NOLIN NOLIN & ASSOCIATES INVESTIGATION Q & A

To check if a private investigator is licensed in Florida, you can follow these steps:

Visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) website: They manage licenses for private investigators. https://licensing.fdacs.gov/access/individual.aspx 

Use the License Search tool: Navigate to the "License Search" page on the FDACS website where you can search by name or license number.

Verify the Information: Ensure that the private investigator's license is active and check the details such as the expiration date and any disciplinary actions.

Request a CV or Resume: Ask the investigator to provide their CV or resume, which should detail their educational background and relevant experience in investigations.

Inquire About Past Cases: Discuss specific cases they have handled, particularly those similar to your needs. This will give you insight into their expertise and problem-solving abilities.

Ask for References: Request references from previous clients or local attorneys they have worked with. We offer both. Contact these references to learn about their experiences and satisfaction with the investigator's services.

Discuss Court Experience: Inquire about their experience testifying in court. An effective investigator should be familiar with legal procedures and able to present their findings clearly.

Understand Their Approach: Ask them to explain their investigative methods and how they approach cases. This can help you gauge their thoroughness and professionalism.

At Nolin & Nolin, our average investigator has over 20 years of investigative experience. Many of our investigators are retired law enforcement officers, retired federal agents, or hold specialized training, ensuring a high level of expertise in carrying out investigations.

Don’t be fooled by a flashy website. While an appealing design may catch your eye, it doesn't guarantee the quality or authenticity of the services provided. Websites that lack detailed information about the investigators, their backgrounds, and their experience can be a red flag. Always verify the agency's local presence, expertise, and reputation through reliable sources before making a decision. 

Ask for Their Address: Request the investigator's business address. A local investigator should have an office in the area you are interested in.

Check Their License: Verify their license with the relevant state regulatory agency. The licensing information often includes the investigator's place of business and can confirm if they are operating locally.

Research Online: Look for their online presence, including their website and social media profiles. Local investigators often highlight their service area and may have client testimonials from local residents.

Inquire About Local Knowledge: Ask them specific questions about the area and local laws or regulations related to your case. A knowledgeable local investigator should be familiar with the nuances of the community.

Ask for References: Request references from local clients or professionals they've worked with in your area. This can provide additional confirmation of their local presence and reputation.

Currently, there are six investigation agencies in our area that claim to be local but are not. It's important to do your due diligence when selecting a private investigator to ensure you're working with a reputable and authentic agency. 

These agencies may target a wide audience, but they often subcontract cases to outside investigators who may not be familiar with the local area or its specific laws and nuances. This can lead to less reliable service. To ensure you're working with a truly local investigator, it's important to verify their business location, ask about their team, and check for references from local clients.  

It's crucial to understand that just because a private investigation agency advertises, it doesn't necessarily mean they are local. In recent times, several new agencies have emerged in our area that not only claim to provide local services but also attempt to subcontract cases. We receive calls daily from these agencies seeking to subcontract work to us, but our agency does not engage in such practices.

We prioritize the highest standards of training and experience within our own team. When other agencies subcontract cases, they often seek to hire the cheapest available personnel, which can result in investigators with little to no experience. In contrast, all our investigators work directly for us, ensuring quality and accountability in every case.

Unfortunately, some agencies are simply funneling a large number of calls with the intent to take a percentage of the fee while subcontracting the actual work. This practice can lead to clients receiving subpar service. We are frequently retained for cases after clients have already attempted to hire someone else, only to discover that the investigator they chose did not take meaningful action in their case. Our commitment to quality means that clients can trust us to provide diligent, experienced investigative services from start to finish.

Check Multiple Platforms: Look for reviews not only on the agency's website but also on third-party platforms like Google Maps, Yelp, and other review sites. If reviews are only found on their website, it could be a red flag.

Look for Consistency: Compare the reviews across various platforms. Genuine businesses often have consistent feedback across multiple sites, whereas agencies relying on fake reviews may have discrepancies.

Verify Review Sources: Check if the reviews on their site link to verified sources. For example, our reviews are directly pulled from Google Maps for local businesses, ensuring authenticity, rather than being manually typed in.

Examine the Review Quality: Genuine reviews typically include specific details about the services provided, while fake reviews may be vague or overly general.

Be Wary of Overly Positive Feedback: If most reviews are exceptionally positive without any constructive criticism, it might indicate that the reviews are not authentic. Real reviews often include a balanced perspective.

Local Presence: Our agency has a physical office at 722 Airport Road, Panama City, FL, 32405, complemented by satellite offices in Pensacola, Fort Walton, and Amelia Island. All our investigators live in the local area, allowing them to build relationships with local family attorneys, defense attorneys, judges, and law enforcement. This local knowledge enables us to understand the community and its specific needs effectively.

Experienced Team: Most of our investigators are retired law enforcement professionals from the area, bringing decades of experience in criminal and civil investigations. Our team currently includes 10 investigators, a certified analyst, and a family social worker, allowing us to handle a diverse range of cases.

Endorsements and References: We can provide local attorneys and past local clients who can attest to the quality of our work. This direct feedback is crucial for clients looking for reliable investigative support.

Recognized Expertise: Our agency has received more local awards than any other in the Panhandle, along with statewide and regional awards. We have also been recognized by DiscoveryID for our assistance in various cases.

Specialization: We frequently handle child custody and infidelity cases, making us the preferred choice for many local attorneys in these areas. Additionally, we manage missing person cases and cold cases, showcasing our versatility.

Exceptional Experience: Our most experienced investigator is a retired Major in Law Enforcement with 25 years of experience in homicide investigations. Furthermore, our top training investigator is contracted nationwide for his qualifications in surveillance and investigations, currently training personnel for the largest regional grocery store chain in the Southeast and collaborating with HSI on organized crime investigations daily. 

In summary, when you need help with a case, there is a significant difference between private investigation agencies.