Private Investigator Resources

Investigative and Legal Resources

Additional resources regarding investigative and legal services.

– Hotels: Hotels can be the obvious choice for someone travelling or for any other lodging need. There are many hotels out there, so choosing one depends on what you need and what you want. There are cheaper hotels that can be easily found along most major highways, including the larger chain hotels like Motel 6, Holiday Inn, Howard Johnson, and Best Western. These hotels offer the usual needs like air conditioning, cable tv, and phone. And depending on where you stay, you may also get a swimming pool and hot tub as well as premium channels on your television and possibly even internet access.

Hotels can really range in price and the more expensive ones have more to offer. Some of the advantages to a better hotel is access to room service and sometimes even a hot tub in your room. These lodging facilities usually have better beds and linen too. If you don’t mind paying a little more and have some extra time to take advantage of all these hotels have to offer, then upgrading your lodging choice can be well worth it. Examples of these sort of hotels are the Marriott and the Hilton.

But if you are really looking for a deal on any hotel or motel, there are many sites on the internet that can assist you in getting the best deal out there. Typically, a traveller would enter in their destination zip code and a price they are looking to pay (remember to low-ball them), and voila, the site gathers the best prices it has to offer. This can be a great way to get a good hotel at an inexpensive price. Priceline, Orbitz and Expedia are good places to start a search like this.

Regardless of where you end up staying, it is good practice to peek at reviews of the hotel or see if you can find out if they are rated by Triple A. There should be some resources online to assist in you in determining whether or not the hotel you are looking to stay in is a worthy establishment.

– Travel: There are many reasons to travel, including business, leisure and emergency, and there are many ways to travel. Depending on where you are going plays a big part in choosing your method of travel. If your destination is of a great distance away or perhaps overseas, choosing to travel by airline is probably the most obvious choice. But if the distance is less and part of the enjoyment is the trip itself, then train or car could be the choices for a traveler.

Airlines are trying extra hard these days after September 11 to win over travelers and to make travelling feel safe. A new report suggests that airlines are much safer today then before September 11 and they have also been giving travelers more legroom and other amenities. Airlines such as United, American, Southwest and more all offer such desirable enhancements.

If you are looking enjoy the trip as much as the destination, taking an Amtrack train to your endpoint could be the best way to go. Amtrack is very affordable and the scenery is just wonderful. Obviously, the travel will take a little longer than a jet airliner, but the trip is worth the time. You can find trains to get you to all sorts of the country including Miami, Seattle, Boston, Washington D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Austin, New Orleans, Palm Beach and more.

But if you are like me and you really enjoy driving and going your own pace as well as veering off the route, then simply getting in your car and going is the most liberating (besides a motorcycle) and most rewarding way to travel. Take your time and see what you want to, travelling by car is the only way to go.

– Divorce: Divorce, or dissolution of marriage, can be a stressful experience. Statistics say that most results end in divorce. While this is an unfortunate statistic, it should be no reason to avoid entering into a union with another individual. Marriage is a wonderful commitment if the two persons can remain faithful and devote themselves to a healthy, fulfilling union.

Nonetheless, divorce is a reality in our society today. There are many reasons people get divorces, including infidelity, financial issues, and basic incompatibility. For some, the faults that are claimed to justify a divorce could be reconcilable and should be explored thoroughly before entering into a divorce court.

But if all issues are worked on and a happy, fulfilling relationship cannot be reached, then the two parties should file for divorce, separation or annulment. Any of these can be costly procedures, divorce obviously the most expensive. And once lawyers are brought in, if the two parties cannot part ways amicably, then the costs really begin to rise.

Regardless of sex, age, religion or otherwise, divorces are still going to happen. And in today’s instant satisfaction world, the rate will surely rise still. And I suppose if they begin to let gay and lesbians marry as well, the number of divorces will rise too, but the rate may stay the same or even lower. That is a study I would like to see happen.

– Private Eye: There are many reasons to contact and contract a private eye or private investigator. The most popular reason these days seems to be locating a missing or lost loved one, family member or friend (or enemy for that matter). But other reasons to find a P.I. could be marital problems, law enforcement or business dealings gone bad.

Some professional private investigators are retired law enforcement officials and could possibly have more contacts and inside information to deal with the situation. And some private detective agencies have a large staff with multiple people working on individual cases at a time. But regardless, the agency’s or individual’s credentials should be checked before hiring anyone.

There are many places to go online these days to find a private eye to suit your needs. Some, including privateeyelist, offer a directory approach to locating your investigator. And a simple search in google or vivisimo should yield a plethora of links to sites dedicated to detective work.

