Background Checks
Whether for business, legal, personal, or insurance purposes, background checks are an important investigative tool in numerous situations. Putting a person in the context of their personal history can help you verify information and base your decisions on facts rather than feelings.
Legal background investigations
Legal Background Investigations
Level 1 – $250
Criminal History and Identity Verification
- Name, date of birth and Social Security number verification
- Countywide criminal research, driver record with DUI’s and traffic infractions
Level 2 – $485
Comprehensive Personal Background Investigation
- Includes all Level 1 searches above
- Includes fraud scan for aliases and false Social Security numbers, address history with dates of residence
- Statewide bankruptcies, liens and judgments; countywide superior court civil cases
- Felony searches in three counties where the subject has preciously resided, Sex Offender Registry.
Level 2 Plus – $750
Comprehensive Background Combined with Asset Report
- Includes all Level 1 and Level 2 searches above
- Real property search by name and address, vehicle ownership search, business listings, Fictitious Business Names (DBA’s), Secretary of State corporate records, LLC’s, Uniform Commercial Code filings
- Real property equity assessment, with trust deeds and current market value, limited partnerships, statewide professional licenses, Board of Equalization search
Level 3 – $985
Deep Background Includes Assets and Detailed Social Media Profile
- Deep Social Media research, possible employment, business affiliations
- Search for Federal criminal and civil cases, nationwide bankruptcies, judgments, credit liens, tax liens, evictions, foreclosures and notices of default
- Possible relatives, spouses, phone numbers, email addresses and additional confidential sources
The chart above describes the various services we offer for background checks. Note that the last category on the chart describes the Background / Asset Combination. Choose this search if you want to conduct a personal assets investigation in addition to researching someone’s background. For a free consultation or to get started right away on your project, call us for service throughout California and the US at (800) 487-0947 or e-mail us. You can also order your investigation by going to our online order page or download our fax form.
Employee background checks give you the opportunity to evaluate both potential and current employees depending on your needs. You can also order a background check on a business partner.
Personal background checks uncover information about a person’s character and past. Often used in dating and prenuptial situations, a background investigation tells you if someone is being honest about their past or if they are lying about it. They are also used for domestic help screening such as nannies, housekeepers, and personal assistants.
For attorneys and legal or insurance purposes, a background investigation can give you the best information available to judge the opposition and assess their past, helping you win your case. Read more about each area we cover below.
Business and employee background checks
If you are interested in researching a potential or existing employee, or if you just need to verify information on a potential business partner, a background check is your best bet. Below are some common questions about business and employee background checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I do a pre-employment background check on a new hire?
Private investigators are the best source for these pre-employment background checks because they are experienced at not only research but in sniffing out deception. Background checks for employees are essential not only to getting the best employee for the job but they also protect the employer from being found liable in the event the employee does something negligent and the company gets sued. If these checks are not performed, in some cases the company can be held liable for failing to properly vet the employee.
How do I investigate my employee’s background?
Private investigators are experienced in tracking down fraud and other forms of employee misconduct. Get them involved early on so they can advise you as the best tactics. Also be sure to keep the circle of people that are aware of the investigation to a minimum to make sure the employee is not tipped off.
I think my business partner is stealing funds, how do I find out?
If the crime has already transpired and the suspected person is not in a position to continue the fraud or theft, this is a slightly more challenging situation in which the investigator will work on solving the crime and finding ways to confirm the suspect did it. Lastly the private investigator can advise on counter-measures to prevent the criminal activity from happening again.
How do I investigate someone I’m thinking of going into business with?
The next step is to hire a private investigator to verify the information that has been supplied to you by the person. The investigator will conduct research as to what past business affiliations they have had and whether they have been involved in lawsuits. In addition the private eye will find out about their financial past, including bankruptcies, judgments, liens against their properties and IRS levies. A modest investigation investment before going into business with someone can save you from loosing thousands of dollars in the future!
Personal background investigations
Research on someone’s background in your own life can offer you piece of mind when making decisions about the future. All background checks are confidential, the person being investigated does not find out about the investigation.
What can be learned when performing, for example, a background check on a nanny or new boyfriend? The starting point includes information such as their age, marital status, address histories, criminal prosecutions and convictions, and their driving record. You can also find out if there have been debt problems in the past, including bankruptcies, tax liens, judgments and notices of defaults. We find out if they are using false Social Security numbers or if they have aliases or AKA’s (“also known as”). We can also identify past lawsuits, whether they are suing others or if they have been sued in the past.
