Your first call with a private investigator should feel structured, not like a free-for-all dump of every suspicion. The better your intake information, the faster we can tell you whether investigation is appropriate, what methods are lawful, and what a realistic first phase will cost.
Bring These Basics
- Your objective in one sentence (“I need proof of X for Y decision/date”)
- Full names, aliases, workplaces, vehicles, and known addresses
- Relevant dates: separations, court appearances, claim periods, travel
- Existing orders, lawyer involvement, and urgency
- What you already know versus what you only suspect
Clear objectives prevent fishing expeditions. Personal and family matters usually start with that one-sentence decision, then the facts that support or contradict it.
Digital Materials That Help (When Obtained Lawfully)
Useful materials often include messages, emails, call logs, and screenshots with timestamps that you are entitled to access. Banking anomalies you are lawfully allowed to review can also help frame lifestyle-versus-disclosure questions.
Do not hack accounts, install spyware, or trespass to “help the case.” Contaminated evidence can destroy credibility. If the concern is money that does not match lifestyle during a separation, say that plainly so the intake can point toward financial fact-finding rather than unnecessary surveillance hours.
Questions You Should Ask Us
- Is this legal for a licensed Ontario PI to investigate this way?
- What can this prove, and what can it never prove?
- How will findings be reported for my lawyer?
- What is a realistic first-phase budget and timeline?
If observation in public places may be involved, ask how long the first phase should run and what would make us stop early. Good scopes answer a question; they do not burn hours by default.
Confidentiality
PiPro treats consultations as confidential business discussions. You can share only what you are comfortable sharing on call one; we ask for more only if you proceed. You do not need a polished brief. Organized facts beat dramatic storytelling.
What Happens After the Call
If investigation is appropriate, we usually propose a phased scope: objective, methods, reporting format, and a defined first block of work. That structure keeps costs controlled and keeps counsel in the loop.
Workplace or corporate concerns follow a different approval path than personal files. Missing-person or locate work is different again. Naming the category early keeps the consult efficient.
How to Separate Facts From Theories
Investigators need both, but labelled correctly. “I saw the car at X on Tuesday” is a fact. “They must be hiding money with a sibling” is a theory. Mixing them wastes hours. Bring a short fact list and a short theory list; we will tell you which theories are investigable.
Deadlines Change the Plan
A motion next week is different from a general “I need peace of mind.” Deadlines affect whether we recommend rapid verification shifts, records-first research, or a longer pattern build. Say the date up front.
Who Should Be On the Call
You can consult alone. If you already have a lawyer, inviting them (or looping them after) often improves scoping. Corporate clients should include someone with authority to approve budget and access.
After You Hang Up
You should leave with clarity: pursue, pause, or gather more records first. If we proceed, expect a written scope outline before major fieldwork. That is normal professional practice, not stalling.
Bottom Line
Tell a private investigator the decision you need to make, the facts you can support, and the deadlines that matter. Ready to talk? Contact PiPro for a confidential consultation.