But beware, these services will come at a price. Most detectives charge by the hour in addition to expenses and other costs. These things can add up quite quickly and must be taken into consideration when deciding if it is necessary to include a professional private eye in your search.

– Spy Software: With the age of computers and the information superhighway, so much of the world has moved to a digital realm. Mail through the postal service has dwindled, and the ease of email for conversation, both have made a new way for how we as people communicate. And so, spy software has also become a booming business as well growing right alongside the internet.

These software makers have become very good at recording actions and information from the computer and internet monitoring is a very profitable business. These spy software programs can do any number of stealthy activity including recording emails, chats, instant messages as well as web sites visited.

One of the more in-depth actions these spy software makers can monitor is actually recording keystrokes. The program understands every key pressed on your computer and can record what you are typing. This comes into play in many ways, recording your passwords, conversations (IM and email), websites typed in, word documents and other business files and so much more.

The plus side of the spy software market is for parents. While some professionals don’t believe spying on your children is a healthy way to deal with issues, spy software can give you some information to either confirm or deny some questions parents may have.

– Marriage: Marriage is an institution originally set out as a religious union between a man and a woman. But as times change, like all things in our society, the definition of marriage has evolved. The term marriage has now become a legally binding contract in the eyes of the law and is used in many ways to mediate issues and disputes. In this I am referring to visiting rights for spouses, property concerns and other issues that can arise from a long term relationship.

Marriage has been a hot button topic these days as political leaders, as well as religious and secular leaders, battle over whether gays and lesbians have the right to get married. Some say letting homosexual couples to get married erodes the sacred bond of marriage. But the outspoken advocates for the marriage between gays and lesbians are arguing that they are denied certain rights when they are denied the access to marriage under the law.

This is a very touchy subject between both sides and both are passionately committed to their beliefs. But I believe, and this is just my opinion, that as the founding forefathers set out to make our constitution and our great country, when they said to keep church and state separate, this is a perfectly good example. The gays and lesbians are just arguing for equal rights under the law, not necessarily under God. And what is between them and God is between them and God, and should be no one else’s concern.

Regardless, marriage should be something sacred between two people and should be about love, commitment and happiness.

– Security: Security is defined as being free from danger. This is a broad term and can be applied in many ways to many different aspects of our life. Security can be spoken of in relation to a person’s well being and safety, as in security or a team of body guards. Security can also be important when regarding your personal information as in computer security. And in this sense, home security could involve both your personal safety as well as your personal belongings and property.

Many celebrities and high ranking officials have a team of body guards at them at all times. These kind of security personnel are often armed and trained to deal with dangerous situations and unpredictable people. Many celebrities have been stalked in one form or another and security is of the utmost importance to their personal well being.

Computer security is a lucrative business (as is the other side of this market, spy software and virus creators), and so the web is filled with companies offering to make you feel safer with their products and services. There are many ways to be insecure on the internet and these security providers are doing their best to make it a safer place.

Security can also simply mean making your own home more secure, by using surveillance cameras, alarm systems, motion detectors and the like. You can take some simple steps to make your home more safe and it is good advice to do so. A secure home is a safer home and you can feel more comfortable inside and out when you are sure your security system is up to snuff.

– Lawyer: A lawyer or attorney is someone who can advise and represent a client in a court of law. The lawyer must be licensed by the state that he or she is working in and lawyers can be referred to as many names, including counselor and advocate. A lawyer must endure many years of schooling and be able to pass the Bar Exam in order to practice in the United States.

Are whole court system is built around lawyers and judges. If some breaks the law for any reason (and is caught), chances are good that they will seek the advice and counsel of a professional. Lawyers are also socially intertwined in the system, which in some cases can be a good or bad thing.

In some instances, a defendant may choose to represent himself (or herself, for that matter). This is not advised, as most lawyers are well trained and have many years of experience in the courtroom. And yet, some still try and often fail at defending themselves in a court of law.

All in all, lawyers are an asset to a defendant in any case. Attorneys and lawyers have gotten a bad rap over the years, some saying they are overpaid and milking the system. But in most cases, a lawyer can at the very least get your sentence, fine or penalty reduced in some manner. In the end, the defendant can weight what they spent versus what they got in return.

Michigan Personal Injury Lawyers
Our Michigan personal injury lawyers co-counsel with attorneys in other states on personal injury, medical malpractice and class action cases.

