How to Choose a Professional Investigator

What should be considered when choosing a professional investigator?
  • Licenses and Certifications
In most states, private investigators and/or their agencies must be licensed.  However, not in Colorado.  As of 07/01/2012, a new licensing program was enacted that makes licensure voluntary.  Is your Colorado private investigator licensed?  In Colorado, a voluntary license state, licensure can be verified online at https://www.colorado.gov/dora/licensing/Lookup/LicenseLookup.aspx and choose ‘Private Investigators’. 

Like licensing, certifications require specific levels of education, training and experience.  Not all investigators carry special certifications; however, certifications are an indication of ability and professional standing that surpass licensing qualifications.

  • Experience and Reputation
Ensure the agency and investigators have the education, training, skills and experience which are more likely to produce the results you expect and need.  This will also ensure that their work-product will stand up to the scrutiny of any legal challenge.

Subject Matter Expertise should be considered.  It is beneficial to seek and select investigators that have the respect and reputation amongst their peers to be selected to lecture, teach and author specifically on individual locates and related investigations.

  • Reports and Affidavits
In general, and in consideration of disclosure and discovery issues, investigations should be concluded with a written report issued to the client detailing the findings.  In the event of further proceedings or legal challenge, the investigator must be willing to provide an affidavit detailing the process and investigative conclusions.  The willingness and ability to testify, as a fact witness or subject matter expert, should also be considered.

  • Return on Investigation
All investigations are investments.  These must first be initially assessed by the client and investigator to determine, based upon their respective experiences, if the proposed assignment will likely be concluded with a positive Return on Investigation (ROI).  The ROI is the value of the investigation based upon the information provided, time and expenses, and results.


We hope you seriously consider our agency for your expert consultations and legal investigations in civil, criminal and probate litigation, with an emphasis on cases involving death and injury causation.  Please use this information sheet to assist in evaluating any investigative resource under consideration by your agency.

With kindest regards, Associates in Forensic Investigations, LLC

Dean A. Beers, CLI, CCDI – #PI-503
Board Certified Legal Investigator
Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator

Karen S. Beers, BSW, CCDI - #PI-502
Legal Investigator
Board Certified Criminal Defense Investigator

Associates@DeathCaseReview.com
(970) 480-7793