Planning a case · Tennessee guide
How to Define the Goals of a Private Investigation Before You Hire
Most investigations go wrong at the start, when a client asks an investigator to find out everything instead of answering one question. This guide shows how to turn a worry into a specific, answerable objective that fits your timeline, your budget and what your case actually needs.
- Turn a vague concern into one answerable question
- Decide what a useful result looks like in advance
- Match methods and budget to the goal, not the fear
Key takeaways
- A good investigation answers a specific question, not a general feeling of suspicion.
- Define success before work begins so you know when the job is done.
- Rank your goals so the budget goes to what matters most first.
- Methods follow goals; the investigator should explain why each method fits your question.
Written by Delator Group leadership, licensed Tennessee private investigatorsUpdated
Quick answer
How do you define the goals of a private investigation?
Write down the single question you need answered, what evidence would answer it, and what you will do with the result. Then rank any secondary questions, set a budget and deadline, and confirm with a licensed investigator that the goal is lawful, realistic and can be reached with available methods.
01Start here
Turn a worry into a question an investigator can answer
People usually call a private investigator because something feels wrong: a spouse's schedule has changed, a business partner is evasive, an injured claimant seems too active, or a witness has disappeared. That feeling is real, but it is not yet an assignment. An investigator cannot work toward "figure out what's going on." They can work toward "Is my spouse meeting a specific person on Thursday evenings?" or "Where does this defendant currently live?"
The difference matters because every hour of surveillance, every records search and every interview costs money. A focused question tells the investigator where to look, when to look and when to stop. It also gives you a way to judge the result. If the question was answered, the job worked, even if the answer was not the one you expected.
02Success criteria
Decide what success looks like before work begins
Success in an investigation is not always a dramatic photo. For a custody matter it may be a documented pattern of behavior over several weekends. For a civil lawsuit it may be a confirmed current address so a defendant can be served. For a business it may be a clear picture of whether a former employee is working for a competitor in violation of an agreement.
Write your success criteria in plain terms and share them with your investigator. Useful criteria describe the fact you need confirmed or ruled out, the form of proof you need, and the deadline that matters, such as a hearing or mediation date. Decide in advance what a negative result would mean for you, too.
03Rank your goals
Prioritize when you have more than one question
Many cases involve several questions at once. A divorce client might want to know about an affair, hidden income and the other parent's conduct around the children. Each is a separate investigative goal with different methods and costs. Trying to cover all of them at the same time often means none gets enough attention.
Rank the questions by what changes your decision or your case the most. Ask your attorney, if you have one, which facts carry legal weight. In Tennessee family courts, for example, conduct that affects the children may matter more than conduct that does not. The first goal gets the first budget, and later goals can be added once the first is answered.
04Methods follow goals
Match the goal to lawful methods and a realistic budget
Once the goal is clear, the investigator can recommend methods. Locating a person usually starts with database and records work. Documenting behavior usually calls for surveillance in public places. Understanding a company's dealings may require courthouse filings and corporate records. A licensed investigator should explain why each method fits your question.
Methods also have legal limits. Tennessee law prohibits placing an electronic tracking device on someone else's vehicle without the owner's consent, and federal law bars obtaining phone records through pretexting. If a goal can only be reached through illegal means, it is not a workable goal. A good investigator will tell you so directly and suggest a lawful alternative. At Delator Group, scope, timeline and cost are then put in writing before work begins.
05Examples by case type
Examples of vague goals versus useful goals
The examples below show how common requests can be sharpened into workable assignments. They are general illustrations, not descriptions of real cases. Your own goal will depend on your facts, your deadlines and, if you have one, your attorney's advice about which facts will actually carry weight in your matter.
Each useful version names a person or event, a time window and a type of proof. That combination lets an investigator plan the work, estimate the cost in writing and report back with something you can actually act on, whether the case is in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga or a rural county elsewhere in Tennessee.
- Vague: find out if he is cheating. Useful: document where he goes after work on the two evenings he says he works late.
- Vague: find the guy who owes me money. Useful: confirm a current residential address for service of a civil summons.
- Vague: is my ex a bad parent? Useful: document supervision and conduct during the next two scheduled visitation weekends.
- Vague: is this injury claim fake? Useful: record the claimant's public physical activity over a defined set of days.
06Adjusting course
Revisit your goals as the facts come in
Goals are not fixed forever. Early findings often change the question. A search for a hidden asset may reveal a second business, or surveillance may show the concern lies elsewhere. When that happens, pause and decide whether to update the goal, open a new one, or stop, and get any change in scope and cost in writing.
If the original question has been answered, it is reasonable to end the engagement there, even if you are tempted to keep looking. If the results were inconclusive, our guide on what to do when an investigation finds nothing walks through how to decide whether another round of work is worth the cost.
Interactive checklist
Goal-setting checklist before your consultation
Work through these items before you speak with an investigator so the first conversation is focused and productive.
All set. When you are ready, send it to a Delator investigator or call (629) 310-8667.
Step by step
How Delator helps you shape your investigation goals
- 01
Listen first
Leadership handles your first consultation and asks what prompted the call and what decision you are facing.
- 02
Frame the question
We help you turn the concern into one or more specific, lawful questions an investigator can answer.
- 03
Rank and scope
Together we rank the goals and match each to methods, a timeline and a budget.
- 04
Put it in writing
Scope, timeline and cost are written up front so you approve the plan before any work starts.
- 05
Report and review
Findings are reported against the goals you set, and we discuss whether any next step is worth taking.
Compare
How goal types typically map to investigative methods
| Goal type | Common lawful methods | Typical deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Locate a person | Database research, records checks, field verification | Verified address and supporting notes |
| Document behavior | Surveillance in public places | Time-stamped log with photos or video |
| Find assets or business ties | Public records, filings, courthouse research | Written findings with sources |
| Verify a statement or claim | Interviews, records review, surveillance | Report comparing claim to evidence |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What if I don't know exactly what I'm looking for?
That is common, and it is not a reason to wait. Describe what changed, what you have noticed and what decision you face. An experienced investigator can usually help narrow that into one or two answerable questions during the first consultation. You do not need a finished plan.
Can a private investigator work on several goals at once?
Yes, but it is usually more efficient to rank them. Different goals often need different methods, such as surveillance for one and records research for another. Running them all at once can spread the budget thin. Many clients start with the most important question and add others once they see the first results.
Should my attorney help set the goals?
If the investigation relates to a lawsuit, divorce, custody dispute or criminal case, yes. Your attorney knows which facts matter legally and what evidence a court is likely to accept. Some clients have their attorney retain the investigator directly, which can affect how the work is handled.
Is it a bad sign if an investigator agrees to find out everything?
It can be. A professional investigator should push for a specific question, because that is what allows honest estimates and measurable results. An open-ended promise makes it hard to judge progress or control cost. Look for someone who asks detailed questions and puts scope and pricing in writing.
What goals can a private investigator not help with?
An investigator cannot pursue goals that require breaking the law, such as reading someone's texts, hacking an account, placing a tracker on another person's car or obtaining phone records by pretexting. If a goal depends on any of these, a good investigator will say so and suggest a lawful approach.
This guide is general information about Tennessee practice, not legal advice. Talk to a Tennessee attorney about your specific situation. Photography: Kelly Sikkema · UX Indonesia (Unsplash License). Last reviewed .
Delator Group Private Investigators
Not sure what your goal should be? Start with a conversation.
Call or text (629) 310-8667 or email contact@delatorgroup.com. Leadership will help you shape a clear, lawful goal and put the scope and cost in writing.