Memphis, TN Private Investigator FAQ and Guide

Private Investigator FAQ & Guide for Memphis & West Tennessee

Straight answers about hiring a licensed private investigator in Memphis, Shelby County, and West Tennessee — how the process works, what's legal, what to expect, and how Granite fits into the Delator Group family of companies.

Granite Investigative Group is a d/b/a and direct branch of Delator Group, a Tennessee-licensed private investigation and process serving company. Shelby County cases are handled by Tennessee-licensed private investigators who operate under Delator Group.

39 questions across 8 categories, plus 4 in-depth guides below.

In-Depth Guides

How Private Investigations Work in Tennessee

Tennessee regulates private investigators through the Department of Commerce & Insurance, which issues licenses and sets the legal boundaries investigators must operate within. A licensed investigator can lawfully observe and document activity in public spaces, research public records, conduct interviews, and locate individuals through lawful means — but the license comes with real limits, not a blank check.

What a PI cannot do matters just as much as what they can: no trespassing onto private property to gather evidence, no wiretapping or recording conversations without at least one-party consent, and no impersonating law enforcement or another official capacity. Reputable investigators, including everyone at Granite, work within these boundaries because evidence gathered outside the law is often inadmissible anyway — and because operating lawfully is simply the right way to do this work.

What to Expect When You Hire Granite

Every engagement starts with a confidential consultation, whether by phone, email, or our contact form. We listen to your situation, ask clarifying questions, and give you an honest read on whether an investigation is likely to help — we'd rather tell you upfront that a case isn't a good fit than take it on and produce nothing useful.

If you move forward, you're assigned one senior investigator who handles your case from intake through final report. You'll know exactly who's working your case and how to reach them directly. Depending on the service, this might mean field surveillance, records research, in-person interviews, or some combination — all documented to a standard that holds up whether you need it for personal peace of mind or a courtroom.

Working With Your Attorney

For legal matters — custody disputes, criminal defense, civil litigation, fraud claims — we strongly recommend involving your attorney early, even before an investigation begins. Counsel can advise on what documentation will actually be useful to your case, what legal protections might apply to the findings, and how best to introduce evidence if it comes to that.

When an attorney directs the engagement, Granite functions as an extension of the legal team: findings go directly to counsel, and we coordinate on strategy rather than working in isolation. This is especially standard in criminal defense investigations, where attorney direction is both a practical and often a professional-responsibility consideration.

What Makes a Delator Group Investigation Different

Granite Investigative Group operates inside Delator Group's corporate structure — not as a loose network of independent contractors. That distinction shows up in practice: your case is never subcontracted to a third-party investigator you've never vetted, you work with a single senior point of contact rather than a rotating queue, and every investigator holds active Tennessee licensure and follows Delator Group's internal chain-of-custody and documentation standards.

It's a different model than the national investigation clearinghouses that farm out cases to whoever's available in your zip code. When you call Granite, you're talking to the person who will actually work your case — in Memphis, backed by a firm licensed across all 95 Tennessee counties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Licensing & Legitimacy

Is Granite Investigative Group actually licensed in Tennessee?

Yes. Every Granite investigator holds active Tennessee private investigator licensure, and the firm operates as a subsidiary of Delator Group, a corporately structured investigative firm licensed across all 95 Tennessee counties.

How can I verify a Tennessee PI's license?

Licensing status for private investigators in Tennessee can be verified through the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance's private investigator licensing division. We're happy to provide our license information directly upon request.

Is Granite part of Delator Group?

Yes. Granite Investigative Group is a subsidiary of Delator Group, which also owns Birds Eye Investigations and operates Delator Field Services, a dedicated process serving division.

Do your investigators subcontract cases to outside PIs?

No. Zero subcontracting is a core policy at Granite and across Delator Group — the investigator who takes your case is the investigator who works it.

What's the difference between a licensed PI and an online 'people search' service?

A licensed investigator verifies information against primary sources, operates under legal and ethical standards, and can testify to their findings if needed. Online aggregator services simply resell often-outdated database records with no verification.

Are your reports admissible in court?

When properly documented — with timestamps, chain of custody, and clear methodology — investigative findings can support litigation, though admissibility ultimately depends on your attorney's presentation and the specifics of your case.

Working With Granite

How do I get started?

Call, email, or use our contact form. A senior investigator will discuss your situation confidentially and outline how we can help before any commitment is made.

How much does an investigation cost?

Cost depends on the type of case, the scope of surveillance or research required, and the expected timeline. We'll walk through realistic estimates during your initial consultation before you commit to anything.

How long does a typical investigation take?

It varies widely by case type — a records-based locate might resolve in days, while a surveillance case may run over multiple weeks depending on the subject's patterns.

Will my case be confidential?

Yes. Every case is handled by a single senior investigator, and findings are delivered directly and privately — never through a shared inbox, call center, or rotating staff.

Do I need to sign a contract?

Yes, engagements are formalized in writing so both parties understand scope, cost, and expectations before work begins.

