Find Leads to Check
Research can identify public accounts, business names and possible addresses. The findings should distinguish confirmed identities from possible matches and show which sources support each lead.
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Online-Only Research vs a Private Investigator in a Family-Law Case
Public posts and records may answer a question about a business, court history or online account without fieldwork. Questions about current residence, caregiving or exchanges may need observation or interviews. Start with the fact you need established, then choose the method that can actually test it.
Which Type of Work Fits Which Problem
A public post can identify a lead or document a statement. It may not show when an event happened, who controlled the account or whether the activity is part of a regular routine.
| Problem Type | Online-Only Work May Help | When Full PI Work Is More Likely Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Social-media presence or account-mapping questions | Online review may help identify public profiles, posting patterns, or obvious public contradictions. | If the issue requires verifying offline routine, residence use, caregiving, or real-world movement. |
| Public-record and business-link questions | Records review may clarify entity ties, litigation history, property clues, or work-story inconsistencies. | If the record clues still need real-world corroboration or current verification. |
| Locate or address leads | Online traces can help generate leads or narrow likely addresses. | If a current address needs verification for lawful service or a residence dispute. |
| Behavior or routine disputes | Online material may add context, but it rarely answers the whole question by itself. | If the issue turns on what is actually happening in day-to-day life rather than what appears online. |
When Online-Only Work May Be Enough
The Unknown Fact Lives in Public Sources
A public filing or court record may answer the question directly. Check the named person or entity, the record date and the full document before deciding whether further investigation is needed.
Start With a Focused Research Assignment
FPI Lite is $150/hour and Heavy is $300/hour per investigator; preparation and report writing are each $150/hour. Each purchased service hour carries a 10% expense credit: $15 for Lite or $30 for Heavy. Credits on hours used for a task cover only that task’s expenses, with any remainder expiring at report delivery. Unused hours keep their credits. Confirm the research question and budget before buying time.
When Observation or Interviews May Help
The Issue Is About Real-World Routine
Who handles school pickup, whether exchanges occur and how a residence is used may require direct observation or firsthand witnesses. Online material can help identify what to check, but a post alone rarely establishes a daily pattern.
The Online Story Needs Corroboration
If a public post appears to contradict a statement about work or caregiving, preserve the post with its date and context. Records, a witness account or lawful observation may help establish what actually occurred.
Service, Hearing, or Deadline Pressure Exists
For service or a near hearing, tell us which current fact is needed and by what date. We can assess whether research alone is sufficient or a focused field assignment is feasible.
Related Evidence and Planning Guides
- Explore lawful observation and surveillance for questions about activities, exchanges or residence use.
Online-Only vs Full PI FAQ
Can a PI just find someone's social media instead of doing field work?
Yes. An assignment can focus on identifying and reviewing public accounts. Access to private accounts requires lawful authorization, and identifying a profile does not establish every claim made on it.
Is online-only research cheaper?
It may cost less if it takes fewer hours and avoids travel. Compare the selected service tier, preparation, reporting and research expenses. Fieldwork travel is $2.50/minute from and back to FPI’s Tacoma office; the total depends on the assignment.
Can online-only work prove where someone really lives?
It can identify possible addresses, but old listings and posts may not show where someone currently lives. State what each source establishes and what still needs verification.
What if I only need one narrow online question answered?
A narrowly defined research assignment may fit. Tell us which account, statement or record you want checked and why, so we can agree on the work and what the findings will include.
Choose the Work That Fits Your Question
Bring the online material you have and explain what remains uncertain. We can discuss whether research may resolve it and what further observation or interviews would add.