepared you are beforehand, the smoother things will go. This is especially true when you are dealing with the legal system. Expert investigative services will provide the evidence you need to prove your case.

Mike Garroutte, owner of Linked Investigations,  is a Private investigator in the Newport Beach area. He has been working as a private investigator Los Angeles, as well as an Orange County private investigator since 1982.