Learn Why Attorneys Trust Private Investigators to Help with Their Cases
When it comes to building a solid case or defense strategy, attorneys are the experts. However, when it comes to gathering all the research and intelligence to build the case, many rely on a private investigator for assistance. A private investigator, or legal investigator, can be a valuable asset to your case, from pre-trial discovery to post-trial.
While there are several ways private investigation firms, such as Chilton Gibbs & Associates, can be a valuable asset to law firms, we have gathered the most common ways a private investigator can help in your next case.
Conduct Background Research
Private investigators conduct extensive background research on individuals to find any opportunities or threats to an attorney’s case. This may include public records, criminal records, police records, assets, and even previous bankruptcy filings. Anything that can be legally obtained, an experienced investigator can gather the fact-based information to help you build a solid case strategy.
[RELATED: What Do Public Records Show?]
In an adoption fraud case, for example, a private investigator would look into the agency and other individuals involved to find any information from their past that could be connected to the current case. Has the agency filed bankruptcy in the past? Are there other complaints from past clients? Does the mother in question have a record that could make her less credible in court?
[RELATED: Background Research Service]
Help Locate Witnesses, Heirs, and Other Individuals
Whether a case involves finding beneficiaries to a will or an individual to serve with a lawsuit, a private investigator can help track individuals down to keep the case moving along or to reunite families. In some instances, some people try to hide from law enforcement to avoid being served with papers. An experienced private investigator could help track down individuals, even those that do not want to be found.
Private investigators can also take witness statements for pre-trial discovery. This can save attorneys both time and resources and allows them to focus on other aspects of the case. Or catch up on paperwork.
Serve Papers
In addition to locating individuals involved in a case, private investigators can also serve legal documents to an individual. In addition to serving papers, a licensed investigator will also inform the person of their legal rights and details on the court proceedings so that they understand when and where to show up.
This not only relieves the workload on the Sheriff department but also assures you that the legal documents will be delivered swiftly and professionally.
[RELATED: Process Server Services]
Conduct Surveillance – Technical and Human
Depending on the case, having a person on surveillance – whether it’s in-person or electronic tracking – can be beneficial to gather more evidence or to verify a person’s claim with facts. Surveillance can also help with monitoring an individual’s natural behavior and actions, such as spousal infidelity, that could be key to the case.
If you want to put an individual or group of individuals under surveillance, it is always best to dole out the task to an experienced investigator. There are several state and federal regulations involved in surveillance and tracking, so it is always best to trust the experienced process servers when it comes to this task.
[RELATED: Surveillance and Intelligence Services]
Litigation/ Courtroom Support
When a case is taken to court, stakes can run high. What is the jury pool like? Does your client have a fair trial? Would your strategy appeal to the jurors? As many historically significant cases have shown, the small but significant courtroom details can make the biggest difference in the outcome. For a powerful litigation strategy, attorneys often work with experienced legal investigators to assist in the development and implementation of their case strategy.
Additionally, if your PI has gathered their own information for your case, you can even call them in as an expert witness. Let’s say, for example, law enforcement concluded that a person’s death was a suicide but your private investigator discovered evidence that could indicate a homicide, calling them in as an expert witness to testify could be the boost your case needs.
[RELATED: Civil Litigation Services]
Chilton Gibbs & Associates Is a Licensed Private Investigation Firm in Georgia and South Carolina
Our licensed and trial-proven investigators work closely with law firms throughout Georgia and South Carolina to lighten the workload on a case and provide support for the best outcome. To learn more about how your law firm could benefit from Chilton Gibbs & Associates with your next case, schedule a free consultation with us today!
