Sincerely,

Val

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Val,

Assuming that the property is not owned “free and clear,” in most circumstances there will be a lien holder (or multiple lien holders) on the property. A property lien is a legal claim on real property for payment of some debt or other obligation, usually for the payment to the mortgagor(s) who lent the money to the property purchaser.

Absent a tax lien, a lien on real property to secure the payment of overdue state or federal taxes, the mortgagor will be the primary lien holder. Property liens are most often filed with the civil records in the county court where the property is located, more specifically with the property deeds. Lien holder information can usually also be found at the county Tax Assessor’s Office.

Keep in mind that the mortgagor is not always a bank or other lending institution; the buyer may have purchased the property via a mortgage or private loan offered directly from the previous land owner, too.

Lastly, if you are looking for the lien holder because you or your client intend to file suit or attach the property via some other legal action, you may very well find multiple lien holders staking a claim to the property. It is not uncommon to find multiple mortgage liens, tax liens, builder’s liens, judgment liens, etc. filed against any one property. Depending upon state law, different types of liens fall into a sort of pecking order. If the court forces the sale of a property the lien holders will be paid in the order of seniority; junior liens get paid last… if there is anything left.

L. Scott Harrell

I see that we are common Facebook friends with S. Bauer and V. Siedow. I also see from your page that you work for IRB Search, so I am contacting you to see if you would be willing to share some of your finding people knowledge. I would like to find people that have moved and all I have is their name and the property address of where they used to live (and owned it).

1) What are the best free and paid websites to find people with this little amount of info?
2) If they have died, how do I find their next of kin, Executor of their estate or whatever else this person is called?

I will be finding these people for the purpose of letting them know that they are entitled to unclaimed money in their name.

Thank you VERY much,
Michael P.

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Hi Michael,

You will need to things from an information broker…

a) an “Address Update,” where you can input a name and historic address in hopes of finding a new address and

b) a search that provides relatives and neighbors (known associates).

I’m not aware of any free searches that will accomplish address updates and known associates. Most major database providers offer these types of searches and is what IRBsearch is best known for – the ability to find people, associates and assets.  The problem you will have, however, is that most private investigator database providers will require a PI license in order to obtain access.

If you find that a person is owed unclaimed property but is deceased, you could try the obituaries in newspapers local to the decedent’s hometown in your effort to locate heirs and “Next of Kin.”

-Scott Harrell

Perhaps it was an impression created by reading Sherlock Holmes mysteries as a child or watching Magnum PI reruns, but a career as a private investigator seemed larger than life to me when I was seriously considering what I would do with my life.

I, like the majority of the general public, misunderstood and undervalued the work of private investigators until I found myself working as a detective. It wasn’t anything at all like the television shows or the Nancy Drew books!

The work of private investigators ranges from surveillance, conducting criminal investigations, detecting insurance fraud to a range of other investigative services. The clients are as varied as the work. They include the government, insurance companies, lawyers, private citizens and any person or organization that needs investigative services.

If you want to be a private investigator, then set yourself up for success and get as much training as possible.  Begin with general investigation courses and move on to those specific types of cases that interest you most, i.e. interview techniques, arson investigations, patent and trademark law or insurance law.

The become “employment ready” by investing in the proper equipment, studying your state’s Civil and criminal code, learn to communicate effectively… then be patient but persistent in your job search.

Many people are curious how private investigators (PIs) get into the profession and assume most were former cops (and they’re right-a majority of PIs are former law enforcement officers). Realistically speaking, most PIs enter the profession by either interning for an established private investigative agency or by having held an investigative position within the military or law enforcement. Most being a key word. There are various specialized skills within the investigative business that don’t require such backgrounds (some PIs were former certified public accountants [CPAs] and specialize in financial investigations, some might have backgrounds training dogs and specialize as pet detectives, some were paralegals and specialize in legal investigations, etc.).

But whatever a person’s background, the common traits found in all good PIs are curiosity, creativity, and perseverance. A strong sense of justice certainly helps, but sometimes the best that can be hoped for is that the legal process is conducted fairly.

