Private Investigation Contract Template
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Private investigation services require a contract document that limits the scope of an investigation, details expenses and protects the private investigator (private detective) from unnecessary liability. Startasecuritycompany.com’s editable private investigation contract template is an essential document for PI’s offering their service in the United States.
Our private investigation contract is professionally designed and written and is immediately ready for use by your company. Simply integrate your company logo and information as well as details regarding your client and the project and you’re ready to go.
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What is inside
An investigative services agreement covering scope, retainer, hourly billing, authorisation to continue and the reporting obligation.
- Legal language for a binding contract
- Investigative services to client
- Investigative restrictions
- Service protective language
- Payment & invoicing terms
- Invoicing & late charges
- Service retainer language
- Retainer and hourly rates
- Client initials — authorisation to continue
- Changes
- Standard of care
- Insolvency & adequate assurances
- Notices
- Assignments
- Disputes
- Severability
- Non-solicitation of employees
- Force majeure
- Term & termination
- Report delivery obligation
- Exhibit A
Who it is for
- Licensed private investigators and PI firms
- Security companies with an investigations division
- Investigators who need retainer terms written down before starting
- Anyone who has had a client dispute hours after the fact
How to make it yours
Every place your business details belong is marked with a bracketed token — [YOUR COMPANY NAME], [YOUR ADDRESS], [YOUR PHONE] and so on. Search for the bracket, replace it once, and it updates wherever it appears. The opening recital carries a field for your licence number.
What it is not
It is not a surveillance report or case file — those are separate forms. It also does not set your hourly rate or retainer amount; those are fields you complete per engagement.
Questions
- Does it handle retainers?
- Yes. The retainer amount, the hourly rate charged against it, and a client-initialled authorisation to continue past it are all part of the agreement.
- Is there a reporting clause?
- Yes — an obligation to provide a report within a stated number of days of concluding the investigation, unless the client waives it.
- Does it mention licensing?
- The opening recital names the firm as a licensed private investigation company, with a field for your licence number.
- Can I use it for one-off cases?
- Yes. Scope of work is a per-engagement field.
Professionally prepared templates, not legal advice. Requirements vary by state — have an attorney review before use.
