AllExperts > Private Investigations and Personal Security 
Search      
Private Investigations and Personal Security
Volunteer
Answers to thousands of questions
 Home · More Private Investigations and Personal Security Questions · Question Library  · Free Encyclopedia ·
More Private Investigations and Personal Security Answers
Question Library

Ask a question about Private Investigations and Personal Security
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login

Awards

About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer

 
 
 
About Nichols (Nic) J. Smith
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer almost any question with regards to the individual state laws concerning private investigators; best practices and procedures used in private investigations;how to determine if the agency or investigator you are contemplating using is sufficiently qualified to do the work and if an investigation was conducted in accordance with the standards of practice and care used in the professional investigative industry. I can also direct you with regards to doing your own research in certain situations, such as finding someone who owes you money. I can steer you through the database "minefield" with regards to which databases contain useful information and which don't. I can also advise regarding the kind of information that you can legally obtain and what's not legal.

Experience
I have been a state licensed private investigator in California since 1973. Prior to that time I worked in military intelligence and also did investigative work for an agency in Miami, FL I have extensive practical experience in cases involving fraud, locating assets, environmental litigation, mass tort litigation, missing persons, sexual and workplace harassment, stalkers and matters involving protection of individuals and institutions. I have testified (at deposition) in two large civil cases in which the question was whether or not the investigation that was conducted was done in accordance with accepted standards and practices in the investigative industy.Organizations I belong to: World Association of Detectives, Professional Investigators of California, California Association of Licensed Investigators, American Society for Industrial Security, American College of Forensic Examiners, Association of Former Intelligence Officers Education/Credentials I am a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Examiners and a Fellow of the Board. I regularly attend seminars and educational round-tables to remain current with all of the latest technical advances, legal issues and new fields of business opportunity. From 1987 through 2005 I was Board Certified in Security Management, earning the status as a Certified Protection Professional, an acknowledged earmark of professional excellence in the security industry

Awards and Honors
Life Fellow- American College of Forensic Examiners

Past/Present Clients
Morgan Lewis and Brockius (Int'l Law firm) Sedgwick, Detert (Int'l Law Firm) Bingham McCutheon (Int'l Law Firm

   

You are here:  Experts > Parenting/Family > Protecting your Home and Family > Private Investigations and Personal Security

Questions Answered By Expert  Nichols (Nic) J. Smith 
In Category  Private Investigations and Personal Security

