Private investigators
Research, records, and interviews for a lawful question, such as a legal matter or a business decision.
Investigators · Process servers · Security agencies
Know who to call, and what to ask.
Hiring an investigator, process server, or security agency usually happens at a stressful moment. Proven Ally helps you work out which one you need, what to have ready, and how to choose someone you can trust.
- Free to use
- No sign-up
- Nothing you type is sent
How it works
Three steps to a better first call.
No account, no sales pitch. Proven Ally doesn’t list or book providers, so the advice is just advice.
- Step 1
Pick what fits
Choose investigations, process service, or security, and add a city and state.
- Step 2
Get your summary
See the questions to ask and what to have ready, written for your situation.
- Step 3
Hire with confidence
Contact the professionals you find, compare their answers, and check their license.
Guided start · about 2 minutes
Not sure where to begin?
Answer three quick questions. You’ll get a short summary plus the questions to ask, ready to take to any professional you contact.
- Private: nothing you type is sent anywhere
- Free, with no sign-up
- Includes a hiring checklist
Services
Three kinds of help, explained simply.
Process servers
Delivery of a summons, subpoena, or other court papers, with proof of service for the court.
Security agencies
Armed or unarmed officers, provided and supervised by a security agency, for events, buildings, and property.
Before you hire
Four checks that protect you.
Check the license
Ask for their license number and confirm it with your state's licensing agency before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing
Ask for the scope, fees, deposit, and cancellation terms in writing before any work starts.
Ask how they report back
Find out how often you'll hear from them, and what you'll receive at the end.
Keep it lawful
A reputable professional will tell you what they can't do. Be wary of anyone who promises otherwise.
Guides
Short reads before you call.
Start here
Which kind of help do I need?
A quick way to match your situation to an investigator, a process server, or a security agency.
Start hereHow to choose a professional you can trust
Five checks to make before you hire an investigator, process server, or security agency.
Process serviceGetting ready to have papers served
What to have ready before you call a process server, and what to expect.
SecurityPlanning security for an event or property
A practical checklist for describing your site or event to a security agency.
What is Proven Ally?
Proven Ally is a free guide to hiring a private investigator, process server, or security agency. It helps you work out which kind of help fits, what to have ready, and what to ask before you hire anyone.
How do I choose a service?
Start with what you need to happen. Facts or answers point to a private investigator, delivering court papers points to a process server, and protecting a place or event points to a security agency. The guided start can help.
Does it cost anything?
No. Proven Ally's pages and tools are free, and there is no sign-up. Any professional you hire will set their own fees, so ask for them in writing.
Is what I type sent or saved?
No. The guided start keeps your answers on the page while you use it. Nothing is sent to Proven Ally or anyone else. Copy or download your summary if you want to keep it; refreshing the page clears it.
What should I write in my summary?
Keep it general: the kind of help, a city and state, and your timing. Leave out names, phone numbers, case numbers, and sensitive details until you are talking to a professional you have chosen.
Ready when you are