Civil investigations gather information and supporting materials for a civil legal matter. Lawyers and individuals can conduct investigations to gather evidence and prepare for court. Private investigators and government agencies also conduct investigations. Investigations can be costly but are critical to the outcome of a case. Private investigators often have staff and community connections to access information. Law enforcement experience is valuable in planning and researching trials.
A civil inquiry is an investigation to gather data and supporting materials for a civil legal matter, such as a lawsuit seeking damages following an automobile accident. Either side in a case can conduct an investigation to gather materials that they will use to push a case or disprove the claims, depending on the situation. Many civil lawyers work with a private investigator on civil investigations, leveraging their investigative skills and connections to gain access to the most useful material.
In a civil investigation, people can use a variety of tools to gather information. These may include interviewing people, taking photographs, gaining access to various documents and conducting surveillance. The goal is to gather as much information as possible, so the attorney can sift through it to see what will be useful in court. Individuals may conduct civil investigations to try to prove insurance fraud, identify undisclosed sources of income in child support cases, and for a variety of other purposes.
Conducting an investigation adds to the expense of pursuing a civil case, but is often critical to the outcome of the case. People need to find information they can use to support their positions in court, and it’s also a good idea to have an idea of what kind of information the other party can use. Research to prepare for the case allows people to gather potentially compromising data and think about how to refute it if it arises, rather than being caught off guard during the course of the process.
Lawyers aren’t the only ones who can conduct a civil investigation. Government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service or the Environmental Protection Agency use investigations as part of their work, to identify individuals who commit civil violations and gather materials to bring suits in court to recover damages. Sometimes, a combination of civil and criminal matters may be involved, depending on the nature of the case, and law enforcement agencies may become part of the investigation.
Private investigators who offer assistance in civil investigations usually have staff helping them, including office staff, as well as people comfortable in the field. These organizations typically have community connections that they can use to access information, and often include former law enforcement officers on staff. Law enforcement experience can be invaluable in planning and researching trials and making sure people are gathering the right kind of material during a civilian investigation.
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