SubjectDate Asked

e mail account11/25/2009
  Q: My ex husband opened an a mail account in my name and then had it published in our childrens school ...
  A: No, it is not legal. Representing yourself to be someone you are not, regardless of how that is ...
background checks11/12/2009
  Q: I'm wondering if when a background check is done by the Fed Government, if they will use my phone ...
  A: Yes, a background investigation is not the same as an "Investigation" The BI is specific with ...
NJ Pepper Spray Laws9/30/2009
  Q: I am interested in starting a non-lethal self defense product company. My main product will be ...
  A: New Jersey classifies tear gas (or pepper spray.mace) as a weapon: NEW JERSEY: Illegal New Jersey ...
Is concealing considered theft in PA8/30/2009
  Q: A friend was accused of stealing at a grocery store because she placed a bottle of nail polish in ...
  A: The following is the Pennsylvania crime code that covers retail theft: Pennsylvania Crimes Code ...
Laws regarding personal email accounts privacy8/28/2009
  Q: I have proof that my former employer was reading my personal emails after I'd been terminated. Is ...
  A: If I have already answered this question, excuse me for the repetition. Georgia's privacy laws, as ...
Laws regarding personal email accounts privacy8/28/2009
  Q: I have proof that my former employer was reading my personal emails after I'd been terminated. Is ...
  A: When you say your employer was reading your emails, do you mean they were reading your current email ...
Insurance investigators8/27/2009
  Q: Just wondering, I know it is a common practice for insurance company's to hire private eyes to do ...
  A: I reviewed the relevant legislation in Australia (that which applies to all States and Territories) ...
Insurance investigators8/24/2009
  Q: Just wondering, I know it is a common practice for insurance company's to hire private eyes to do ...
  A: It is a violation of Federal Law , a felony, (18 U.S.C. Section 2511 (10(a) to "intercept any wire, ...
asset search5/28/2009
  Q: What asset search PI would you recommend? I recently hired one and turned up very little when in ...
  A: How old is the debt? I am one of the most experienced asset searchers in the U.S. Many PI's who ...
Writing about old suicide case4/20/2009
  Q: I'm working on a novel wherein a death (ruled suicide) is being investigated by a teenager (not a ...
  A: 1) Jumping from a cliff onto rocks below is an almost unheard of way for males to commit suicide , ...
Writing about old suicide case4/19/2009
  Q: I'm working on a novel wherein a death (ruled suicide) is being investigated by a teenager (not a ...
  A: I helped one author previously so this is kind of an interesting proposition: 1) Whether or not a ...
Offshore Injury2/19/2009
  Q: I was hurt offshore a year ago with a back injury and have a lawsuit filed against my company. I ...
  A: If the investigators are good at their craft, I doubt that you will notice them. As for the chances ...
Offshore Injury2/19/2009
  Q: I was hurt offshore a year ago with a back injury and have a lawsuit filed against my company. I ...
  A: If you are claiming that you back injury is the reason you can't work or that it has somehow limited ...
Internet?1/25/2009
  Q: I have a serious question.Okay there is this older guy(I'm 13) that I talk to over the internet and ...
  A: To answer your questions in order: 1) No, you haven't lost your virginity. 2) You are not breaking ...
restraining orders on private investigator11/21/2008
  Q: If a private investigator were to have a restraining order put on him due to a child custody case ...
  A: I would need to know the specific language of the restraining order, however, I find it hard to ...
If they skip10/12/2008
  Q: I am about to petition the court to establish parentage of the daughter of a relationship I had with ...
  A: I don't believe that you can restrain her from leaving the state, or even petition the court for a ...
restraining order10/8/2008
  Q: If I live in Iowa and my boyfriends mother want to put a restraining order against me so I'm unable ...
  A: She does have the legal right to go to court on his behalf, however, there does have to be a ...
restraining order10/6/2008
  Q: If I live in Iowa and my boyfriends mother want to put a restraining order against me so I'm unable ...
  A: Regardless of where you live, a temporary restraining order will generally be granted prior to a ...
Stalking9/21/2008
  Q: I have been dealing with a Corvette restoration shop. The wife of the owner suspects her husband of ...
  A: What state do you reside in? The reason I ask is because this matter can be dealt with using the ...
Quick Question8/17/2008
  Q: I live in Las Vegas, NV and I have a small business and I do background checks from time to time. ...
  A: For a detailed answer about "Internet background Checks" please go to my company website ...
federal inmate4/19/2008
  Q: i know someone who has been released from federal prison. i went to a website and it said they were ...
  A: The Federal Government website for Civil and Criminal filings is called PACER, ...
Increase in Polygraph business.3/12/2008
  Q: I've struggled a bit to find the right expert for this question. I hope you can help. Has there been ...
  A: As to the number of companies in business, since many of them are merely solo practitioners, I can't ...
stalking3/8/2008
  Q: my socal worker made a stalking complaint about me to the police can they now bring me in on a ...
  A: The police can only "bring you in" if you are under arrest. The District Attorney would have to ...
stalking3/8/2008
  Q: my socal worker made a stalking complaint about me to the police can they now bring me in on a ...
  A: Here's the law on the subject. If you do what's described in here, you can be found guilty of ...
stalking3/7/2008
  Q: my socal worker made a stalking complaint about me to the police can they now bring me in on a ...
  A: I would need to know what state you live in to be able to comment on this question. The laws on ...
hi3/4/2008
  Q: a guy from georgia who is formerly of missouri, came to new york with his girlfriend, i was mildly ...
  A: Of course there is a crime here and that is one of attempted extortion (with regards to the attempt ...
Regarding Training for Private Investigations2/19/2008
  Q: I have a two tier question for you. THe first one is that I am trying to find someone that I was ...
  A: As to you first question, why don't you just give me the person's name and I'll be glad to look him ...
hi11/20/2007
  Q: what info from most important to least imp, - is it necessary to get to be able to track someone ...
  A: Nama and social security number are usually sufficient to locate someone. If the person you are ...
Missing/Unknown Entertainers11/12/2007
  Q: This question may or may not be out of your expertise, but I'll ask anyway. I, along with many other ...
  A: I think this person is probably the one you are looking for: Jerilyn H. Stapleton 6810 Cahuenga ...
Private investigations11/10/2007
  Q: While doing a background investigation on a government employee, can an investigator tap the ...
  A: No private citizen (which is what a private investigator is) may "tap" ( which is an unlawful ...
Type of Investigations To Pursue11/10/2007
  Q: I would like to become a private investigator specializing in personal/business background checks, ...
  A: Surveillance certainly has its place in the investigative industry, but it is by no means the most ...
Verification of Arrest11/8/2007
  Q: We think the x-wife was arrested for drunk driving. What is the best way to find out if she was ...
  A: Depending upon where you think the arrest was made, you will need to go to the local criminal court ...
International Counterintelligence Services, Inc.10/31/2007
  Q: Sorry to bother you again, but as a newbie I would like to get off to a good start & avoid getting ...
  A: I don't know anything about ICS. I did not find a great deal of information on them or the ...
finding phone numbers ?10/2/2007
  Q: I am attempting a reverse look up for 3 addresses: Am I doing something wrong, I can seem to get ...
  A: Usually I would use Whitepages.com to search phone numbers. A search of that database shows that ...

All Questions in This Category

Email this page
     
User Agreement | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy | Help
Copyright  © 2006 About, Inc. AllExperts, AllExperts.com, and About.com are registered trademarks of About, Inc. All rights reserved.