– Movies: Movies are a great form of entertainment. There are many genres of movies being made, including action/adventure, drama, romance, foreign, comedy, kung-fu and so many more. Hollywood is the mecca for entertainment and also the home of millions of working actors. Some say you couldn’t throw a rock in Hollywood and not hit an actor.

Movies are often first shown in theaters, typically running a month or so and then being replaced by a newer feature. Shortly thereafter (getting shorter and shorter every year), the movie is released for sale on DVD or VHS cassette. (The VHS format is rapidly becoming obsolete and will soon be discontinued from production.) DVD’s can range in price roughly from $8 to $20, but some special edition DVD’s can cost much more.

Unfortunately, the age of drive-in movie theaters is of a by-gone era. There aren’t many movie theaters of this kind in existence where you pull your car up to the speaker and walk to the concession stand. Property has become too expensive and drive-in movie theaters have gone the way of beta-format video cassettes.

The age of the internet has also put movies into a new realm. With bit torrent streaming applications, it could soon be possible to stream or download movies over the web. This reduction in production costs could make the business even more profitable, if only the executives in charge realize the power and impact of the digital market.

– Dating: Dating can be a daunting challenge in today’s high paced world. Most people are too busy to submerge themselves into the dating world and have little time for the slow process of meeting and getting to know someone the old fashioned way. But with the emergence of the internet, the dating world has moved into the 21st century.

There are many online dating services today, match.com, dating.com, eharmony.com and lavalife.com to name a few. These dating websites typically attempt to match you and another person based on your in depth profile. Usually for a fee, potential daters can sign up on their site, fill out a lengthy questionnaire and begin browsing other personal ads.

Another new way of dating, or at least meeting people, is called speed dating. In this situation, a group of people gather in a public place, a bar or restaurant, and take turns meeting each other. For example, all the women, with name tags revealing their first name only, could be sitting at one table per woman. Then all the men, with first name only name tags as well, take turns sitting with each women for roughly 5 minutes. Once the time allotment is expired, all the men will move to the next table.

Both of these techniques have been working very effectively and are very popular among today’s singles. But yet, some would rather still meet people the old fashioned way, through friends, at bars or social events or just by casual interactions in their everyday life.

– Wedding: A wedding is the ceremony at which a civil or religious union is made and celebrated. Weddings are typically a joyous event with both families coming together to witness the event. There are many places to have a wedding, a church being the most popular and traditional. But many people are opting to have a non-traditional wedding at the beach or perhaps sky-diving. There are no rules to getting married and the options are limitless.

The church (or temple of the couple’s particular faith) is usually dressed in flowers for the wedding. Typically, the family of the bride sits on one side of the aisle and the grooms on the other side. An organist plays the wedding song to begin the procession. The priest, rabbi, minister or pastor then administers the ceremonial vows and to conclude, the groom kisses the bride.

There are many out-of-box ways to think about your marriage ceremony. A wedding can be an extreme sporting event (sky diving, bungee jumping or mountain climbing) or it can be in an unconventional place (at the beach, on a ferris wheel, or in a cave), but regardless, the wedding, marriage, and commitment to your spouse should not be taken lightly.

Weddings ceremonies are treasure for life and some people spend large amounts of time and money on making them just right. Others are content having their wedding in their back yard or in the park. Wherever the ceremony is held, guests will come, good time and cheer will ensue and memories will be made.

– Insurance: There are many forms of insurance today, policies to cover your home, auto, and life are the most common forms of insurance. Basically, an insurance policy is an agreement that the person will pay monthly (or however the terms of the agreement are played out) an amount set forth and if something happens to the item being insured, the insurance company covers the cost above and beyond the deductible. The deductible is an amount that the two parties are agreed is the initial up-front cost in case of damage being done to the item.

For example, car insurance is paid out monthly (or another timetable such as a lump sum paid yearly) and the amount is dependent on the coverage plan. If an accident occurs, the owner of the car and holder of the insurance policy contacts their agent at the insurance agency. An estimate of the damages is given and the insurance company pays the amount minus the deductible.

In the case of house insurance, the same basic principles are in effect. People who only rent their homes purchase renter’s insurance to cover any damage or unforseen occurrence. Renter’s insurance is also good for items that may have been in your vehicle or in another location. Check the details of the policy to determine the extent of coverage.

Regardless of the form of insurance, it is always a good idea to insure anything you have that is considered of value. Whether it is your watch or your life, insurance is good investment.

– Cameras: A camera is a device that is used to record images or video. Originally, all cameras captured their images to film and they came in all sizes and forms. Originally, all cameras captured their images to film and they came in all sizes and forms. Some cameras, like the polaroid or the Kodachrome, were simple consumer cameras that took a picture with the click of a button. Others were much more complicated and required some previous working knowledge of the camera before a shot could ever be taken.

