Frequently asked questions
Questions about hiring a Nashville private detective
Straight answers to the questions people ask before they call, including what is legal in Tennessee and what is not.
01
Hiring a detective
Is it legal to hire a private detective in Tennessee?
Yes. Private investigation is a licensed profession in Tennessee, regulated under Tenn. Code Ann. Title 62, Chapter 26. Lawful surveillance from public places, records research and interviews are all legal.
How much does a private detective cost?
It depends on the work. Records-based jobs are defined in scope; surveillance is based on hours in the field and the number of detectives. You receive the plan and cost in writing before anything starts. See how hiring works.
Can I stay anonymous?
You can ask questions without giving your name. To actually open a case, any licensed agency needs your identity and a signed agreement, all of which we keep confidential.
How do I check that an agency is licensed?
Tennessee licenses are issued through the Department of Commerce & Insurance and can be checked through the state’s public license verification system. Ask any agency for its license details before hiring.
02
What detectives can and cannot do
Can a private detective put a GPS tracker on a car?
Not without the consent of every owner of the vehicle. Tennessee makes it a Class A misdemeanor (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-606). Professional surveillance uses trained detectives instead.
Can a detective record phone calls or conversations?
Tennessee is a one-party consent state: a person who is part of a conversation may record it. Intercepting conversations you are not part of is a felony (§ 39-13-601). We never record conversations we are not party to.
Can you get someone’s phone or bank records?
Not lawfully without a subpoena or court order. Obtaining them by pretending to be someone else is a federal crime. We find the trail, and your attorney obtains the records through legal process.
Can you hack into an email or social media account?
No. Accessing someone else’s accounts without permission is a crime, and evidence obtained that way can destroy your case.
Can a detective go onto private property?
We do not trespass. Surveillance is conducted from public places and areas where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.
03
Evidence and court
Will your evidence hold up in court?
We work to that standard: time-stamped video, contemporaneous notes, plain written reports and a detective who can testify. Admissibility is always the judge’s decision.
Do you work with attorneys?
Yes. We often work at an attorney’s direction, which helps the investigation focus on the legal issues that matter.
Can you testify?
Yes. The detective who conducted the work can testify about what they observed and how the evidence was gathered.
04
Safety and privacy
What if the person I am worried about checks my phone?
Contact us from a device they cannot access, and tell us which number and email are safe. This site has an Exit button on every page, and pressing Esc twice leaves immediately.
What should I do if I am in danger?
Call 911. For domestic violence support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233. A detective is never a substitute for emergency help.
Will you tell anyone about my case?
No. Your case is confidential. We share information only with you, and with your attorney or others you authorize, unless the law requires otherwise.
Still have a question?
Text it. A detective will answer you directly.