Start with the decision you need to make
Identify what the investigation needs to help you decide or establish. A clear objective makes scope, timing, reporting, and cost easier to evaluate.
Ask how scope is defined
A professional engagement should distinguish the requested objective from the methods that may be appropriate to pursue it. Scope may change as new information appears, but changes should be deliberate and documented.
Ask what the final work product looks like
Understand whether the expected result is an investigative summary, chronology, source-organized research, surveillance documentation, location leads, or another defined deliverable. Raw database output is not the same as an investigated finding.
Look for realistic language
No investigator can guarantee that a person will be located, that surveillance will capture a particular event, or that a background inquiry will produce a specific fact. Strong process controls matter more than promises of a guaranteed outcome.
Protect sensitive information at first contact
Do not place passwords, Social Security numbers, financial credentials, protected records, medical records, or sensitive evidence in a public intake. Start with the general objective and establish an appropriate handling process first.
Questions worth asking
- What information is needed before deciding whether the matter can be accepted?
- How will scope changes be communicated?
- How are findings separated from assumptions or unresolved leads?
- What reporting or documentation should I expect?
- What information should I avoid sending through ordinary email or a public form?