There are times when you should consider turning to an investigator for help, and other times when a private investigator really isn’t what you need. Here are some guidelines for you.

Good indicators that you can use the help of a private investigator

1. You are a lawyer.

Lawyers often use investigators to track down any details that the police might have missed when working on a case. The police represent the prosecutors, not the defense, so if a lawyer thinks he can find evidence to refute the charges, he will hire a private investigator to uncover the truth. However, if the plaintiff believes that the police are intentionally or accidentally failing to conduct a proper investigation, a private investigator may be used.

2. You suspect that your spouse is cheating on you.

This is an unfortunate fact, but it has to be dealt with. Often a spouse who is disenchanted with the marriage will seek an affair but will hold on to the marriage for financial gain. It’s a tough situation and because no real crime is being committed by the simple act of adultery, the police don’t want to get involved. There could possibly be a conspiracy between the cheating spouse and his mistress to defraud the abandoned spouse of money, and that would be a crime, but usually the simple fact of adultery exists and has to be proven, especially when there is a prenuptial agreement in place .

3. You are defending yourself against an unjust accusation.

Sometimes people unfairly attack another person’s reputation and the defendant may receive material damage, meaning that the reputational damage results in the loss of business or other financial flow. But no matter the motive for the character’s murder, investigators are hired to uncover the truth behind the rumors and the grudge. Oftentimes, these types of backstabbing perpetrators back down once they find out there’s an investigator on the case.

4. You have a large department store.

It’s no secret that stores and other businesses hire investigators. They are extremely useful in detecting theft, vandalism and other losses that can cost millions depending on the size of the chain or the type of merchandise being sold. These may or may not be set up as security personnel that you usually see posted at the gates. Investigators often wear plain clothes and circulate around the store or stay out of sight monitoring surveillance cameras.

5. You want information about your relatives, ancestors or heritage.

If you have missing relatives, an IP could spend more time and resources looking for them for you. However, if you suspect something has gone wrong with the transfer process, an investigator can help.

Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t use an investigator.

1. You’re just trying to ruin someone’s reputation.

If you have a personal issue with someone and are just looking for dirt to use against them, you might consider de-stressing in another way and letting them go. Unless you have suffered substantial financial or physical harm, you may be better off investing in stress-relieving activities such as sports, talking with a counselor, or meditating.

Anger is a very real thing and needs resolution, and many people seek to discredit the person who hurt them instead of learning the real skill that will satisfy them and build a better life in the future, and that is the skill of using unpleasant things that people do to motivate them to succeed.

2. You need the police.

When there is a real crime involved, you have to report it to the police. An IP can help you tremendously in difficult situations that have a huge effect on your peace of mind and your life, but if you are being stalked, threatened or harmed in any way, it is a police matter and you should start using them to document abuse and interview people. the parties involved even if you are not ready to press charges. Sometimes simply reporting the abuse will stop you, but when it doesn’t, it never hurts to have all of the background reported so that the records reflect it in a way that is admissible in court.