How to Verify a Tennessee Private Investigator License

Who regulates private investigators in Tennessee

Private investigators in Tennessee are regulated by the Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) under the Private Investigators Licensing and Regulatory Act, Title 62, Chapter 26 of the Tennessee Code. TDCI's Private Investigation program licenses both individual private investigators and private investigation companies. Since July 1, 2021, the program has been housed within the department's Detection Services Licensing Program.

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-26-204, it is unlawful for anyone to act as an investigations company or a private investigator without first obtaining a license. To get a license, an individual must, among other things, be at least 21, be a U.S. citizen or resident alien, be of good moral character, and pass a state examination (§ 62-26-207). A company's qualifying agent must also show investigative experience or approved education (§ 62-26-206).

TDCI's program contact, as listed on its website, is 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243, phone (615) 741-2241.

Step by step: checking a license online

TDCI links to a public search tool from its Private Investigation page under "Verify a License." The process is straightforward:

1. Go to the TDCI Private Investigation page at tn.gov/commerce/regboards/pi and choose Verify a License, or go directly to search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov.
2. Search by the investigator's full name. If you are hiring through a firm, search the company name too, since companies hold their own license.
3. Check that the license type matches: a private investigator license for the person, a private investigation company license for the business.
4. Confirm the status is active and note the expiration date.
5. Make sure the name on the record matches exactly the person or business you are talking to, including the legal company name if it differs from a brand name.
6. If something does not match or you cannot find a record, ask the investigator to explain before you go further.

The ID card and the posted license

Tennessee law adds two physical checks. Under § 62-26-208, the state issues every licensed private investigator a wallet-sized, permanently laminated identification card that shows, at a minimum, the licensee's name, photograph, physical description, license number and the license's expiration date. Licensees must carry the card on their person while working.

Under § 62-26-209, every license must be posted conspicuously at the licensee's principal place of business. You will not usually visit an office for a surveillance job, but it is reasonable to ask for a license number by phone or email and to check it against the state search.

Local licenses are not part of the picture. The Act prohibits Tennessee cities and counties from requiring their own investigator license, permit or bond, although they can impose a business tax (§ 62-26-218). So the state license is the one to check, whether the work is in Nashville, Knoxville or anywhere else in Tennessee.

A legitimate investigator will not be offended by these questions. It is routine for attorneys and businesses to ask, and a firm that works with law firms expects to be checked.

Red flags

Most problems become obvious once you ask for a license number. Watch for these:

• Refusing to give a license number, or giving one that does not match the name in the state search.
• An expired or inactive license.
• Offers to place a GPS tracker on her car, get into her phone or social accounts, or pull her phone records. Those methods are illegal under Tennessee and federal law, and a licensed professional should not offer them.
• Promises about what you will catch. No one can guarantee what surveillance will show.
• Pressure to pay immediately without answering basic questions about licensing, rates and what happens to the evidence.
• Vague answers about who will actually do the work, or a name that only exists on a social media page.

What to ask before you share personal details

Hiring an investigator for a partner's trip means handing over sensitive information: her photo, where she is staying, who she is traveling with and why you are worried. It is reasonable to verify the people you are dealing with before you send any of that.

A short set of questions covers most of it. Once you have the answers, check them against the state search before booking.

• What is the legal name of your company, and what is its Tennessee license number?
• Will the investigator doing the work be licensed, and can you give me that name for the state search?
• Will the investigator carry the state-issued ID card while working?
• Who will see the photos, video and report, and how will they be delivered to me?
• What methods will you use, and what will you not do?
• What is the rate, and what happens if plans change before the investigator is dispatched?

Why the license matters for you

A license is more than a formality. Licensed investigators answer to the state. Under § 62-26-217, TDCI can suspend or revoke a license, or impose a civil penalty of up to $2,000, for violating the Act or its rules, for fraud, deceit or misrepresentation, or for criminal convictions. Under § 62-26-221, licensees may not bill for work not performed, give a client a false report, or disclose client information to others unless required by law.

Violating the Act or its rules is a Class A misdemeanor under § 62-26-228. If you come across someone working as an investigator without a license, TDCI's Private Investigation page has a link for filing a complaint.

Licensing also tells you something about training and screening. To be licensed as an individual investigator in Tennessee, a person must pass a state examination, and the commissioner reviews applications before a license and ID card are issued (§§ 62-26-207 and 62-26-208). A company's qualifying agent must show at least 2,000 hours of compensated, verifiable investigative experience, or approved related experience or education, unless the company was licensed before August 17, 2009 (§ 62-26-206). None of that guarantees a particular result, but it does mean someone has checked.

There is also a practical reason. Evidence gathered by a licensed professional who stayed within the law is far more useful to you, and to any attorney you later consult, than evidence gathered in ways that create new legal problems.

Checking Nashville Girls Trip Check

Nashville Girls Trip Check is a service of Delator Group, a Tennessee-licensed private investigation and process serving firm headquartered in Nashville. You are welcome to look up Delator Group in the state's Verify a License search and to ask any questions about licensing before you book.

You can call or text (629) 310-8667 (answered 24 hours, 7 days) or email contact@delatorgroup.com. The mailing address is Delator Group, 6339 Charlotte Pike PMB 2013, Nashville, TN 37209. It is a mailing address, not a walk-in office.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is different. For questions about divorce, custody or your own legal exposure, talk with a Tennessee family law attorney.