Hiring a PI · Tennessee guide
Questions to Ask a Private Investigator Before You Hire One
A short interview tells you more about a private investigator than any website can. These are the questions worth asking a Tennessee investigator before you sign anything, and the kind of answers that should give you confidence or send you elsewhere.
- Confirm licensing, insurance and who does the work
- Test how they stay inside Tennessee law
- Get scope, reporting and pricing in writing
Key takeaways
- Verify the individual and company license with the state before any money changes hands.
- Ask exactly who will do the fieldwork and whether any of it is subcontracted.
- A good investigator explains what they will not do as clearly as what they will.
- Get scope, deliverables, timeline and cost in writing before the case begins.
Written by Delator Group leadership, licensed Tennessee private investigatorsUpdated
Quick answer
What questions should you ask a private investigator before hiring?
Ask whether the investigator and company are licensed in Tennessee and insured, who will personally do the work, which methods they use and refuse to use, how they report findings, how often they update you, whether pricing is put in writing up front, and whether they can testify if the case reaches court.
01Start here
Licensing and insurance questions
In Tennessee, private investigators and investigation companies are licensed under the Private Investigators Licensing and Regulatory Act and overseen by the Tennessee Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission. Ask for the company license number and the name of the licensed investigator who will be assigned, then check both on the state's online license verification before you pay a retainer.
Insurance matters too. Surveillance means driving, public contact and sometimes long hours in the field. Ask whether the firm carries liability coverage and whether it applies to the people actually working your case. A professional firm answers these questions without hesitation, puts the details in writing, and does not treat them as an inconvenience.
- What is your company license number, and who is the licensed investigator on my case?
- Is your license active and in good standing with the state?
- Do you carry liability insurance that covers your field staff?
02People and process
Who will actually work your case?
Many clients assume the person on the phone is the person in the field. That is not always true. Some agencies sell the case and then hand it to a subcontractor you never meet. Ask directly whether your matter stays in-house, who supervises it, and whether you can speak to that person when questions come up.
Also ask about coverage. A case in Memphis, Knoxville or a rural county needs someone who can get there and knows the area. Delator Group keeps investigations with its own licensed team across all 95 Tennessee counties, and leadership handles the first consultation, so the person scoping your case understands what the fieldwork will require.
- Will your own staff do the fieldwork, or do you subcontract?
- Who is my point of contact, and how quickly do they respond?
- Have you worked cases in my county before?
03Staying legal
Questions about methods and the law
The most revealing question is often, what won't you do? Private investigators have no police powers. They cannot trespass, impersonate law enforcement, hack accounts or pull protected records without legal authority. Tennessee law also makes it a crime to track someone's vehicle with an electronic device without the owner's consent, and federal law bars pretexting for phone or financial records.
Ask how the investigator would approach your situation and listen for specifics. A strong answer describes lawful methods such as public-place surveillance, public records research and interviews, and explains the limits honestly. If anyone promises text messages, bank balances or a hidden tracker, end the conversation. Evidence gathered illegally can hurt your case and expose you to liability.
- What methods would you use on a case like mine?
- What will you refuse to do, even if I ask?
- How do you make sure evidence can be used in court?
04Findings
Reporting, updates and communication
Ask to see what a finished report looks like, with identifying details removed. A useful report has a clear summary, a time-stamped log, labeled photos or video, and a note of sources. It should read as a factual record, not opinion, because your attorney or a judge may rely on it later.
Then settle how you will hear from the investigator during the case. Some clients want a short update each day of surveillance; others only want the final report. Agree on the channel, too. Calls, texts and email each carry different privacy considerations, especially if you share a phone plan or computer with the person being investigated.
05Money
Pricing and scope in writing
Vague pricing is one of the most common sources of client frustration, and it is easy to avoid. Ask how the case is billed, what expenses may be added, and what happens if the scope needs to change midstream. Then ask to have the scope, timeline and cost put in writing before any work begins.
Written, up-front pricing protects both sides. You know what you are paying for and when the work stops, and the investigator has a clear mandate. Delator Group puts scope, timeline and cost in writing before a case starts. For what drives the numbers, see our cost guide, and for what belongs in the agreement itself, read our guide to retainer agreements.
06If it goes to court
Can the investigator testify?
If there is any chance your matter ends up in a Tennessee courtroom, ask whether the investigator has testified before and is willing to do so for your case. Ask how they preserve original photos and video, how they document chain of custody, and whether their notes are kept in a form that holds up under cross-examination.
It is also fair to ask whether you or your attorney should be the one hiring the investigator. That choice can affect work-product protection and how findings flow to your legal team, and it is worth settling before the first day of fieldwork. Our guide on who should hire the investigator explains the tradeoffs in plain terms.
Interactive checklist
Your pre-hire interview checklist
Check off each item as you confirm it with the investigator you are considering.
All set. When you are ready, send it to a Delator investigator or call (629) 310-8667.
Step by step
How to run the interview
- 01
Shortlist two or three firms
Pick licensed firms that cover your county and handle your type of case.
- 02
Ask the same questions of each
Use the checklist above so answers are easy to compare side by side.
- 03
Verify what you are told
Check licenses on the state site and read reviews before deciding.
- 04
Get the proposal in writing
Compare written scope, deliverables and cost, then choose the firm that answered most clearly.
Compare
Reading the answers you get
| Question | Reassuring answer | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Are you licensed in Tennessee? | Gives license numbers and invites you to verify | Dodges the question or says a license is not needed |
| Who does the work? | Names the in-house investigator and supervisor | Cannot say who will be in the field |
| What won't you do? | Lists clear legal limits without prompting | Offers phone records, trackers or account access |
| How is it priced? | Puts scope, timeline and cost in writing first | Quotes loosely and asks for cash up front |
| Can you testify? | Explains evidence handling and court experience | Says court is not their concern |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a private investigator is licensed in Tennessee?
Use the state's online license verification for the Department of Commerce & Insurance, which covers private investigators and investigation companies regulated by the Tennessee Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission. Search both the individual and the company name. If the investigator cannot give you a license number or the record does not show as active, keep looking.
Is it rude to ask a private investigator for references or a sample report?
No. Professional investigators expect it. Most cannot share client names because of confidentiality, but they can point you to public reviews and show a sample report with identifying details removed. How they handle the request tells you a lot about how carefully they will handle your own information.
What should I do if a private investigator offers to get someone's text messages?
Decline and look elsewhere. Obtaining someone's phone records by pretexting is illegal under federal law, and accessing another person's account or device without authorization can be a crime. Evidence obtained that way can be thrown out and may expose you to civil or criminal liability. A legitimate investigator will explain lawful alternatives instead.
Should I ask about experience with my specific type of case?
Yes. Surveillance for a custody matter, locating a witness and a corporate fraud inquiry call for different skills. Ask how the investigator would approach a case like yours and what problems they expect. You want a specific plan, not a general promise that they handle everything.
How many private investigators should I interview before hiring?
Two or three is usually enough to compare answers without stalling your case. Ask each the same questions, request written scope and pricing, and verify licenses. If one firm answers clearly and in writing while others stay vague, that difference often matters more than small gaps in price.
This guide is general information about Tennessee practice, not legal advice. Talk to a Tennessee attorney about your specific situation. Photography: Glenn Carstens-Peters · Amina Atar (Unsplash License). Last reviewed .
Delator Group Private Investigators
Ask us every question on this list
Call or text (629) 310-8667 or email contact@delatorgroup.com. Leadership handles the first consultation and puts scope, timeline and cost in writing before work begins.