That said, below are five tips to consider if you’re pursuing the idea of being a private investigator:

Tip #1: Research investigative specialties and decide which ones you want specialize in. For example, PIs specialize in many different areas such as accident investigation, asset search/recovery, civil litigation support, criminal defense investigations, locating missing persons, loss prevention, skiptracing, tenant screening, and many more. One way to learn about the various investigative specialties is to research PIs’ websites–for example, in your browser, type private investigator or the field you’re interested in, such as loss prevention. On their site, a PI will typically explain his/her background, a definition of the services they offer, prices, etc.

Tip #2: Attend a PI conference. Most professional PI organizations sponsor conferences that are open to the public. Here you can network with other PIs, attend seminars, test equipment, buy manuals, and more. PI Magazine, for example, always lists upcoming conferences–buy a copy and check out one near you.

Tip #3: Read books on investigations. There are hundreds of books on topics, from background investigations to identity theft to personal injury investigations. One resource for investigative books is PIstore.com: http://www.pistore.com/

Tip #4: Take an investigative course. Most states have professional PI organizations that offer courses, which are often open to the public. If they don’t offer educational classes, contact a member and ask what courses he/she might recommend. To look up your state’s PI organization, and its licensing requirements, go to http://www.crimetime.com/licensing.htm

Tip #5. Polish your speaking and writing skills. As a PI, you’ll be in contact with many people, from presenting your investigative skills to potential employers to interviewing witnesses. The better you present yourself verbally, the better your business successes. You’ll also be writing a lot of reports, so the better your grammar, punctuation, and writing style, the better your business successes.

The above tips will help you hone and polish your skills toward being not just a private investigator, but a professional private investigator.

Colleen Collins is a professional private investigator and multi-published author. She and her business partner run Highlands Investigations & Legal Services, Inc., based in Colorado, which specializes in asset/background checks, criminal/civil investigations, domestic relations, financial fraud, personal injury, skiptracing, and surveillance. To read more about their services, go to http://www.highlandsinvestigations.com

We discuss each of the following services in depth in our online private investigator’s course:

Surveillance
Covert Video Surveillance and Photography
Mobile Surveillance (“Tailing”)
Covert Video Cameras- Sales, Rental, and Installation
Counter Surveillance and Counter Stalking

Insurance
Defense
Workman’s Compensation
General Liability
Premises Liability
Product Liability
Maritime Insurance Liability and Recovery
Automobile Insurance Fraud

Corporate Investigations
Employee and Management Awareness Training
Competitive Intelligence
Counter Espionage
Loss Prevention & Fraud, Theft, and Embezzlement
Internal Theft- Employee Malfeasance and Vendor Theft
Thefts from External Sources (Customers, Burglaries and Robberies)
Intellectual Property Management
Copyright and Patent Infringement
Signal Theft, Unauthorized Exhibition, and TV Programming Piracy
Pre-Employment Investigation
Undercover Employee Investigations
Employee Termination

Civil and Domestic Cases
Service of Process, Legal Process Servers and Subpoena Delivery
Employment Claims
Slander and Libel
Judgment Enforcement and Recovery
Nursing Home Abuse Investigations
Divorce
Activity Checks
Child Custody and Custody Exchange Stand-By
Premarital
Cheating Spouses and Infidelity

Skip Tracing and Locating Missing People
What is Skip Tracing?
Finding Friends & Family
Collections and Asset Investigations
Bail Enforcement and Fugitive Recovery (Bounty Hunting)
Missing Children
Missing Heirs
Escheat Accounts and Unclaimed Money
Collateral Recovery And Repossession
Adoptee/ Birthparent Searches

Forensic Computer Examination- Home and Business
Network Intrusion
Wireless Network Security
Personal Safety and Information Security Audits
Email Tracing
Internet Profiling

