​WAPI will teach you everything you need to start your PI & security career! Our instructors are active investigators, security professionals, and police officers certified with the State of Georgia. Our courses are created based on the State of Georgia certification requirements, training and real-life experience. The education, skills and techniques are tired & true!
 
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR COURSE
Unarmed Private Investigator (70 Hours)
Armed Private Investigator (86 Hours)
Bonus: Investigator Toolbox included in PI Course!
 
SECURITY OFFICER COURSE
Unarmed Security Officer (24 Hours)
Armed Security Officer (40 Hours)
 
ADDITIONAL COURSE AVAILABLE
Annual State Firearm Requalification
16 Firearm Training Course
Shotgun Course
Impact Weapon/Baton & Handcuff Course
OC/Pepper Spray
Taser/CEW Course
Active Shooters Response
Continuing Education Courses

​ Contact us for tuition & registration information 

​For the purposes of this article, “PS” refers to a Process Server and “PI” refers to a Private Investigator!
 
A key step in starting a lawsuit is service of process; that is, giving the defendant official notice of the claims.  While a 3rd party is permitted to serve process, there are drawbacks: Nonprofessionals don’t know the complex rules governing service of process, and lack experience in safely and successfully completing the task.

Using a professional process server, private investigator or a deputy sheriff is a good decision. But which is the right choice?

Survey of Law Office Personnel
Some 100 legal secretaries and paralegals participated in a recent survey rating and comparing licensed PS/PI and deputy sheriffs.  According to these legal professionals who regularly make service of process arrangements, the answer is clear: 78% rated process servers & private investigator higher than deputies, and use them more often.

One survey respondent explained that the only times she uses the sheriff’s office is in an area where she cannot locate a reasonably priced process server or if the defendant is in jail or is a government entity.

Specific Categories: Knowledge, Speed, Success, Cost  
Survey participants evaluated several criteria, including speed of service, success rate, and knowledge of process-serving laws.

Speed of Service
Respondents reported that 90% of the time, PS/PI do the job faster.  One reason cited for this lopsided result is that process-serving is the primary focus of the PS/PI; the sheriff’s office has many other priorities and responsibilities.

Customer Service 
Again, process servers & private investigator rated higher, scoring a 4.28 rating (out of a possible 5) compared with the 2.55 result for the deputies. Since there is competition within the private process-serving field, providers know they must give good service and results or they won’t be hired again.

Knowledge of Laws
PS/PI were rated by 58% of respondents as more knowledgeable, while 13% chose the deputies. Some 29% concluded there is no difference.

Success Rate
Participants reported that 92% of the time, PS/PI were successful, compared with a 74% success-rate for the deputies.

Fact, one attorney paid the sheriff’s department 3 times to serve one individual. All 3 were marked as unsuccessful on all attempts. Attorney hired WAPI and the individual was located and served in one attempt!

Evasive or Hard to Locate Individuals
Sherriff department will not locate or search for individuals to serve. They will go to the located listed on the order sheet between 9AM-5PM and ask for the individual. If the individual is not there and/or answers the door and simply states “he/she does not live here anymore”. The sheriff will marked as unsuccessful or unable to deliver.

Licensed PS/PI specialize in locating individuals! PS/PI go the extra mile to locate and serve individuals. Process serving is done Morning, Noon, Night, weekdays, weekends, and holidays!

Cost
The average cost for process servers/Private Investigator was higher. But the fee structure for PS/PI takes into account multiple attempts and mileage while the sheriffs’ cited rate does not.

Legal professionals who regularly deal with process-serving matters believe licensed process servers & private investigators are well worth their reasonable charges and are the clear choice to effect successful service of process.

WAPI investigators serve papers 24/7, 365 days a year. Our goal is to locate and serve the individual on the first attempt. We specialize in locating hard to find people. WAPI is able to assist you with all of your service of process needs.   We can serve any paper or any legal document anywhere in the State of Georgia.  We have investigators ready to help you.  Call us today at 770-864-6618 to get started or place your order online!

Building a solid case involves research, investigation and evidence. Private investigators help law firms find and deliver the proof that they need to support a case – and ensure that it’s court admissible. Depending on the nature of the case this proof may include public records, witness depositions or proof of assets.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways a PI can help a lawyer preparing to present a case.