Can I request updates during an active investigation?

Yes, your assigned investigator will keep you appropriately updated throughout the engagement, balancing transparency with the operational needs of an active case.

What areas does Granite serve?

We're headquartered in Memphis and serve Shelby County along with all 21 counties of the West Tennessee grand division.

Surveillance & Evidence

Is it legal for a PI to follow someone?

Yes, as long as the observation occurs in public spaces or locations without a reasonable expectation of privacy. Licensed investigators are trained to stay within these legal boundaries.

Can you put a GPS tracker on someone's car?

Only under specific legal conditions — generally, a tracker can only be placed on a vehicle you own or co-own, or with proper legal authority. We'll walk you through what's lawful in your specific situation.

Can a PI record audio conversations?

Tennessee is a one-party consent state, meaning a conversation can generally be recorded if one participant consents. Our investigators stay current on the legal boundaries around recording and will explain what applies to your case.

What kind of evidence do surveillance investigations produce?

Typically timestamped photo and video documentation, a written narrative report, and where relevant, supporting location or activity logs.

Can I request surveillance on someone in another state?

Granite is licensed and focused on Tennessee, but we can often coordinate with licensed investigators in other states for multi-jurisdiction cases — ask us during your consultation.

Family & Custody Matters

Can a PI help with a custody case?

Yes — documenting a co-parent's living conditions, schedule adherence, or conduct during custody time is a common and legitimate use of investigative services.

Do I need a lawyer to hire Granite for a family matter?

Not necessarily, though we strongly recommend involving family law counsel, especially if findings will be presented in court.

Will investigating my ex-spouse hurt my case?

A well-documented, factual investigation generally supports your case rather than harming it; problems arise from investigations that are careless, invasive beyond legal bounds, or clearly retaliatory rather than fact-finding.

Can you investigate a nanny or caregiver?

Yes, background and conduct verification for caregivers is a common family-related request, often combined with our background check service.

How discreet is a custody-related investigation?

Extremely. These cases are handled with particular care given that a child's wellbeing is involved, and observation is conducted in a way designed not to disrupt the child's routine.

Fraud & Insurance Claims

Who typically requests fraud investigations?

Insurance carriers, employers, and businesses are the most common clients, usually investigating a specific claim or internal concern that doesn't add up.

Can surveillance disprove a workers' comp claim?

Documented surveillance showing activity inconsistent with a claimed injury or limitation can be a significant factor in a claims decision, though the ultimate determination rests with the claims professional or court.

What if the investigation doesn't find fraud?

That's a legitimate and common outcome. A thorough investigation that finds no wrongdoing is still valuable — it closes the question with documentation rather than leaving it open.

Do you work directly with insurance adjusters?

Yes, we regularly coordinate directly with claims adjusters, defense counsel, and corporate legal or HR teams on fraud-related matters.

Corporate & Business Investigations

Can you investigate an employee without them knowing?

Yes, discretion is standard practice for workplace investigations, and findings are typically kept confidential until leadership decides how to act on them.

Do you conduct due diligence on potential business partners?

Yes, background and reputational due diligence on prospective partners, investors, vendors, or acquisition targets is a common corporate engagement.

Can findings from a corporate investigation support termination?

Documentation can support HR decisions, though we recommend involving employment counsel to ensure any resulting action follows proper procedure.

Do you sign NDAs for corporate clients?

Yes, confidentiality agreements are standard practice for corporate engagements where sensitive business information is involved.

Process Serving

Is process serving handled by Granite directly?

Process serving in Memphis and West Tennessee is handled through Delator Field Services (DFS), Delator Group's dedicated process serving division, working alongside Granite under the same corporate umbrella.

What happens if someone won't accept service?

A defendant's refusal to physically accept papers generally does not prevent valid service under Tennessee law when the server properly identifies the documents and leaves them in the person's presence; DFS documents every attempt for the court record.

How is service documented?

Every DFS serve includes body-camera documentation and results in a properly executed Affidavit of Service.

Can DFS locate someone before serving them?

Yes, skip tracing is available for subjects who have moved or are avoiding service, using the same verified public records methodology Granite uses for locate investigations.

Coverage Area & Scheduling

What counties does Granite serve?

All 21 counties of the West Tennessee grand division: Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, Haywood, Lauderdale, Dyer, Crockett, Gibson, Madison, Obion, Weakley, Henry, Carroll, Henderson, Benton, Decatur, Hardin, McNairy, Chester, Hardeman, and Lake.

Can Delator Group help outside West Tennessee?

Yes — Delator Group and its divisions operate across all 95 Tennessee counties; Granite is simply the West Tennessee-focused subsidiary within that larger structure.

Do you offer emergency or rush services?

Time-sensitive matters, including urgent surveillance requests and rush process serving, can often be prioritized — call us directly to discuss timing.

What are your hours?

Investigations and process serving often happen outside standard business hours by nature of the work; call or email us and we'll respond to set up next steps.

Still have questions?

Every consultation is confidential and free of obligation.