Finding and Hiring a Good Private Investigator in Missouri

Finding a good private investigator or private detective can be a daunting task. Whether you question your spouse or simply want to find more information about a renter, a good private investigator is essential to doing legwork that may seem like too much for you. Here is a guide to finding a good investigator in Missouri.

Word of Mouth

Ask your friends, co-workers, and even relatives if they've heard of any good private investigators. Chances are someone has heard of someone who hired someone for a task. Once you get a name you can go from there.

Check out any websites that a private investigator may have. While not the "end all, be all" of researching who you should use, once you have a name of someone look for that name on the internet and see what happens. Have other people left good opinions about the investigator? What does their website look like? Are they licensed?

Licensing

In Missouri, private investigators are licensed by the Missouri Board of Private Investigator Examiners. The board was created by Missouri Statutes and no private investigator may do work in the state without being licensed just like a doctor or lawyer.

Just like a Missouri Bar number, private investigators should prominently display their Missouri license number on all documentation including any websites. If you don't see the number on any documents then you should ask the investigator for that number so you can do a little research on your own.

The Missouri Board of Private Investigator Examiners is also the place where you need to file complaints if you have any about any detective work done on your behalf. If you feel like you are being treated unfairly then you have a right to get in touch with the Board and they are required by law to respond in writing to your complaint.

Directories

The Missouri Association of Private Investigators also is a good place to start searching. While their directory is not complete, there are dozens of listing throughout Missouri and not just in urban areas. Some investigators are in smaller towns and they are listed too.

Some of these investigators have thorough websites while others do not even have an email address listed so your research into the right investigator for you will take a little more legwork. Overall, between the two entities you should have a good idea of reputable private investigators for your needs.