A good investigation begins with the information the client has provided, but it certainly does not end there. In cases where an investigation fails to yield any viable results, among the first steps is to challenge the information given. After all, as we’ve said in our article for InsideCounsel,”5 Tips When Searching for Assets,” you don’t know what you don’t know.

For a person search, this might mean questioning the name provided. There are enough variations in names to allow for numerous other search terms that might be more fruitful.
Continue Reading Name Searches: Options Abound

What does it really mean when an investigator says that they are going to do a background search on a person and track down all the relevant documents “on the public record”? Well, let’s start with what it doesn’t mean: bank documents and cell phone records are not public record. Any investigator who tells you he can track these down for you is ostensibly promising to break more than a couple of laws to get you that information. In addition, given that he’s acting as your agent, odds are it could get you in a heap of trouble as well.

So what can you expect instead? Below is a list of the various public documents that you should expect from your investigator when investigating a person. Future blog posts will detail similar lists for background research on companies and for asset searches.
Continue Reading Scratching the Surface: Due Diligence and Public Record Searches