Criminal Defense Investigations

Political and Discovery Assignments

What Private Eyes Do

Private detectives are hired by organizations, individuals and lawyers to find financial, legal or personal information. PIs can also be hired to do the following: • Provide protection to prominent people • Verify background information before someone is employed • Verify an individual’s background • Investigate internet crime related to identity theft, harassment, illegal downloads • Assist in criminal and civil cases • Help with fraudulent insurance claims • Find missing persons • Help with premarital screening

There are many more situations where private investigators are used. The methods used by them to resolve cases vary. These days most of the investigation is handled with the help of computers and the Internet particular because of the vast databases. In criminal cases, computers enable private investigators to get information about a person’s criminal record, arrest record, convictions, decrees, vehicle registration numbers, phone numbers, and details of membership with clubs and associations as well as photographs.

PIs are trained for physical surveillance also. Often they need to be on the go, verifying details like an individual’s income, doing background checks, going undercover or in disguise in order to obtain sensitive information.

PIs often use a variety of equipment that can range from still and video cameras, binoculars, sophisticated cell phones, surveillance equipment, etc. depending on what the client requires. If they are investigating frauds at a workplace related to compensation claims, it may necessitate long term observation to collect visual evidence of the individual’s activities.

While going about their work one thing that private investigators must be conscious about is not to violate the law. There are federal, state and local laws to be mindful of. The legality of investigating methods used can differ from state to state. PIs need to also ensure that the evidence they collect is admissible in a court of law.

What Can PIs Specialize In?

PIs can focus on a particular kind of work and specialize in it. Some prefer to work on cases related to intellectual property theft where they investigate piracy and help clients prevent illegal activity and prosecute.

Some PIs work on financial profiles, collecting information by conducting interviews, research, and other investigations. There are also investigators who are experts at recovery and analysis of data so that it can be used in investigations. They track hackers and have the ability to recover data, lost emails, deleted or lost passwords.

Legal private investigators prepare defenses for criminal cases. They serve legal papers, find witnesses and take care of interviewing the police, and finding the necessary information. Legal PIs usually deal with attorneys. Some private detectives are attached to corporate organizations. They carry out investigations within and outside the organization. Inside the organization they may investigate substance abuse, frauds with accountancy, and ensure that there is no pilferage within the organization.

When organizations are planning to enter into major financial contracts, they use private investigators to do a financial profile of the parties concerned. Often these PIs work with certified public accountants, investment bankers, etc.

Then there are bounty hunters who help capture fugitives for money. Bounty hunters are also called bail agents, bail enforcement agents or fugitive recovery agents. They usually work for bail bonding companies, ensuring that fugitives appear in the court at the appointed time.

Apart from research on the internet, data mining and legal research, there are also store detectives or loss prevention agents who protect the store, preventing thefts.

There are many PI magazines that feature articles about different kinds of private investigators. There are also several blogs and portals written by experienced qualified detectives. These provide information about PIs, training and other qualifications required to become a private detective, along with the current trends in the industry.

Education Requirements

A private investigator license in required in most US states, although there are no specific formal education requirements in most of the states do. Many aspiring detectives usually look for part time assignments with established private detective agencies. There are professional organizations that offer certification and on-going training for practicing investigators.

Being a private investigator offers a career that has a high level of diversity because of the various situations in which PIs operate. With rapid development in technology, today PI business is one of the fastest growing industries with tough competition and plenty of scope for career advancement. Many PI magazines offer tips on how to get into the industry, online courses to get started, etc.

Professional continuing education for private investigators is required in a dozen state in order to maintain state licensing.  Some of the states that require CE currently include Texas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Iowa, Oregon, New Mexico, Virginia, Minnesota, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Kansas and Kentucky.

Use Of PI Software

Even though private investigation involves physical surveillance and other related activities, quite a lot of PIs have online businesses and use private investigation software for online investigations. With heavy reliance on computers to access data, it is no surprise that there is a variety of software to help PIs. Some of these are background investigation software that enables background checks, computer monitoring software, and software to help with online search and case management tools. Case management tools help PIs manage their information, generate reports and billing. The use of PI software depends on the local law allowing its use.

