Sarasota
Private Investigator
FAQ
 

The best way to determine the cost of your investigation is to contact Brooks Detective Agency for a free phone confidential consultation, as the total is based on the type of case, location, urgency, and your specific goals.

For cases requiring surveillance, we bill at $125 per hour, per investigator (plus case-related expenses) with a four-hour minimum per assignment and a $1,500 retainer to begin.

We offer flat-rate pricing on many services, ranging from background checks and HOA fraud investigations to independent death investigations.

Yes. Most general investigations and surveillance matters require a signed service agreement and an initial retainer before work begins.

Retainer funds are applied toward investigative services, case-related reporting, and administrative time.

That depends on the nature of the matter and current availability. In many cases, phone consultations can be scheduled quickly, and time-sensitive matters may be addressed as soon as the service agreement is in place.

Brooks Detective Agency most often handles surveillance, infidelity investigations, criminal defense support, witness interviews, background investigations, polygraph exams, and independent death investigations, and other fact-based investigative matters.

Yes. Infidelity investigations are one of the most requested services handled by Brooks Detective Agency.

These matters are approached with discretion, professionalism, and lawful investigative methods designed to provide clear, objective facts.

Sarasota private investigator serving Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Venice, Osprey, Casey Key, Englewood, Nokomis, and surrounding Southwest Florida communities.

Yes. Each case is personally handled or directly overseen by Detective Brooks.

Clients are not routed through a national intake center or passed off to an unrelated subcontractor.

In Sarasota, private investigators operate under Florida Statute Chapter 493. At Brooks Detective Agency, we leverage our local knowledge of Sarasota County—from the 12th Judicial Circuit Courts to the local neighborhoods of Siesta Key and Lakewood Ranch—to provide professional, legal investigative services.

Legally Permitted Services in Florida:

• Criminal Defense Investigations: We provide elite litigation support by reviewing discovery, re-examining crime scene data, cellebrite data, witness interviews, and meticulously analyzing body-worn camera (BWC) footage.

• Polygraph Examinations: We provide certified polygraph testing to vet witness statements, clear the wrongfully accused, or resolve private domestic and corporate disputes.

• Surveillance & Activity Checks: We can legally observe and document activities in public spaces to assist with infidelity cases, insurance fraud, or worker's compensation claims.

• Locating Missing Persons & Heirs: Using advanced skip-tracing and local Sarasota public records, we find missing family members, runaway teens, or beneficiaries for Sarasota County probate cases.

• Background & Asset Checks: We conduct deep-dive research into criminal histories, financial assets, and professional reputations for individuals or businesses looking to vet a new partner.

• Litigation Support: We assist Sarasota attorneys by interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence for civil or criminal trials, and serving legal subpoenas.

• Child Custody & Alimony Investigations: We gather documented evidence of cohabitation or parental fitness that is admissible in Florida family courts.

• HOA Background Checks & Fraud Investigations: We assist Homeowners Associations and residents by vetting potential board members or vendors and investigating suspected HOA fraud, embezzlement, or the misappropriation of community funds.

• Loss Prevention & Business Security: We help businesses protect their bottom line by reviewing business camera footage, conducting internal audits, and interviewing employees regarding suspected theft, kickbacks, or policy violations.

• Executive Protection (Bodyguard Services): We are legally authorized to provide professional personal protection. Whether for high-net-worth individuals or witnesses, we provide discreet security and threat assessment to ensure your safety.

Our Legal & Ethical Guardrails:

To protect both our agency and your case, we strictly adhere to the following:

1. Licensing: Every investigator at Brooks Detective Agency is licensed by the FDACS. Unlicensed "investigators" are illegal in Florida and their "evidence" will be thrown out of court.

2. No Contact/Restraining Orders: We cannot assist with any case involving a subject who has an active No Contact Order or Injunction against the client. Safety and legal compliance come first.

3. Privacy & Hacking: Hacking into cell phones, reading private texts/WhatsApp messages, or wiretapping is a third-degree felony in Florida.

4. Professional Conduct: We are not "Hollywood PIs." We do not break into homes, commit assault, or impersonate police officers. Our methods are discreet, strategic, and 100% legal.

Some matters can be addressed quickly depending on the circumstances and current availability. A confidential consultation is the best way to determine how soon a case can begin.

Yes. Brooks Detective Agency provides investigative support for attorneys and legal matters, including criminal defense support, witness interviews, statement work, records review, and case-related fact development.

In Florida, private investigative agencies and individual investigators are licensed through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Before hiring any agency, clients should verify both the agency and the investigator through the State of Florida’s online license search.

This is especially important when dealing with firms that advertise heavily in Sarasota but may operate from outside the area or assign the work to someone other than the investigator the client expected to handle the case.