Answers to the Questions That Matter

Quick answer: Yes — when collected lawfully in public spaces, documented with a proper chain of custody, and handled correctly by counsel.

In Georgia, surveillance footage and investigative reports produced by a licensed private investigator can be admissible in civil litigation, family law proceedings, workers’ compensation disputes, and related legal matters — provided the evidence was gathered legally, in areas where the subject had no reasonable expectation of privacy, and documented with a clear chain of custody. At Stealthwatch, every surveillance assignment is conducted with evidentiary use in mind: activity logs are maintained in real time, all footage is GPS-timestamped, and written reports are formatted for litigation support. Admissibility ultimately depends on the specific facts, the court’s rules of evidence, and how the evidence is introduced by counsel. We recommend coordinating with your litigation team at intake so our documentation aligns with your evidentiary strategy from day one.

Quick answer: Submit a case referral through our confidential intake form. We respond within one business day, and nothing begins until you approve the scope and cost.

Working with Stealthwatch as outside investigative support is designed to be low-friction. You submit a request through our intake form describing the case type, jurisdiction, and what needs to be documented. We review every referral personally and respond within one business day — often the same day for urgent matters. We understand discovery deadlines, deposition prep schedules, and how investigative evidence fits into the litigation workflow. Before any work begins, you receive a clear scope of work and fee structure for approval. We do not run open-ended retainers on standard case types, and we can accommodate expedited assignments when your timeline requires it.

Quick answer: We handle time-intensive fieldwork — surveillance, witness location, scene documentation, and process service — so your team stays focused on legal strategy.

Law firms frequently engage PIs for tasks that require licensed field presence or fall outside the scope of paralegal and associate work. This includes mobile and stationary surveillance of parties, locating witnesses who have moved or are avoiding contact, background research on opposing parties, scene documentation, and process service on evasive subjects. As a licensed Georgia PI agency, Stealthwatch operates within a defined legal and ethical framework — and our documentation is structured to survive scrutiny in court. We function as a professional extension of your litigation support team, not a vendor that requires handholding. Our reports arrive formatted for legal use, not requiring cleanup before they can be referenced in your file.

Quick answer: Most locate assignments are completed within 24–72 hours of intake approval, depending on available information and subject circumstances.

Witness location and skip tracing are among the most time-sensitive services we handle. Once your referral is approved and the assignment scope is set, we initiate database research immediately. Most locates — for witnesses with available data trails — are completed within 24 to 72 hours. Complex cases involving deliberately evasive individuals or limited identifying information may require additional time. We provide interim updates on active locates so you’re never without status during discovery. When a subject is located in Georgia, we can also coordinate field verification to confirm the address before you serve process or make contact.

Quick answer: Skip tracing locates individuals using database research, public records, and field verification — essential for serving evasive parties and finding missing witnesses.

Skip tracing is the investigative process of locating individuals whose current address, employment, or contact information is unknown or outdated. For attorneys, this typically means finding opposing parties who have moved or are avoiding service, locating witnesses who have changed contact information since the incident, tracking judgment debtors, or verifying current addresses before initiating formal contact. Stealthwatch uses professional-grade investigative databases alongside open-source intelligence and field verification to conduct locate assignments. Findings are documented in a format that supports process service affidavits, court submissions, and case file integration. We can connect a successful locate directly to a process service assignment when needed, keeping the workflow in one place.

Quick answer: Yes — we conduct lawful recorded statement interviews structured to produce usable evidence for your file.

Recorded statements are a standard component of insurance defense and civil litigation investigations. We conduct structured recorded interviews with witnesses, claimants, and involved parties in a lawful and professional manner. Georgia is a one-party consent state for in-person recorded conversations, but laws vary significantly by jurisdiction — if your case involves parties in other states, we recommend confirming applicable recording consent laws with your legal team before scheduling. Our statements are organized, methodical, and delivered in a format ready for immediate file integration, deposition prep, or introduction into the case record.

Quick answer: Every report includes a chronological activity log, timestamped video references, investigator observations, and a written summary — formatted to support discovery, depositions, and trial.

A Stealthwatch surveillance report is not a narrative guess — it is a structured documentation package built for legal use. Every report includes: a real-time chronological activity log with exact times, GPS locations, and precise notations; timestamped video with corresponding log references; a written summary of documented observations; investigator credentials and licensing information; and chain of custody notation for all evidence. We format reports so they can be produced in discovery, cited in depositions, and introduced at trial without requiring your team to rebuild the evidentiary foundation. Preliminary reports are delivered within 24 hours of assignment completion for time-sensitive matters, with full written reports within 48–72 hours as standard.

Quick answer: A process server delivers legal documents. A PI investigates, documents, and gathers evidence. Stealthwatch provides both under one relationship.