Thus, for those looking to become private investigators, there is some basic research to be done in order to understand how the professionals in this industry work. It is also important to be aware of the governing state laws to ensure eligibility.

Actually, there is a marked difference between interrogations and interviews- casual conversations usually do not involve direct accusations and are more correctly referred to as interviews (field interviews).  The ability to be a great interviewer is not necessarily connected with the ability to tell when someone is lying to you.

We can certainly help with both!

It seems to me that you might be less interested in the mechanics and process of conducting a formal interview and more interested in the “detection of deception.” Most courses in detecting lies involve “Kinesic Interviewing” but it is only a part of the entire process.

Kinesic Interviewing is an interviewing technique used to evaluate nonverbal behavior which can certainly help in the detection of deception, but realistically all kinesic interviewing does is to detect changes in a person’s physical behavior. The idea is that a person’s physical behavior is a manifestation of how a person is feeling (emotion creates motion) but is not necessarily indicative of deception… simply a change of emotion or stress levels (both eustress and distress).  The kinesic interviewer is trained to notice these changes in syntax and relative to the line of questioning and in contrast to the subject’s baseline or “normal” behavior. For example, when a fugitive investigator asks if the subject spoke to a particular fugitive and the subject’s breathing quickens, becomes shallow or stops altogether at that moment despite the subject claiming to not have, then the investigator knows that he needs to probe that area deeper but not make the assumption (yet) that the subject is lying.  Perhaps the subject did not speak to the fugitive but has additional information or strong feelings about the question.  The subject may be frightened by the investigator’s line of questioning, which would also create changes in physical behavior, too.   It will take additional questioning and evaluation before developing a better opinion about whether the subject is telling the truth (and they are all opinions until the subject confesses to lying).  Kinesic Interviewing is very powerful technique when used in conjunction with timeline analysis or statement analysis.

We discuss Kinesic Interviewing techniques in our private investigator course, Investigate This!, and also teach you how to properly apply those techniques to more accurately tell when someone is lying to you.  It is included in the huge section titled “Interpreting Nonverbal Behavior” in Chapter 2.  This is a hyper-critical aspect of being a successful private investigator and those who possess the skill to detect lies immediately stand above their peers in their ability to get conduct a complete investigation.

The ability to quickly and accurately tell when someone is lying will make or break cases in your future!

This is the cover for the e-book training manual that comes with our course on how to become a private investigator.  The online course is entitled Investigate This! The Ultimate Training and Survival Guide for New Private Investigators.

Hi Scott,

I have a question I’m hoping you can answer.  I have a case where my client’s nephew had an incident (long story) with the courts here in California which resulted in a juvenile record.  He is now 18 and his parents are considering having his record sealed, but are torn… the logic being if it shows up as “sealed” that leaves the issue to the persons imagination, but if the record is publicly available, at least there is potential to explain.  Their biggest concern, of course, is insuring it be the least hindrance to his adult success.

In an effort to make the most reasonable decision, they would like to see what people would see if they were to do a background/records check.  How would they go about doing that and what I charge them?

Thanks in advance!!!

My answer:

There is no need to “seal” a record, though that has always been a misnomer, as juvenile criminal records are neither publicly available nor are they allowed to be used in credit or employment decisions, however they are rarely, if ever, withheld from official law enforcement use.  The only records which are ever technically “sealed” are adoption and most family court records, where it usually takes a court order to access them. The only way a juvenile’s criminal record would appear in the public record is if he or she was prosecuted as an adult (not necessarily just convicted as an adult); remember, each state defines the age of majority differently when it comes to criminal matters also; in some states 17 is the age of majority, while in a few others it is 19 years of age.

If you want to know what would be found in a background investigation, just go to the county courthouse where the cases were prosecuted, search the criminal history index and see what comes up and charge your clients accordingly.  It occurs to me, also, that if the crime or conviction received any publicity in the media that the juvenile’s name may have been mentioned and could be on the Internet, which would warrant a deep web search too.

-L. Scott Harrell
CompassPoint Investigations