Private Investigations, insurance, claims, surveillance, spousal infidelity, missing persons, background checks, asset locations, and more.

TOLL FREE: (888) 241-8506  -  Local: (425) 998-0109  -  Fax: (425) 527-6934
Email: powersinvestigations@hotmail.com  -  WA State PI Agency #1227, Renton, WA

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Services

Surveillance

 Insurance
 Infidelity
 Custody Issues
 Worker Comp
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 Domestic Relations
 Cheating Spouse
 Undercover
 Employment Issues


Locates

 Address Verification
 Skip Tracing
 Missing Persons
 Identify Persons
 Serve Court Order
 False Identity
 Pre-Trial Locate
 Process of Service


Background Checks

 Civil Records
 Criminal Records
 Court Records
 Address History
 Work History
 Marriage Records
 Spousal Infidelity
 Pre-Marital Checks


Asset Searches

 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Compliant Searches

 


Process of Service

 Small Claims
 Summons & Complaints
 Marriage Dissolutions
 Parenting Plans
 Restraining Orders
 Address verification
 Research
 Law Suits


Insurance Investigations

 Insurance Fraud
 Disability Fraud
 Surveillance
 SUI / AOE / COE
 Worker Compensation
 Work Product
 Employee Theft
 Trade Name Issues
 Copyright Issues


Witness Interviews

 Attorney Services
 Witness Locates
 Address Verifications
 Evidence Verification
 Surveillance
 Recorded Statements
 Witness Locate
 Video Statements
 Videographer


Resources

Links

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I Qualify a Private Investigator?

  1. Is the private investigator or the private investigative agency licensed in the state where you want the investigation to be conducted.  If you are considering hiring an out of state investigator, check with the state licensing department that oversees the licensing of private investigators and private investigative agencies.  Here is a list.  If you are using a private investigator in your own state to conduct an investigation out of state, make sure that the investigator in your state selects a licensed investigator in the other state.  A few states don't have licensing requirements, but most do.  There is nothing more useless than finding out that the other investigator was not licensed to conduct investigations.  Many states have a on-line database of their licensed private investigators and agencies.  You can check them out on-line and even check the status of their insurance, bonding, and whether or not they have any complaints against them.

  2. Most investigators specialize or have an edge in specific types of investigations.  Be direct and ask for their experience and qualifications to conduct your kind of investigation.  Ask if they would provide you with a plan of action, preferably written, for successfully completing the investigation.  Most experienced investigators use several different and overlapping skills to acquire information and adjust the plan when the situation and/or facts change; this is a good thing.  An honest investigator will advise you if the goal you seek is possible and legal.  Be wary of those that offer you results by breaking established laws.  Not only will they be in trouble but they will also get you in trouble. Violation of privacy laws being the biggest offender.

  3. Be up front about the cost of the investigation and the length of time to complete it.  Check around to see if the price you are quoted is reasonable.  While you are checking around for prices, you might as well ask about retainers, confidentiality of information, and whether or not they guaranty their work.  You also need to know if the private investigator provides detailed reports of your investigation.  It's common sense to know what you are paying for and you are entitled to a investigative report if you so request it.  You also want to know if they subcontract out your work or part of your investigation to others, and if so, who.

  4. You need to find an investigator that you trust and one that you can communicate with on an on-going basis.  Keeping your information and the results of your investigation confidential is of primary importance.  The last thing you need is an investigator that is sworn to confidentiality talking to others about you or your investigation.  All states that have licensing requirements have laws that require private investigators to keep the identity of the client and the results of an investigation confidential.  If they are willing to give you references, make sure they are not giving you the names of clients they are required to keep confidential.  Generally, most private investigators will not give you the names of clients unless they have been given permission from that client.  Insurance companies and law firms are more likely candidates for referral information since these type of clients may also want you as a client.  But even then, law firms and insurance agencies would need to give the investigator permission to use them as a reference; hopefully, the right to use them as a reference would be in writing.

Client Confidentiality and Privacy

Powers Investigations will protect all client information. We will not allow such information that pertains to our client, a client's identity, or the subject of an investigation, to viewed or known by anyone other than our direct client. Such confidential and protected information will not be available to anyone other than the client without the consent and permission of the client.

We do not accept cases that have a conflict of interest to our clients. We are obligated by state law not divulge information about our clients, the subject of a investigation, or otherwise to any other party unless ordered to do so by a court of law. If such a conflict of interest should arises, we would decline any case where there is a conflict of interest to the client without disclosing the reason for declining the case.