But in todays burgeoning digital age, cameras are advancing in every way possible. They are getting smaller, some only the size of a credit card or matchbook including models made by Pentax, Sony and Canon. And other cameras are advancing in the features department, such as higher resolution, professional settings and better image sensors.

Video cameras are advancing in the same manners including surveillance cameras that can fit into the palm of your hand or even in the tip of a pen. With the progression of these cameras, some are worried about the peering eyes of crooks, perverts and other malcontents.

In the public place, everywhere you look, there are cameras looking back at you. Whether it is in shopping stores like WalMart, Target, or Sears, or at your local ATM machine, cameras are everywhere recording your every move. In fact, there is a website in New York City that is dedicated to mapping out routes to take when commuting to avoid all public video cameras (www.isee.com).

– Video: Reviews and consumer comments are a great way to really get an idea of how a camera performs.

Video cameras have advance along way since the old days where it was a bulky 100lb machine touted around on a strong shoulder. These days, cameras are affordable and small. They range from inexpensive consumer-based models to more advanced professional cameras.

Canon has some very nice cameras in the pro-sumer (professional cameras in the consumer price range), including the XL2 and GL2. Both cameras have 3CCD image sensors and take video with amazing color and detail. They range from $1599 to $4999. Panasonic also has some quality cameras in this range that come highly recommended.

Less expensive models geared more towards hobbyists and family members are also being manufactured by a wide range of companies, including Sony, JVC and Hitachi. These models have lots of fun, easy-to-use features and take images that rival some of the more expensive models. Most come with different video modes like sepia, black and white, negative, solarize and more.

Before a consumer goes out and purchases a video camera, a thorough search on the web is well-advised. There are many resources online to find out features and benefits of most cameras. Reviews and consumer comments are a great way to really get an idea of how a camera performs. A happy customer can be the best advertising.

– Phone: Cell phones are quickly becoming the norm and phone makers, such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and others are combining emerging technologies to offer amazing features on today’s phones.

Once again, the internet comes along and threatens to make a technology obsolete. In this case, instant messages (IM) and email have dwindled the prowess of the once essential telephone. Today, land-line phones are on the way out as most people are moving to cellular phones. And since the internet is being provided across lines other than your home telephone line (like cable and satellite), most people are foregoing their land-line.

Cell phones are quickly becoming the norm and phone makers, such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and others are combining emerging technologies to offer amazing features on today’s phones. Whether a consumer is looking for a camera phone, a video phone, a phone with two-way capabilities, a bluetooth enabled phone or even these mini-computer phones like the Blackberry and Treo, the options are limitless.

Even home phones are still progressing, trying to fend off the ensuing trend to render them useless. The wireless models are operating on higher frequencies and offering more features like digital answering machines, multiple handsets and built-in caller ID. But still, nothing matches the features and scope of today’s cell phones.

The market may be slowly inching them out, but there are still many people relying on their home telephone and answering machine. But experts predict the days are numbered for home land-line telephones. And gadgets like palm pilots, handheld video games and the like are all being incorporated into tomorrow’s cell phones today.

– Bedroom: The bedroom is not only a place where couples engage in sexual activities, but it is also a place where you keep your personal belongings, whether they be your expensive jewelry, your diary, or any other personal keepsake.

Once again, the internet comes along and threatens to make a technology obsolete. In this case, instant messages (IM) and email have dwindled the prowess of the once essential telephone. Today, land-line phones are on the way out as most people are moving to cellular phones. And since the internet is being provided across lines other than your home telephone line (like cable and satellite), most people are foregoing their land-line.

Cell phones are quickly becoming the norm and phone makers, such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and others are combining emerging technologies to offer amazing features on today’s phones. Whether a consumer is looking for a camera phone, a video phone, a phone with two-way capabilities, a bluetooth enabled phone or even these mini-computer phones like the Blackberry and Treo, the options are limitless.

Even home phones are still progressing, trying to fend off the ensuing trend to render them useless. The wireless models are operating on higher frequencies and offering more features like digital answering machines, multiple handsets and built-in caller ID. But still, nothing matches the features and scope of today’s cell phones.

The market may be slowly inching them out, but there are still many people relying on their home telephone and answering machine. But experts predict the days are numbered for home land-line telephones. And gadgets like palm pilots, handheld video games and the like are all being incorporated into tomorrow’s cell phones today.