Background Checks in New York: What a Licensed Private Investigator Can Actually Do

When most people think about background checks, they picture clicking through some website and getting an instant report for ten bucks. And look—sometimes that's fine for basic curiosity. But when there's real money on the line, a court case brewing, or someone's safety to consider? Those cheap reports don't cut it.

Here's the thing: a licensed private investigator in New York—like us at Easton Secure Solutions—doesn't just have access to better databases. We operate under actual legal requirements that protect everyone involved: you, the person being investigated, and the integrity of the information itself.

So let's talk about what we can actually do, why people come to us instead of trusting random websites, and what separates a legitimate investigation from... well, the internet.

Because doing this wrong has real consequences—lawsuits, penalties, even criminal charges in some cases.

 
The Problem with Online Background Check Services

I get it. You type someone's name into Google or one of those background check websites, and within seconds you've got a report claiming to show everything about them. It's convenient. It's cheap. And honestly? It's often incomplete, outdated, or just plain wrong.

Here's what most people don't realize about those services:

They pull from limited databases. Many online services only access whatever public records are digitized and easily available. If someone has a record in a county that hasn't fully digitized their files, or if information is filed under a slight name variation, it won't show up.

There's no verification. These automated systems don't check if "John Smith" with a criminal record is the same "John Smith" you're researching. They just dump everything with that name and let you figure it out.

They're often not compliant. Many of these sites skirt legal requirements around how certain information can be accessed and used. If you're an employer or landlord using one of these reports to make decisions, you could be violating federal law without even knowing it.

The information gets stale fast. Someone could have had charges dismissed, completed probation, or had records sealed—but that cheap online report still shows the original arrest like it happened yesterday.

I've had clients come to me after using these services, confident they knew everything about someone, only to discover we found critical information those reports completely missed. Sometimes it's because records were in a different jurisdiction. Sometimes it's because the person used a nickname or had a middle name variation. And sometimes it's because the real story requires actually understanding how to read and interpret legal documents—not just keyword matching.

 
Why Licensed PIs Follow Different Rules

When you hire a licensed private investigator in New York, you're working with someone who's bound by law to do things the right way. We're not just following best practices—we're legally required to comply with:

GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) - This federal law governs how financial information can be accessed and shared. We can't just pull banking records or financial data because someone asks. There has to be a legitimate legal purpose.

DPPA (Driver's Privacy Protection Act) - This one restricts access to DMV records. You know how some websites claim they can give you someone's full driving history and vehicle information? If they're doing that without proper legal justification, they're breaking federal law. We can only access this information for specific permitted uses.

FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) - If you're using a background check for employment, housing, credit, or insurance decisions, FCRA has strict rules about what you can check, how you can use it, and what rights the person being checked has. This is where a lot of landlords and small business owners accidentally get into legal trouble.

New York State licensing requirements - To operate as a PI in New York, you need to pass background checks yourself, carry insurance, and follow state regulations about what investigative methods are permitted.

In plain English? We can only access certain protected information when there's a legitimate legal reason. And we have to document that reason.

Not every request gets approved—and honestly, that's how it should be. A good investigator protects both clients and subjects from crossing legal lines. I've turned down cases where what the client wanted wasn't legally obtainable, or where their intended use of the information would have put them at legal risk.

 
What's Actually Included in a Legal Background Check?

Depending on why you need the information and what's legally permitted, here's what we can uncover:

Public Records & Court History
This is usually the foundation of any background investigation. We can access:

Criminal records - But here's the catch: not every state and county makes these equally available. New York has different levels of access than, say, Florida. Some jurisdictions require in-person courthouse visits. Some have everything online. We know how to navigate these differences and actually get complete information.

Civil court cases - Lawsuits, judgments, divorces, child support cases. These often reveal patterns of behavior or financial responsibility that criminal records don't show.

Bankruptcy filings - These are federal records and generally accessible, but understanding what they actually mean for your situation requires context.

Liens and judgments - If someone owes money from a court judgment or has tax liens against them, we can find that. This is especially important for business partnerships or significant transactions.

Sex offender registries - These are public, but we verify the information and make sure we're looking at the right person.

Identity & Contact Verification
You'd be surprised how often people use variations of their names, or how many "John Smiths" exist in New York. We verify:

Current and previous addresses - Not just where they claim to live, but where they've actually lived. This helps establish residency history and can reveal connections to other locations or people.

Aliases and name variations - Some people go by nicknames. Some have legally changed their names. Some use their middle name instead of their first name. We track all of this to make sure we're not missing records filed under different names.

Date of birth confirmation - Critical for making sure we're investigating the right person, not someone with the same name.

Known associates - Through public records, we can often identify family members, business partners, and other connections that might be relevant to your investigation.

Employment & Professional Background
This gets tricky legally, because a lot depends on consent and purpose. But we can verify: Corporate roles and business ownership - If someone claims to own a business or hold a corporate position, we can verify that through state business filings.

Professional licenses - Doctors, lawyers, contractors, real estate agents—we can verify their licenses are current and check for any disciplinary actions.

Work history - This often requires consent from the person being checked, especially if you're an employer. But we can verify employment dates, positions held, and sometimes reasons for leaving previous jobs.

Educational credentials - While we can't always get complete transcripts without consent, we can often verify degrees and graduation dates.

Property & Assets (When Legally Appropriate)
Understanding someone's financial stability or locating assets for legal purposes might include:

Real estate ownership - Property records are public and show what someone owns, when they bought it, what they paid, and whether there are mortgages or liens against it.

Vehicle registrations - This requires compliance with DPPA, but in permitted cases, we can identify vehicles registered to someone. This is common in litigation support or fraud investigations.

