Hiring a private investigator in Maryland can be an experience fraught with emotion. Regardless, it is a decision that should be considered carefully and thought given to the circumstances which are driving the decision to hire a PI.

As you prepare to hire a PI, you should outline the questions you want to ask.  Consider what you want to learn from the investigation and how much money you can afford to spend.

Once a private investigator is selected, discuss the case with them reviewing what you are looking to learn and share your expectations.  Your PI will be able to share options with you and provide insight into whether your expectations and budget are feasible.  Once an agreement is reached your PI should provide a written contract that will specify the scope of the investigation, fees, reporting, the cost structure and more.  Once you reach an agreement with a PI, a written contract usually states the scope of the investigation, deadlines, fees, the frequency of reports, and estimated costs.  Having a written contract helps to ensure that you and your PI agree on the elements of the investigation. You should expect to pay the private investigator in full before receiving your final case report – written or verbal.

1. Most private investigators in Maryland professionally manage their cases; however, there may be times that a client may have questions or concerns.  As an example, some clients mistakenly believe that the retainer covers ALL the expenses for their case.  The retainer is a necessary step to initiate the investigation; however, it is not a payment in full.  Typically, the initial amount paid as a retainer is deducted from the final bill.

2. It is customary for a PI to bill clients for phone calls, office consultations, “standby” time, and making copies. Stand-by time occurs when you request your investigator to wait on your behalf for an event to occur,  for example, waiting on the subject of the investigation to go somewhere.

3. Your private investigator should provide a case report (written or verbal) at the completion of services; once final payment has been made.  Some contracts may stipulate that your investigation will be completed in stages and that each stage will require payment at its completion, with a progress report provided at the time of payment. The final report will reflect a detailed statement of the investigation including what steps involved when they were taken and how much time was invested in your case. Additionally, the report will include the results of the investigation and the costs including time spent on surveillance, standby time,  phone calls, extra investigators, film processing, specialized equipment, and more. If agreed upon by you and your investigator, a verbal report may be appropriate.

4. Be aware when hiring a PI that your case may not turn out the way you hope or expect.  Surveillance, inheritance research, divorce asset searches may not yield the results a client is seeking.  No matter the outcome,  PI’s can legally bill you for the time and effort given to an investigation, and you be required to pay them.

Security Guard or Body Guard Services:   A private investigator or investigative agency must be licensed as a security guard or agency to offer these services legally.
Evidence of an investigation can be provided to a client including photographs, videotape, copied documents, audio recordings, and more.

The experienced private investigators at Absolute Investigative, Fingerprinting, and Security Services are well equipped with the latest tactics and equipment to ensure your case is conducted carefully and methodically and is well documented for any potential court cases.

As a parent or grandparent, child safety is one of your top priorities.  However, adults are often unaware of the risks their children are facing, from friends, caregivers, and even the other parent. Child endangerment, neglect, and abuse are, unfortunately, all too common, and parents need to know what they can do to protect their children. If you want to keep your children as safe as possible, here are some things you can do.

Know When Abuse Occurs

Child abuse can occur any time an abuser has access to a child. While often the abuse occurs in secret, such as when your child is spending the night at someone’s house, other times it can occur when there are many people nearby, like in a quiet corner at a family gathering. Sadly, abuse can even happen at the hand of a parent, such as in the case of a divorced couple who share custody of the child.

While you cannot limit all potential times when abuse can occur, you can take measures to reduce the chances of your child falling victim. Avoid situations where your child is alone with other adults for an extended period of time, even if they are trusted. This includes teenagers or children who are much older than your child. Never force your child to display affection towards another person around whom they feel uncomfortable. Finally, seek to maintain open communication with your child, increasing the chances they will tell you if something is happening.

Know the Warning Signs of Abuse

Many children who are being abused will not ask for help. Sometimes they are unaware that the behavior from the adult in their life is not simply normal behavior. Other times they are intimidated into not telling by threats of further abuse or danger to other loved ones. Parents need to know how to spot the signs of abuse to get help quickly. Some signs that can indicate abuse is occurring include:

• Bruising or other marks that don’t have a clear explanation, particularly on the face or other areas of the body.
• Bruising that looks like a hand, hanger, belt or similar item that would be used to strike a child.
• Injuries that are on uncommon areas, like the back, buttocks, torso or neck.
• Injury to the genitalia
• Extreme behavior, including withdrawal or extreme fear

If you are noticing some of these signs, it’s time to dig a little deeper and determine if there is abuse occurring. Unfortunately, you may not be able to spot abuse, because abusers are not going to engage in this behavior around you. This is where a private investigator can help. A private investigator can discreetly monitor the supposed abuser to gain evidence of abuse so you can take action.

 Teach Your Children to Be Safe

In addition to learning the signs of child abuse, you, as a parent, have a responsibility to teach your children to be safe around others, giving them the tools to know what to do if they are in an abusive situation. Here are some important child safety tips to teach your child:

• They can say “no” to adults when something feels uncomfortable
• The area covered by their swimsuit is private
• Always ask you first before going somewhere with another adult
• Go in a group whenever possible
• Be cautious of strangers when walking through the neighborhood
• Remember that most adults don’t ask children for help, so someone who does may be a threat

If you have questions or concerns regarding child safety, or if you suspect that your child has been the victim of abuse, it’s critical that you get help as quickly as possible. If you need help gathering evidence against the supposed abuser, give us a call for the help of a skilled private investigator.