Locating witnesses for depositions
Depositions are a key part of pre-trial discovery. They involve locating witnesses and eliciting a statement from them for use pre-trial and potentially later on the witness stand. While generally taken orally, written depositions are also valid testimony.

Private investigators play a crucial role in locating witnesses or persons of interest. In many instances only minimal information about these individuals may be available, while in others they simply don’t want to be found. In both cases a professional investigator can help to track them down. Using records research and digital research, a PI can locate persons of interest so that a deposition can be finalized.

Initial information gathering and surveillance
Some types of cases may require initial information gathering for a legal team to decide how to act or what avenues to pursue. For example, a divorce case may proceed differently if a spouse has been cheating, is demonstratively a poor parent or is attempting to hide assets.

Private investigators can undertake detailed initial research including surveillance, digital analysis and records research, providing the evidence needed to pursue a particular path forward.

Background checks and prior claims
Private investigators can help lawyers know exactly who they’re dealing with – as well as the details of a particular case. Using online and records research, a PI can help determine a person’s character, as well as identify any prior cases or claims in their name.

This can be helpful in assessing insurance claims such as those relating to work or vehicular accidents, or in evaluating an individual being sued for malpractice or inappropriate behavior.

Expert witness testimony
Expert witnesses are critical in pre-trial investigations and may also be called upon during the hearing itself. They’re generally brought in to help lend credence to an argument or refute testimony or accusations.

Expert witnesses can be drawn from any field, but commonly include medical professionals, psychologists, scientists and professors. Law enforcement experts such as private investigators can also play a vital part in delivering expert witness testimony.

A private investigator expert witness will be able to communicate the details of the case in language easily understood by the jury, and will be able to answer challenging, nuanced questions about the case, lending support to a legal argument.

Case-building and reconstruction
Lawyers are experts in building airtight arguments in favor of their client. But having a private investigator at hand can help bolster their case. PIs can reconstruct the circumstances around a crime, or even piece together personal connections, biases or conflicts of interest that may be relevant.

This can help in building a case for or against an individual, as well as to predict the opposing counsel’s next move. It may even be useful in helping to prepare for cross-examination.

From locating persons of interest through testifying on the witness stand, a private investigator is a valuable supporting member of any legal team. Hire a PI with strong research and surveillance skills, as well as a thorough understanding of civil and criminal law, and you’ll have a powerful ally on your side.

Author: Savoy & Assoc

In many jurisdictions, payment of alimony or spousal support by one party to another is contingent on whether the receiving party is cohabiting with another person. In many situations, cohabitation by the spouse seeking or receiving alimony may be grounds for refusing or ending alimony payments.

If you are currently making alimony payments to an ex-spouse and suspect that they are living with someone else, WAPI can help you prove cohabitation and relieve you of further payments.

What is a Cohabitation Investigation?
A cohabitation investigation is an investigation to determine if the alimony-receiving party is cohabiting with someone to avoid or terminate existing court-ordered alimony payments.  

Alimony (aka “spousal support”) is a court-ordered payment of money to be made by one party to their former spouse (for the payee’s maintenance) as part of a divorce decree or during a separation period.  Alimony is typically set to be paid for a specific period of time (usually several years). Payments stop at the end of the specified period.
Alimony payments may, however, terminate before the specified date if certain conditions or events take place. One such event is cohabitation with a new romantic partner by the party receiving alimony. The definition of “cohabitation” varies but generally refers to a person living and having a sexual relationship with another person outside of marriage.

Who are Cohabitation Investigations For?
In most cases, a cohabitation investigation is initiated by an ex-spouse paying alimony who suspects that their ex is currently cohabitating with another person. The investigation may be conducted at any time including before, during, or after divorce proceedings.

Starting a Cohabitation Investigation
Hiring a private investigator with WAPI is quick and simple.  Here’s how the cohabitation investigation works:

1. Request a Consultation: Submit your case online or by phone to schedule your consultation. We’ll ask for the details we need to get your case matched with an investigator and provide cost estimates.

