Protection Order 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.

A protection-order matter may require a clear account of one incident or a longer history of conduct. We preserve relevant communications, document events and gather corroborating accounts for your attorney’s review of a petition, a response or suspected violations of an existing order.

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What Does This Investigation Cover?

Protection Order Investigations

We can help a petitioner document the events underlying a request for protection or a respondent check disputed allegations. The work centers on original records, specific dates and firsthand accounts, with the sources and limits of each finding explained.

Common examples: conduct-pattern documentation, stalking and harassment timelines, digital evidence preservation, and witness development for hearing preparation.
Use cases: DVPO petitions, anti-harassment orders, stalking protection orders, temporary-to-permanent order hearings, and contested protection order proceedings.
What you receive: an incident chronology, supporting communications and corroborating source references for counsel’s review and hearing preparation.

What Services Support This Investigation?

Existing messages, public records and witness accounts often provide a starting point. We discuss which additional work would help clarify the incidents.

Surveillance Services

Consider observation for a defined factual question only where it can be conducted lawfully, within existing orders and without increasing safety risk.

Digital Forensics Services

Preserve authorized messages and digital records with their source, available timestamps and context before reviewing them against the incident history.

Social Media Investigation Services

Document relevant public posts and authorized contact records without provoking a response or accessing private accounts without authority.

Background Check Services

Check relevant public court and other records, recording their source and relationship to the conduct under review.

Witness Interview Services

Interview witnesses about what they personally observed, asking when it happened and what material corroborates their account. Statements reflect their account rather than coaching.

Washington Law and Court Sources

Protection-order criteria vary by order type under RCW 7.105.225. Counsel can explain the applicable standard and the hearing process; investigation supplies facts rather than deciding eligibility.

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What Should You Expect From This Process?

After addressing urgent safety needs, gather the incident dates, any current order and original records you lawfully hold. We can discuss the missing facts and the hearing deadline.

First call: Your initial consultation is free and lasts 30 minutes. We discuss the question, your deadline and whether investigation can help. Additional communication outside the agreed task is $150 per hour, prepaid separately; communication included in the task is not charged twice.
Typical planning window: Most plans are developed within 48 hours of intake once the facts, urgency, and legal posture are clear.
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.
Reporting: We organize each incident with its date, supporting records and witness information, distinguishing direct observations from allegations or unverified accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Protection Order Investigations

What facts can you document for a protection-order matter?

We document specific incidents, lawful communications, witness accounts and relevant order terms. The report explains what each source supports and preserves context. You do not need to wait for another incident or a PI report before seeking emergency help or legal advice.

How do you plan a protection-order investigation?

We review the incident history, existing records and any orders or hearing dates. We then identify evidence that can still be gathered lawfully, agree on cost and confirm the scope. Your attorney advises on the petition or response.

Will I receive updates during the investigation?

Yes. We agree on a safe way to contact you and when updates would be useful for hearing preparation. We discuss changes to the work or cost before expanding the assignment.

Need help deciding what to do next?

For help documenting incidents, tell us the dates and what evidence already exists. We can discuss preservation, corroboration and a schedule for attorney review.

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