What Is a Private Investigator?

Most people picture a private investigator from film noir or cable TV: disguises, lock picks, a friend at the precinct who runs a plate. The real job is mostly research, patience and careful note-taking, done by a licensed professional bound by the same privacy laws as everyone else.

What is a private investigator, in plain English?

A private investigator is a fact-finder for hire. Clients bring a question they cannot answer themselves, such as where someone now lives or whether a claimant is really injured, and the investigator gathers lawful, verifiable information to answer it. Many work for agencies; others work alone or in-house.

Florida law puts it more formally. A private investigator is "any individual who, for consideration, advertises as providing or performs private investigation," and private investigation means gathering information on a defined list of subjects (s. 493.6101, F.S.). In everyday terms, that list covers:

• crimes or wrongs, done or threatened;
• a person's identity, habits, movements, whereabouts, associations and reputation;
• witness credibility;
• missing persons, heirs and lost or stolen property;
• the cause of a fire, accident, loss or injury; and
• evidence for trials and arbitrations.

Anyone who does that work for pay in Florida must be licensed by the FDACS Division of Licensing. An individual investigator holds a Class C license, and an agency holds a Class A license for each location. For the classes, requirements and penalties in detail, read our guide to Florida Statute 493, and for the career path, how to get a Florida PI license.

What does a private investigator actually do all day?

A typical week is more desk than car chase, mixing tasks like these:

• Records research. Court files, property and corporate records, licensing databases and other public sources. Connecting scattered records into one picture answers more questions than any gadget.
• Surveillance. Watching and documenting what a person does in public, often for long stretches where nothing happens. It takes patience and the ability to blend in. See how we run surveillance investigations.
• Interviews. Talking with witnesses, neighbors, former employers or business contacts. People talk to a PI voluntarily, so rapport matters more than pressure.
• Locating people. Finding witnesses, debtors, heirs or relatives who have moved on. We call this skip tracing.
• Background research. Verifying identity, history and claims before a hire, a deal or a relationship. See background investigations.
• Spotting inconsistencies. Comparing what someone says with what the records and observations show.
• Writing it up. Findings go into a report others can rely on, and sometimes into testimony.

Two habits run through all of it. The first is confidentiality: clients share sensitive details, and Florida treats an unauthorized release of that information as grounds for license discipline (s. 493.6118(1)(e), F.S.). The second is keeping current as technology and the law change. Some investigators specialize, for example in intellectual property or domestic relations; others handle a wide mix.

Who hires a private investigator?

• Attorneys. Family, injury, civil and criminal defense lawyers use PIs to find witnesses and test the other side's story. See attorney support.
• Individuals and families. A suspected affair, a parent worried about a child during a custody dispute, or a lost relative.
• Insurers and claims professionals. Checking whether an injury, disability or loss claim matches the facts. See claim investigations.
• Employers and businesses. Pre-hire checks, internal theft, misconduct and vetting a company before a deal. See fraud investigations and corporate due diligence.

The full list of what we handle is on our services page.

How is a private investigator different from the police?

A police officer acts with the authority of the state. A private investigator is a licensed private citizen working for a client; the license permits investigative work, not police power.

Florida backs this up with specific laws. Falsely pretending to be a sheriff or other listed officer and acting as one is a third-degree felony (s. 843.08, F.S.). Wearing or displaying unauthorized indicia of authority, "including any badge, insignia, emblem, identification card, or uniform," is a misdemeanor (s. 843.085, F.S.). A licensee who impersonates an officer, for example by presenting a badge or credentials, can be disciplined (s. 493.6118(1)(i), F.S.), and no PI badge or ID may use the Great Seal of the State of Florida (s. 493.6124, F.S.). A licensed investigator who carries a firearm must also hold a Class G license (s. 493.6115, F.S.).

What a Florida PI can and can't legally do

In short, a Florida investigator may do what any member of the public may lawfully do, with more skill and better records. Chapter 493 grants no exemption from privacy law.

Whether hiring an investigator is itself lawful is covered in is it legal to hire a private investigator in Florida.

Which TV myths about private investigators are wrong?

• "A PI can get anyone's phone or bank records." Not lawfully. Those come through a court process your attorney runs.
• "They can hack an email or social media account." Accessing someone's accounts without permission is part of Florida's cyberstalking definition. PIs work with what is publicly posted.
• "They slap a tracker on the car." See above. Vehicles are followed in person.
• "They flash a badge to get people talking." That is a crime, not a technique.
• "A good PI always finds the answer." An honest investigator reports what the evidence shows, even when it shows nothing. A promised result is a red flag.
• "Evidence is evidence, however you got it." Illegally intercepted conversations, and anything derived from them, cannot be received in a Florida trial or hearing (s. 934.06, F.S.).

What does a private investigator give you at the end?

You receive documentation you can act on: a written report of what was found and how, the supporting photos, video and records, and investigator testimony if the matter goes to court. Lawfully gathered evidence is treated like other evidence: it must be relevant (s. 90.401, F.S.) and shown to be what it claims to be (s. 90.901, F.S.), which is why careful logs and unedited originals matter. Admissibility is up to the court, so let your attorney guide how findings are used.

When do you need a private investigator, and when do you need the police or a lawyer?

• Call 911 or local police for an emergency, a crime in progress, a threat to anyone's safety or a missing person. Florida's missing-persons clearinghouse, FDLE MEPIC, says to report to local law enforcement first. A PI can then help alongside police; see missing persons investigations.
• Call a lawyer for legal advice, to file or defend a case, or for records only a court can compel. The Florida Bar runs a Lawyer Referral Service.
• Call a private investigator for facts police will not pursue because the matter is civil or private: a suspected affair, a custody concern, a questionable claim, someone to find, or a partner to vet. Planting a tracker or recording a spouse's calls yourself can create criminal exposure and ruin the evidence.

What affects how long an investigation takes and what it costs?

Cases differ too much for a standard price. We quote per case after a confidential consultation. The main factors are the type of work, investigator hours, how many investigators and vehicles are needed, the number of days, travel, which records must be pulled, and whether you need court-ready reporting or testimony. See our cost factors guide.

How do you choose and check a private investigator?

Start by confirming the license on the FDACS individual and agency search pages. Then look for relevant background, genuine reviews, and candor about methods and limits. Our statewide guide walks through how to hire a licensed private investigator in Florida step by step, and our Miami guide covers what to ask in a consultation with a Miami PI.

Why clients work with Miami Private Investigations

• FDACS agency license A1800135
• ★ 4.9 from 88 Google reviews
• Veteran-led team
• Investigators who work in English and Spanish

Attorneys have recorded video testimonials; see what attorneys say.

Related guides and services

Available across Florida

We work from our office at 4000 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Suite 470, Coral Gables, and our investigators travel wherever a case leads.