Process serving is the formal, rules-governed delivery of legal documents — summons, subpoenas, complaints, and court orders — to named parties in a case. It requires strict procedural compliance and produces an affidavit of service. Private investigation is a broader category of licensed field and research work: surveillance, witness location, scene documentation, background research, skip tracing, and more. Many law firms prefer working with a PI agency that also handles process service because it consolidates the relationship, simplifies billing, and keeps one professional contact involved in related case tasks. Stealthwatch handles both. We serve process on evasive subjects — under proper court appointment where required — generate verified affidavits of service, and conduct the investigative side of the same cases when your matter requires both.

Quick answer: Discipline in real-time documentation. Every assignment is conducted with the assumption that the investigator will be cross-examined on every detail.

The quality of investigative work is exposed when opposing counsel challenges the investigator’s methodology, positioning, and documentation on the stand. At Stealthwatch, we operate with cross-examination in mind from the first minute of any assignment. Our investigators maintain real-time activity logs with precise times and notations, preserve original unedited video, document exactly where they were positioned during observation, and avoid opinions or characterizations that go beyond what was directly observed. Our written reports describe what was seen — not what was inferred. That discipline is what makes our work defensible and credible. We also maintain current licensing, documented training, and professional standing that can withstand foundation challenges.

Quick answer: When retained at the direction of an attorney in anticipation of litigation, the engagement may qualify for work product protection — but that determination is yours to make as counsel.

When Stealthwatch is retained directly by an attorney or law firm and the investigation is conducted in anticipation of litigation, the work may fall within the scope of work product protection under applicable procedural rules. This is a legal determination for your team — not ours — but we understand the framework and conduct our operations accordingly. We can structure communications, documentation, and engagement records in a manner consistent with privilege protection arguments you may need to make. If you have specific requirements about how the retention should be structured for privilege purposes, discuss them with us at intake and we will align our documentation approach to support your position.

Quick answer: Yes — hiring a licensed private investigator is completely legal in Georgia, and Stealthwatch is a fully licensed Georgia PI agency.

Hiring a licensed private investigator in Georgia is entirely legal. Private investigators in Georgia are licensed by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division and are authorized to conduct surveillance, research, and investigative activities within the bounds of state and federal law. Legal surveillance in Georgia typically means observing subjects in public spaces where they have no reasonable expectation of privacy — streets, parking lots, public parks, retail locations, and similar areas. A licensed PI does not have authority to trespass on private property, access private accounts without authorization, intercept electronic communications, or engage in harassment or stalking. Stealthwatch operates within these legal limits on every engagement, without exception. All of our work is conducted legally, documented professionally, and carried out by or under the supervision of licensed investigators.

Quick answer: Yes — surveillance of a spouse or partner in public spaces is legal in Georgia when conducted by a licensed private investigator.

Infidelity investigations are among the most common reasons private clients engage a licensed PI. In Georgia, a licensed investigator can lawfully observe and document the activities of a spouse or partner in publicly accessible areas — including following their vehicle, documenting locations visited, and recording activity with other individuals. This documentation can include video footage, photographs, timestamped activity logs, and a written investigative report. What a PI cannot do: trespass onto private property to observe the subject, access private messages or accounts without legal authority, install tracking devices without proper legal basis, or conduct any activity that constitutes harassment. Georgia is generally a one-party consent state for in-person recorded conversations, but applicable law varies by circumstance and jurisdiction. Stealthwatch handles infidelity cases with complete discretion and professional documentation — no judgment, no leaks, no drama.

Quick answer: Rates vary by assignment type and complexity. We give you a clear cost estimate before anything starts — no surprise charges or open-ended work — scope and pricing are approved before deployment.

Private investigation pricing depends on the type of service, assignment duration, number of investigators required, and case complexity. Standard investigative services are billed at $125/hour all-inclusive — routine expenses and local mileage included — with a 4-hour minimum engagement. Background research and skip tracing are often structured as flat-rate packages or hourly engagements depending on scope. Process service is priced per assignment based on location and number of attempts. At Stealthwatch, we do not run open-ended retainers or surprise clients with escalating costs. During the intake process, we review your case, determine what is realistically achievable, and present a clear scope of work with a cost estimate attached. Nothing begins until you approve. If additional scope becomes necessary during the investigation, we communicate that to you before proceeding — not after the invoice arrives.

Quick answer: Your engagement is fully confidential. We do not disclose client relationships, case details, or results to anyone outside the engagement.

Confidentiality is a foundational operating principle at Stealthwatch — not a marketing line. We do not discuss client matters with anyone outside the direct engagement. Not with family members, not with the subject of the investigation, not with anyone who contacts us asking questions. Your identity, the nature of your case, the methods used, and the results of the investigation are kept strictly private. Our investigators conduct fieldwork using unmarked vehicles, rotating surveillance positions, and professional operational tradecraft designed to avoid detection. If you have specific questions about how your information is protected or how we handle inquiries about your case, ask us directly during the intake call — we’ll explain our protocols clearly and without vagueness.