The deeper levels of background investigations include contact with neighbors and associates to find out about personal habits, dating history, alcohol or drug use, personal lifestyle, social status and civic and community affiliations. All this is conducted using pretexts, so no one knows the investigation is being conducted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who initiates these searches?
How do I find out about my son/daughter’s fiancé’s background?
The next step is to hire a private investigator to do a real background investigation that includes things like name verification, prior addresses, driving record, civil court cases, bankruptcies and criminal records. There are low cost websites that advertise these services; however they are often inaccurate and unreliable. A professional investigator can also conduct further research such as prior marriages and business affiliations.
I think my husband has been lying to me about his past, how do I find out?
The private investigator will then go about tracing back the history of the subject and figuring out what is fact and what is fiction. These investigations can reveal an accurate address history and any other names or alternate Social Security numbers they may have used. Depending on the type of background research you have requested, such vital information as prior marriages and any criminal past will be revealed.
I met someone online but I’m not sure if they are real, how do I find out?
If the person refuses to give you a full name and physical address, you have reason to be suspicious. In most cases it is reason enough to assume they are lying to you and end the communication. If you still want to pursue the relationship, then contact a private eye to have them research the identity and background of the person.
I think my boyfriend is married or has a criminal past, how do I find out?
For research on previous marriages, the investigator needs a list of pervious places they have lived. Marriage records are usually kept at the county recorder’s office. If the person has lived in several counties or states, then marriage research has to be conducted at all of these locations. Again if you do not have the address history, a private investigator can find it for you.
Legal background investigations
For attorneys and insurance purposes, the legal background investigation starts with confirming information such as name, date of birth, Social Security number, drivers license number and last known address. From there it reveals whether the subject has aliases or false Social Security numbers. It identifies any criminal history, including prosecutions and convictions. The driving record is run to identify DUI convictions, moving violations and prior accidents.
One of the most important aspects of the legal background investigation is a thorough search for prior litigation. This includes cases where the subject is either a plaintiff or defendant. This may include searches in several jurisdictions in the event the subject has moved frequently. Also important is such information as whether the subject has bankruptcies, tax liens, judgments and notices of default in their records.
The more in-depth background investigation addresses the overall personality of the subject, personal habits, dating habits, family situation, divorces, substance abuse issues, standing in the community, civic affiliations and other such personal information.
Frequently Asked Questions
We need to investigate the defendant’s criminal background.
One key factor in an accurate criminal background investigation is identifying where the subject has lived in the past, specifically which counties they have lived. Most criminal court records are kept only at the county court level since most states do not have accumulated court records for all counties. This means for the most accurate criminal background, multiple counties will need to be researched.
How do I find out about my client’s background?
After you have interviewed your client the next step is to hire a private investigator to conduct a thorough background investigation on your client. Supply the investigator with the data provided by your client, but also tell them to not rely solely on this data. The investigator will then perform the search and get back to you with the hopefully the good news that there is nothing in their background that can undermine your client’s credibility.
I need to find out if the witness/doctor/expert has a criminal background.
Many times you will only have a name and other minimal information supplied on these witnesses by the opposing party. This is where the services of a private investigator are needed to take whatever information you have and develop it into first a confirmed match for the name and home address of the person and subsequently a detailed criminal background investigation, including searching all the jurisdictions that the subject has previously lived in.
What people are saying
Tristar in the news
Tristar Investigation has been featured in a dozens of publications, everything from print to TV and radio. Bellow you will find Burce Robertson interviewed and discussed on famous publications such as the History Channel, New York Times, CNN and a lot more.
New York Times Article Features Tristar Founder
Tristar Investigation founder Bruce Robertson was hired to track down the person who shot two endangered California Condors. In 2009 private detective and Tristar Investigation founder
News Coverage Highlights
Bruce Robertson is the founder of Tristar Investigation, a private detective agency in Los Angeles, CA. Tristar has a 28-year track record of delivering quality investigative results. Headquartered in West Los Angeles, Tristar has branch offices in San Francisco.
Real Life Private Eye
In November of 1999 Bruce Robertson, founder of Tristar Investigation, was featured on CNN Worldwide show Showbiz Today with Gloria Hillard. The report was about an ABC television show called “Snoops”, which was a glitzy send-up of life at a detective