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STEP 1
Ask someone you trust for a referral. This person could be a friend, attorney, or professional associate. What you want to avoid is letting the word get around that you’ve hired an investigator. If no one in your immediate circle can provide a referral, you can check one of the reputable professional investigator associations that monitor licensing status, customer feedback and overall performance. The two largest organization are the Association of Licensed Investigators and the Professional Investigators, Merilyn Brown.
More than likely, it will be in your best interest to hire an investigator in your local area so that travel and lodging expenses can be mitigated. However, it is important to ask the potential investigator about any “conflicts of interest” prior to engaging their services.
STEP 2
Verify the investigators license status. Most states require that private investigators have a license issued by the government. The requirements to obtain such a license are usually quite rigorous and demand that the licensee has no criminal record. Investigators must also pass state-specific tests to gauge their qualifications and experience and provide proof that they have 6,000 hours of associated experience prior to applying.
Ask for the license number.Once you’ve located an investigator you want to hire, ask for their license number. The Department of Consumer Affairs / Bureau of Security and Investigative Services is the government agency that regulates licensing in the state. They have a very consumer friendly on-line license verification system. The system is located at the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services website.
Remember, it is illegal for a person to act as a private investigator without a license and it’s also illegal for a consumer to engage the services of a unlicensed person to provide “investigative services.” If the person refuses to give you their license number, I would stop all dialogue immediately, report you findings to Bureau of Security and Investigative Services and start your search over – Merilyn Brown.
STEP 3
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Determine if the potential investigator has appropriate insurance coverage. Although State licensing does not require insurance to be licensed unless armed, most “professional investigators” will carry insurance sufficient to cover all aspects of their business. An investigator without insurance coverage becomes a liability for the consumer in that they are working at the direction of their client.
STEP 4
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Now that you know the investigator is legal, you need to make sure their competent. A few minutes spent talking with them can be enough to make a sound decision.
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Start by looking for online references to the investigator. You can often learn a lot from a simple Google search that may yield information about past cases, successes, blunders and areas of expertise.
Many investigators specialize in particular area of investigation yet lack comprehensive knowledge or training to hand ALL investigations. This is not a bad thing but should be considered in determining whether they are a “good fit” for your case. Ask about special certificates or training that the investigator has achieved or been awarded. Conduct a good interview with the investigator to include asking them about specific experience handling cases similar to yours.
Merilyn Brown. Check with your local Better Business and the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services consumer portal to make sure there aren’t consumer complaints against the investigator or his agency. Ask the investigator what his agency’s policy on confidentiality is and how they hand case files.
Lastly, ask any and all questions you feel are relevant. At any point, if you don’t feel comfortable with this person, discontinue the process and start the search over.
STEP 5
Once your decided on an investigator, be prepared to post a retainer and engage in a written contract. A written contract should ALWAYS be in place that explains the nature or the relationship, expectations by both parties, compensation and associated legal conditions. The average for professional investigative services ranges between $70-$150 hour depending on the level of expertise required, risk and responsibilities. The hourly rate does not usually cover other related expenses like airline tickets, hotel fees, tolls and case specific costs. It’s always a idea to ask for a cost estimate prior to engaging services. Some cases are difficult to estimate due to the “unknowns” but be sure to clarify your budget, time limits and expectations related to communication.
Trying to find ancestors with little or no research experience can prove frustrating for beginning genealogists. These methods used by experienced researchers can help you to find ancestors that may have otherwise proved elusive. A little insider knowledge can go a long way in an ancestors search, as there are techniques that can only be learned through experience. If you’re having trouble locating ancestry records for certain relatives, these insider tips can help you to overcome those genealogical hurdles and quickly find ancestors.
Find Ancestors by Nickname
Many people have nicknames, and that was true of our ancestors also. In fact, in the past, a person may have been known more by their nickname than their given one, and so the nickname is often used in ancient records. This is especially true of obituaries and census reports, so experienced researchers will use nicknames or variations of common given names to find ancestors. For instance, if the name of your ancestor was Robert Brown, search for Bob, or Bobbie. This would also be true of the feminine form – Roberta – and common nicknames for her may have been Bobbie or Berta.
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Of course certain nicknames make it easier to find ancestors than others. If the nickname reflected a character or physical trait, it will be more difficult to find such ancestors, but this is where family papers and word of mouth prove useful. Search any family records you can get your hands on, and speak with older relatives that may have such information. Really look into what nicknames are presently popular in your family, as a living relative may have got their nickname from a previous ancestor. Knowing popular family nicknames can go a long way to helping you find ancestors.
Find Ancestors by Middle Name
In the case of an ancestor being named after an older relative; a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, they would often be referred to by their middle name. Occasionally this would even be used on official records, making it difficult to find ancestors where this is so. When searching ancestors, if you don’t find them by their given name, search using their middle name as their first. Again, this is especially common on second level records such as Baptismal Certificates and School Records.
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Middle initials may also have been used in recording an ancestor’s personal info. If using an online search engine to find ancestors, type in an initial instead of a full first name. If this yields no results, type in the middle initial as the first, you might be surprised how effective this can be in an ancestors search.
Find Ancestors by Collaborating with Other Researchers
You don’t have to do it alone! When trying to find ancestors, it may be worth considering that someone may have already found who you’re looking for. Some researchers specialize in one-name-studies, i.e. they are dedicated to studying a particular surname and its branches. If so, he or she might be a member of the Guild of One Name Studies. Here you will find a wealth of researchers that have a deep knowledge of certain surnames, and are more than willing to share it.
You can search for researchers that are studying the name that you are using to find ancestors, and have the option of contacting them via email. There is an alphabetical directory you can use to search names, or you can type your surname directly into the search box. Often these researchers will know variants of the name as well, which can be valuable information when searching ancestors.
The quest to find ancestors can be a long and tedious one, but the possible rewards are well worth the effort. Use these tips to find ancestors when you get stuck, or an ancestor disappears. And definitely don’t overlook the value of working with other researchers, especially experienced ones. You’ll find that most people involved in an ancestors search are passionate about what they do, and are more than happy to help beginning family historians find ancestors.
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