Quick answer: Yes — properly documented surveillance is regularly used as evidence in Georgia family law proceedings, including divorce and custody cases.

Video surveillance, activity logs, and investigative reports produced by a licensed PI are regularly introduced as evidence in Georgia divorce, custody modification, and family law proceedings. Courts have accepted PI documentation in cases involving contested custody arrangements, infidelity as grounds for divorce, disputed financial circumstances, and parental fitness evaluations. For the evidence to be effective, it must be collected legally, documented with clear timestamps and chain of custody, and introduced properly by your attorney. Stealthwatch formats all documentation with legal use in mind. We recommend involving your family law attorney early so our investigation is scoped and executed in alignment with your evidentiary goals. Note: specific admissibility standards and procedural rules vary by court and case type — your attorney can advise on local requirements.

Quick answer: Yes — where a lawful, permissible purpose exists, such as service of process, litigation support, judgment recovery, or other legitimate legal needs. We decline locate requests that lack a lawful basis.

Skip tracing is the process of locating individuals using database research, public records, open-source intelligence, and when warranted, field verification. We regularly locate individuals who have moved without leaving a forwarding address, changed phone numbers, are avoiding process service or legal contact, or have deliberately cut off communication. This includes parties who must be served with legal process, witnesses, judgment debtors, heirs and beneficiaries, and family members located with appropriate due-diligence screening. The depth and timeline of a locate depends on available identifying information and how thoroughly the subject has attempted to conceal their current location. Most locates with a workable data trail are completed within 24 to 72 hours; deliberately evasive subjects can take longer — we give you an honest read on the odds before we start. When a locate connects to a process service need, we can handle both in a single engagement.

Quick answer: Yes — we provide surveillance, background research, and documentation to support custody proceedings, working alongside your family law attorney.

Private investigators are frequently engaged in child custody cases to document co-parent behavior, living environment, and activity relevant to a custody determination or modification. Stealthwatch handles custody-related investigations with precision and care — we understand the stakes are high and that documentation may be used in a proceeding that affects a child’s circumstances. Our custody support services include: surveillance of a co-parent to document activity during visitation periods or at locations of concern, background research on new partners in the household, documentation of lifestyle issues that are relevant to parental fitness arguments, and observation of parent-child interactions in public spaces. All fieldwork is conducted legally and within Georgia law. We coordinate directly with your family law attorney when appropriate to ensure our scope and documentation align with what the court requires.

Quick answer: Personal vetting and verification is a lawful due-diligence research service, built on public records and open sources, for individuals entering new personal or professional commitments.

Personal vetting and verification involves researching the identity, public records, and online presence of someone you are considering trusting with your family, money, or home. This service is increasingly used by professionals, executives, and individuals who want to verify that the person they are dealing with is who they represent themselves to be. Research may include: public criminal and civil records review, identity verification, social media and open-source analysis, and — where lawful and warranted — discreet observation in public places. This research is built on public records and open sources; it is not a consumer report. All of this is entirely legal in Georgia when conducted through lawful means by a licensed investigator. Stealthwatch handles these engagements with complete confidentiality. The subject is not aware they are being researched unless you choose to disclose it.

One important boundary: personal vetting and verification reports are not consumer reports under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and they may not be used to make employment, credit, insurance, or housing decisions. They are provided solely for your personal, non-commercial evaluation of a private matter.

Quick answer: Ask for their license number and verify it directly on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website. Stealthwatch is a fully licensed Georgia PI agency.

In Georgia, private investigators are required to be licensed by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division. Licensure requires a background investigation, documented experience requirements, and maintaining the license in current good standing. You can verify any PI’s license by searching the Georgia Secretary of State’s public licensing database by name or license number — this is publicly accessible online at no cost. When hiring any PI, request their license number and verify it before engaging. Stealthwatch is a fully licensed Georgia private investigation agency. We provide our license information upon request and encourage clients to verify it. If a PI cannot or will not provide a license number, or if their license does not appear in the state database, do not hire them.

Quick answer: You receive a personal response within 1 business day. We review your case, provide a clear scope and cost estimate, and wait for your approval before anything starts.

When you submit a request through our intake form, here is exactly what happens: We review your submission — typically within one business day, often same day. We contact you to discuss the nature of your case, your objective, and what is realistically achievable. We present a clear scope of work and cost estimate. Nothing begins until you review and approve the terms in writing. Once approved, we assign an investigator, begin the work, and communicate with you at key intervals during the engagement. At the conclusion of the assignment, you receive a complete documentation package — activity log, video references, and written summary — in a format you can actually use. If at any point we determine your case is not something we can help with, we tell you upfront and do not take your money. That directness is part of how we operate.