Local PI Compass

Clear, honest guides to hiring a private investigator.

Not every situation needs a private investigator — and hiring one is a serious decision. Answer three plain questions below and we will point you to the right next step and the guides that explain it.

Is Hiring a PI Right for Your Situation?

A deterministic guide — no signup, no personal data, no referrals. Answers are based on fixed rules, the same for everyone.

1. What are you hoping a PI could help with?

Popular guides

How to Hire a Private Investigator What to Look for in a Private Investigator What Does a Private Investigator Do? How Private Investigators Charge What Private Investigators Can Legally Do Red Flags When Choosing a PI Can PI Evidence Be Used in Court? How to Verify a PI’s License

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Hiring a PI PI Services Explained Costs & Fees Legal Boundaries Working With Your PI

About this site: Local PI Compass is an independent educational guide. We do not provide investigation services and we refer no investigators. About us · Disclaimer

Browse All PI Guides

Every guide on this site, organized by topic.

Hiring a PI

How to Hire a Private Investigator: A Practical Starting Guide What to Look for in a Private Investigator How to Verify a PI's License and Credentials Red Flags When Choosing a Private Investigator January: A Fresh-Start Checklist Before Hiring a PI Year-End Review: Documents to Organize If You May Need an Investigation

PI Services Explained

What Does a Private Investigator Do? Services Explained Surveillance Explained: What Investigators Can and Cannot Do Background Checks: What a PI Can Find Missing Persons Investigations Explained Infidelity Investigations: What the Process Involves

Costs & Fees

How Private Investigators Charge: Fee Models Explained What Affects the Cost of an Investigation Questions to Ask About PI Fees Before You Hire Retainer Agreements With Investigators: What to Read Before Signing

Legal Boundaries

What Private Investigators Can Legally Do What Private Investigators Cannot Do: Common Misconceptions GPS Tracking, Phone Records, and Privacy: What the Law Says as Concepts Can Evidence From a PI Be Used in Court?

Working With Your PI

How to Prepare for a First Meeting With a Private Investigator Communication and Reports: What to Expect During an Investigation Ending an Investigation or Changing Investigators What to Do If Your Investigator Stops Communicating Hiring a PI for a Small Business: Employee and Vendor Concerns

About this site: Local PI Compass is an independent educational guide. We do not provide investigation services and we refer no investigators. About us · Disclaimer

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