Are the photographs on your website actual photos of your private investigators?

No, for security reasons and to protect our clients during an investigation, the photos are stock photos used for display purposes only.  Many of our investigations involve surveillance operations and to advertise what we look like would jeopardize our efforts and possibly compromise the results of an investigation.

Why hire a private investigator?

Private investigators are experienced in searching public records and have access to information sources that the general public does not.  Much of this information is found on commercial databases not usually available to the general public.  This ability to find records in a timely manner equates to a savings for the client.  Most commercial database providers require that their customers (law enforcement, lawyers, insurance companies, and private investigators) show proof of licensure prior to access and charge either a per usage fee or monthly flat rate contract fee.

Almost all states require private investigators to be licensed.  Most states also require private investigators to carry Liability and Errors & Omissions insurance.  Powers Investigations is licensed in the State of Washington and carries insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence.  Without such insurance, you the client may be held responsible for any errors, mistakes or omissions made by the investigator.

Private parties might hire private investigators for locating people, background investigations, surveillance, and pre-employment screening of household staff.  Attorneys need private investigators for asset location, video photography, witness interviews, trail preparation, personal injury investigations, witness locating, service of process, and levies execution.  Insurance companies use private investigators for fraud investigations, witness interviews and locating, property locating, workers' compensation claims, casualty, and video photography.

Do you guarantee your work?

We do guarantee our work, but we cannot always guarantee that the result of a investigation or search will provide you with all of the information you desire.  Please be aware that while the information has been found reliable, it may not be guaranteed.  We always keep the client informed about the progress of an investigation and the need for any additional searches or records.

What kind of information does a background investigation reveal?

Depending on the purpose for the background investigation (premarital, pre-employment screening, business relationship, dating), the results could provide information about local or national criminal prosecutions, involvement in prior litigation, prior marriages or divorces, and Gramm-Leach-Bliley compliant assets (non-financial institution assets).

How do you keep track of costs and time spent performing an investigation?  Do you itemize these costs for the customer?

Our invoices include Investigative & Administration costs and the actual Expenses of searches.

Investigative & Administration costs include the hours performed for a particular activity (hours x rate per hour). All activities performed are itemized by date, hours, and mileage.

Expenses may include the following items:  Transportation (miles x per mile rate), Out of Town Expenses, Photography, Records Search (Court, Claims, Background Report), Clerical, Long Distance/Fax, Postage, Fees Paid Out, and Miscellaneous Copies.

Are you a licensed Private Investigative Agency and do you carry insurance?

Yes, we are licensed through the Washington State Department of Licensing as a Private Investigative Agency.  As a licensed Private Investigative Agency in Washington State, we are required to carry insurance.  Powers Investigations carries Liability and Errors & Omissions insurance with a per occurrence amount of $2,000,000.

Do you do subcontract work, or subcontract to other licensed private investigators?

We will accept subcontract work from other licensed private investigators on an individual basis only if the assignment does not violate the privacy of the client or state laws concerning such activity. In most cases, we require a retainer in advance. On special occasions we subcontract to other licensed private investigators with the permission of the client.

Why do I need your services if I already have an attorney?

Most attorneys specialize in the practice of the law and represent clients in legal matters.  They are not necessarily experienced with conducting private investigations and will frequently hire or ask the client to hire the services of a licensed private investigator.  Generally, if you have an attorney, and you retain the services of a private investigator through your attorney, the investigator's work product becomes shielded from disclosure to adversaries.  If the attorney/investigator relationship is properly established, the investigator's involvement in a case and participation is privileged communication and  is generally protected from disclosure.  If you decide to hire a private investigator on your own and you have an attorney, the results of the private investigator's work can be reviewed by your attorney for possible consideration in your case.  You can hire a private investigator on your own or have your attorney hire one for you.

Can I retain your services if the subject of the investigation has a no contact or restraining order against me?

A no contact order, restraining order, or anti-harassment order (sometimes temporary or greater than one year) is a legally enforceable document that prevents you from harassing or contacting another party, and as such, may apply to third parties that you may hire to do that which you are not authorized to do personally.  If you have such a situation, please advise us of the situation so we can determine if such an order applies to us or prevents us from helping you.

Toll Free: (888) 241-8506
(425) 998-0109 Local
(425) 527-6934 Fax

Email: powersinvestigations@hotmail.com

Mailing Address:
Powers Investigations
P.O. Box 59332
Renton, WA 98058

 


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