2. Connect With Your Investigator: We will contact you to talk to you about the purpose and goals of the investigation, and to collect any relevant information about your case. Questions you’ll be asked may include:

• Why do you suspect that your ex-spouse is cohabitating?
• How long do you believe they have been living with someone else?
• Is there a date by which you require the investigation to be completed?
• Do you currently have a court date scheduled regarding your divorce proceedings or alimony payments?

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3. Investigation in Progress:  In the course of conducting the investigation, your investigator will gather information intended to prove or disprove cohabitation by the subject’s ex-spouse, which may include:

• Asset search and property inventory
• Evidence of commingled bank accounts
• Evidence of co-signed lease or rental agreement
• Evidence of co-ownership of property
• Communication activities of the ex-spouse and new partner
• Identity verification of the suspected new partner
• Statements from neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family of your former spouse
• Surveillance of ex-spouse and cohabitating partner to gather photographic evidence them spending the night together repeatedly and over a reasonable period of time

4. Case Updates & Final Report: Your investigator will keep you apprised of all developments in real-time using our secure online portal. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, a full written report will be provided along with any court-admissible evidence. In addition, investigators may be available to testify on your behalf in court, if necessary and agreed-upon before the start of the investigation.

What an Investigator Will Not Do
Investigators will not break the law or violate ethical standards in the course of the case, including  hacking, accessing protected information, or trespassing. Acting in an illegal or unprofessional manner can result in the inadmissibility of important evidence, and lead to the failure of an alimony modification case in court.

​Original Author:  Trustify

Background checks are customized to fit the specifications of our clients. We can simply verify a person’s identity or provide a comprehensive and detailed investigation on a person’s online reputation, criminal histories, job and employment histories, and their family and acquaintances.

Today, most of our clients request a deep web and social media investigation. Usually, they’re looking for a quick reputation management check or trying to create a type of “profile” surrounding the subject of the investigation.

Although background checks are composed of different types of information and data-sets, there are two main types of information that will get embedded into a report:

Public information does not mean “easy to find;” it just means that it can be accessed by the public without special licensing – should they know where and how to find and request access to it.  Some public data reports can take hours to compile as we collect data that many consider to be “easily” obtainable.

Private information is information that is extremely difficult to obtain, requiring special licensing to collect, access to specialized database, or legal paperwork. Our team has access to different types of database systems to help us track down background information, but it still takes manual work to verify the information is correct before we submit this to the client.

Our background reports can include:
Credit Reports – this type of information is usually included in a “credit header,” which gives us information about the current credit lines, bankruptcies, judgments, liens, financial lawsuits, and possible foreclosures on prior residences.

Driving Records – this information typically includes prior traffic violations, motor vehicle accidents, license revocations, license suspensions, current or active residences, and possibly the type of vehicle the subject operates.

Criminal Records – Although criminal records can be expunged, most records remain open to the public. When that’s the case, our team can collect information on a subject that includes court orders, judgments, warrants, arrest records, sex offender registration and violations, harassment complaints, and violations.

Education Verification – This information is more easily accessible when a school or university is known If this information is unknown, there are ways to obtain this information, but a more thorough investigation is required.

Military Records – Although military records are difficult to obtain, they are not impossible. If requested, we can get basic information, such as: Active duty location, final duty location, duty assignment, final rank, medals, citations & violations, discharge information (when available).

Professional Licensing – this information includes private investigator licensing, CPA Certifications, MD, RN, or Attorney licensing, Hunting & Fishing licensing, Law Enforcement licensing, and teaching licensing, where available.

Address Histories – Most of our reports include a comprehensive address history for the subject of our investigation. This information includes their own residential address along with the addresses of known relatives, acquaintances, and possible family friends who may be associated with the subject.

Asset Verification – A complete list of assets can be provided when our clients are looking for hidden assets across the United States. We do have capabilities to run international hidden asset verifications through third party contracts, but this information is difficult to obtain in most countries.
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If you are looking for an agency to conduct a background investigation, our team of experts can help you find what you’re looking for. Whether you’re just looking to verify a person’s reputation or you need to conduct a comprehensive investigation into a subject’s past, our team can make it happen and get you the information you need.

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Authors: Raymond & Stephaine Savoy of Savoy & Associates