Domestic Violence Investigations

Immediate safety comes first. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911. Do not wait for another incident, a private investigator or a report before seeking urgent help. Preserve records only when safe, and do not provoke contact or violate an order to gather evidence. A PI is not an emergency responder and does not enforce court orders.

When abuse or a disputed allegation affects your home or children, dates and supporting records can matter greatly. We document incidents, threats, intimidation and controlling behavior through records you lawfully hold, witness accounts and appropriate observation, for review in protection-order and parenting matters.

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Documenting incidents and patterns

Evidence for protection-order and parenting concerns

An investigation can connect separate events without assuming what they prove. We review when incidents occurred, who was present, what messages or photographs remain, and whether independent records support or contradict an account.

What we examine: incident dates, threats and intimidation, possible coercive control, the context of physical evidence, witnesses, and preserved digital harassment.
When this can help: factual preparation for a DVPO petition, custody safety concerns or DV-related parenting restrictions, and review of allegedly false or retaliatory accusations.
What you receive: a chronology with supporting records and witness accounts, identifying corroboration, contradictions and gaps for attorney review and hearing preparation.

How the evidence can be gathered

We choose work that answers a specific question without creating contact or increasing danger. Existing records and firsthand witnesses may be more useful than field observation.

Surveillance Services

Document relevant conduct from lawful locations only when observation is appropriate to the circumstances. We do not stage confrontations or undertake emergency intervention.

Digital Forensics Services

Preserve available messages, photographs and other authorized digital records with dates and context. Keep originals when safe; technical recovery depends on what remains available.

Social Media Investigation Services

Record public posts and authorized communications that relate to threats or harassment, including source URLs and surrounding context. Private-account intrusion is not part of this work.

Background Check Services

Check relevant public court, business and property records to clarify identity, history or a disputed event. A matching name alone does not establish that a record belongs to the person involved.

Witness Interview Services

Ask witnesses what they personally saw or heard, when it happened and what supports their recollection. Separate firsthand knowledge from information passed along by others.

Legal Support Services

Prepare an incident chronology and identify the records supporting each event so you and your attorney can review them. We provide investigative facts, not legal representation.

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Washington Law and Court Sources

Washington’s protection-order criteria and temporary-order procedures are available in the official statutes below. An attorney or court resource can help with the legal process; we can help document the events you need reviewed.

Planning, costs and your report

Tell us how to contact you safely, whether orders are in place and which events need documentation. We will discuss a defined task and its costs before work begins.

First conversation: Your first consultation is free and lasts 30 minutes. Additional communication outside the agreed task is $150/hour, prepaid separately; communication already included in the task is not charged again.
Planning and scheduling: Most plans are developed within 48 hours once the necessary facts, locations and restrictions are clear. We confirm the assignment and schedule by text and email; tell us about any hearing or other deadline before booking.
Costs: Lite is $150 per investigator-hour; Heavy is $300 per investigator-hour. Preparation and report writing each cost $150/hour. Round-trip travel from our Tacoma office is $2.50/minute. Other time is billed in whole hours, with partial hours rounded up. Each purchased service hour carries $15 in expense credit for Lite or $30 for Heavy. Credits on hours used for your task cover only that task's expenses; any remainder expires at report delivery. Expenses are charged at cost. Applicable surcharges are separate dollar charges, not deductions from service hours. We confirm the work, schedule and prepaid costs by text and email. See Pricing for unused-time, credit, specialist and other fee terms.
Your report: Your report links incident dates to the available records, witness accounts and observations, and distinguishes allegations from corroborated findings. Reports are due by 9 p.m. Pacific on the next business day after the task finishes, including return travel. Completion after midnight uses that new calendar date. Business days exclude weekends and the specified federal holiday periods, including the day before and after each holiday. Faster delivery costs $300 per report only when requested and accepted, plus report-writing time. We notify you of schedule changes caused by approved additional report work or priority delays.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Violence Investigations

What does a domestic violence investigation actually document?

We document specific incidents and patterns: physical harm, threats, intimidation, property damage, possible coercive control and stalking. For each event, we seek dates, descriptions, witnesses and supporting records, and note conflicting evidence. Legal findings belong to the court.

Can a private investigator help with a domestic violence protection order petition?

Yes. We can assemble dated incident accounts, identify witnesses and preserve supporting digital material for a petition or hearing. An attorney or court self-help resource explains filing requirements and procedure; we do not represent you.

What if I am the one accused of domestic violence?

We can review the factual basis of an allegation, including timing, original communications and accounts that differ from the initial filing. We report what the evidence supports, including findings that do not support your position. Existing contact restrictions still apply.

How does domestic violence evidence affect custody cases?

Domestic-violence and child-safety findings can affect parenting-plan restrictions under Washington law. We document specific facts and their sources; counsel and the court assess the applicable provisions, findings and protective measures.

What counts as coercive control in a Washington DV case?

Civil domestic-violence protection questions are addressed under RCW 7.105, including its definitions and order-specific criteria. Preserve specific events, messages and context only when safe. Counsel or an advocate can help identify the relevant legal process; a PI does not diagnose abuse or decide eligibility.

Can digital evidence help document domestic violence?

Yes. Messages, public posts, photographs and authorized records may help establish when events occurred and what was said. Preserve originals and surrounding conversation when safe. Do not enter someone else’s private account; deleted-message recovery depends on lawful access and remaining data.

Discuss the facts you need documented

When it is safe to do so, tell us about the incidents, existing orders and any hearing date. We can identify what records already exist and whether investigative work could fill an important gap.

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