What Should You Prepare Before Hiring a Private Investigator?

The more prepared you are before your first conversation with an investigator, the more accurate the initial assessment will be, the more realistic the cost estimate, and the faster the investigation can begin. You do not need a complete dossier. But having key information organised and accessible makes a measurable difference to the quality of advice you receive and the efficiency of the work that follows.

Information That Helps in Every Case

Regardless of the type of investigation, certain information is useful in almost every scenario.

A clear statement of what you want to achieve. This sounds obvious, but many clients approach their first consultation with a general sense of unease rather than a defined objective. Spend a few minutes before the call writing down exactly what question you want answered or what outcome you need. “I want to know whether my business partner has undisclosed directorships” is more useful than “I think something is going on.”

A timeline of events. Write down the key events that led to your decision to seek help, in chronological order. Include dates where you can, even approximate ones. When did you first notice the problem? What happened next? What prompted you to act now? A clear timeline helps the investigator understand the context and identify which lines of enquiry are most likely to produce results.

Names and identifying details. The full name of the person or people involved, along with any other identifying information you have: date of birth, address, employer, vehicle registration, phone number, email address, social media profiles. The more identifiers you can provide, the less time and cost will be spent on the preliminary research phase.

Photographs. If your case involves surveillance or locating someone, recent photographs of the subject are important. These should be clear enough for the investigator to identify the person in the field. Multiple photographs from different angles are better than a single image.

Relevant documents. Contracts, correspondence, court papers, financial statements, emails, text messages, or any other documents relevant to the case. If you have already gathered these, bring copies. Do not hand over originals unless asked to do so for forensic examination.

For Personal Cases

Matrimonial and relationship investigations. If you suspect your partner of infidelity, the following information is particularly useful: their daily routine, work schedule, recent changes in behaviour, any names or locations that have come up, access to shared accounts or devices (noting that accessing private accounts without consent may be unlawful), and the registration number and description of their vehicle.

Missing persons. Last known address, last known contact details, date they were last seen or heard from, names of friends or associates, workplaces, social media accounts, and any circumstances that might explain the disappearance. If you have reported the person missing to the police, bring the crime reference number.

Fraud or financial disputes. Details of the suspected fraud, amounts involved, bank account details where relevant, correspondence with the other party, and any previous attempts to resolve the matter including police reports or solicitor involvement.

For Corporate Cases

Employee investigations. The employee’s full name, role, department, and line manager. Details of the suspected misconduct: what has been observed, when it was first noticed, who else is aware, and whether any internal action has been taken. Copies of the employee’s contract, any relevant HR records, and correspondence relating to the issue.

Fraud and financial crime. A summary of the suspected fraud, the estimated financial exposure, the period over which the activity is believed to have occurred, and the names of individuals or entities involved. Details of your company’s internal controls and how they may have been circumvented. If your legal team is involved, confirm whether the investigation should be structured to preserve legal privilege.

Due diligence. The name of the individual or company being vetted, the context for the vetting (pre-employment, pre-acquisition, supplier approval), the specific areas of concern if any, and the level of detail required. If the vetting is connected to a transaction with a timeline, share the deadline so the investigator can plan accordingly.

What You Should Not Do Before Contacting an Investigator

There are actions that clients sometimes take before making contact that can actually harm the investigation.

• Do not confront the subject. If you suspect someone of wrongdoing, confronting them before evidence has been gathered gives them the opportunity to destroy evidence, change their behaviour, or prepare a defence. Let the investigation gather the evidence first.
• Do not conduct your own surveillance. Following someone yourself, checking their phone without consent, or installing tracking devices can compromise any subsequent professional investigation and may expose you to legal liability.
• Do not share your suspicions widely. The more people who know about your concerns, the greater the risk that the subject learns about them. Keep the circle of knowledge as small as possible until the investigation is complete.
• Do not destroy or alter any evidence. If you have documents, emails, or messages relevant to the case, preserve them in their original form. Do not forward them through chains of people, screenshot and crop them, or summarise them in your own words. Original formats with metadata intact are more useful than processed copies.

A Simple Preparation Checklist

Before your first conversation with an investigator, gather what you can from this list:

• Written summary of your situation (one page is enough)
• Timeline of relevant events with approximate dates
• Full names and identifying details of subjects
• Recent photographs of subjects
• Copies of relevant documents, emails, or correspondence
• Any police crime reference numbers
• Details of any legal proceedings already underway or anticipated
• Your preferred method of contact and any times to avoid
• A clear statement of what you want to achieve

If you do not have everything on this list, that is not a problem. An initial consultation can proceed with whatever you have. The investigator will identify what additional information would be helpful as the conversation develops.

To arrange a free consultation with UKPI, call 0800 043 1754 or use the secure enquiry form.