Business assets - If someone owns a business, we can identify business property, equipment liens, and other assets that might be relevant to your case.

Digital Footprint Analysis
This is where modern investigations have really evolved. People share an incredible amount of information online, and it's all legal to review if it's publicly posted:

Social media profiles - Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter—if it's public, we can document it. We've found everything from people lying about injuries in personal injury cases to business partners hiding assets to parents misrepresenting their lifestyle in custody battles.

Public posts and photos - Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words. We've seen people claiming disability who post videos of themselves at the gym. We've seen business partners who claim to be broke posting pictures from expensive vacations.

Professional profiles - LinkedIn and other professional networking sites can reveal job history, skills, connections, and business relationships.

Online reviews and comments - Sometimes how someone presents themselves online reveals patterns of behavior, disputes, or character issues.

The key here is we only look at what's publicly available. We're not hacking accounts or pretending to be someone we're not to gain access to private information.

Legal Support for Attorneys

A lot of our work comes from law firms who need reliable information for:

Witness credibility checks - Before putting someone on the stand, attorneys want to know if there's anything in their background that could be used to impeach their testimony.

Opposition research - In civil litigation, understanding the other party's background, financial situation, and connections can inform legal strategy.

Jury investigations - While there are strict rules about this, we can research publicly available information about potential jurors to help with voir dire.

Due diligence before settlement - Is the person you're about to settle with actually able to pay? Do they have assets that could be collected against?

Everything we provide needs to be accurate, legal, and something you could defend in court if needed. No shortcuts.

 
What We Can't Do (Even Though Websites Claim They Can)

Here's where a lot of those online services get sketchy and where we have to draw clear lines:

Credit reports without legal justification - We can't just pull someone's credit report because you're curious. Under FCRA, there are specific "permissible purposes" for accessing credit information. Employment (with consent), tenant screening (with consent), and legitimate business transactions are allowed. Snooping on your ex? Not allowed.

Financial records without proper grounds - Bank statements, investment accounts, credit card statements—these require either a subpoena, a court order, or the person's consent. Any PI who tells you they can get this information without those things is either lying or breaking the law.

Medical information - HIPAA protects medical records, and there's almost no circumstance where a private investigator can legally access someone's medical history without their consent or a court order. This includes prescription records, therapy notes, hospital visits—all of it is protected.

Complete driving histories without legal warrant - While we can access some DMV information under DPPA for permitted uses, comprehensive driving records require proper legal justification. We can't just hand over someone's full driving history because you asked.

Invasive surveillance without cause - We can conduct surveillance, but it has to be legal. We can't trespass on private property, we can't use illegal tracking devices, we can't hack into someone's phone or computer. Everything we do has to be from public spaces or places we have legal right to be.

Just because some website offers it doesn't mean it's legal. And if you use illegally obtained information? That problem becomes yours too.

I've seen landlords get sued for using improperly obtained information to deny rental applications. I've seen employers lose wrongful termination cases because they relied on inaccurate online background checks. I've seen people in custody battles have evidence thrown out because they hired an investigator who crossed legal lines.

When you work with a licensed PI, you're protected from these risks.

 
Why People Actually Hire Private Investigators

You might be wondering: why pay several hundred or even several thousand dollars when there are cheaper options?

Because accuracy matters. Because using improperly obtained data can destroy a legal case or expose you to liability. Because sometimes you need someone who understands what you can legally do with the information once you have it.

Here are the most common reasons people come to us:

Legal Cases
Attorneys hire us constantly for litigation support. They need:

• Witness background verification before trial
• Asset searches for collection cases
• Opposition research to inform legal strategy
• Evidence that will hold up under cross-examination
• Expert testimony about investigative findings

When you're in court, you can't just print out a report from some website and expect the judge to take it seriously. You need documented, verified information from a licensed professional who can testify to how it was obtained.

Property Management and Landlords
Especially for high-value properties or commercial leases, landlords need more than a basic credit check:

• Verification of employment and income claims
• Previous landlord experiences and eviction history
• Criminal background that might indicate risk
• Civil judgments that show patterns of not paying debts
• Business verification for corporate tenants

One of my landlord clients was considering a tenant for a $6,000/month rental. The application looked great—solid income, good references, clean basic background check. But we dug deeper and found the applicant had been evicted from three previous rentals in other states under a slightly different name. Those evictions never showed up on the basic check because of the name variation and different jurisdictions.

Business Partnerships and Transactions
Before you go into business with someone or enter a significant transaction:

• Verify they are who they claim to be
• Check for fraud history or business disputes
• Identify undisclosed bankruptcies or liens
• Understand their reputation in their industry
• Verify professional credentials and licenses

I mentioned earlier the client who almost entered a business partnership with someone who had a fraud conviction and failed businesses. That's not uncommon. People looking to defraud others are often charming, professional, and know how to present themselves well. A thorough background check cuts through the presentation to the facts.

Personal Safety and Relationships
This one's sensitive, but it's real. People hire us to check:

• Someone they're dating seriously before getting more committed
• A nanny or caregiver who will be alone with their children or elderly parents
• A new neighbor whose behavior is concerning
• Someone their child is dating who raises red flags
• An ex-partner who is making concerning statements

I'm not talking about paranoid snooping. I'm talking about legitimate safety concerns. We've found registered sex offenders applying for nanny positions. We've found people with domestic violence histories who lied about their past. We've found con artists targeting vulnerable people in romantic relationships.

Your gut instinct exists for a reason. If something feels off, it's worth verifying.

Estate and Probate Matters
When someone dies and there are questions about heirs, claims, or asset distribution:

• Locating missing heirs
• Verifying relationships claimed by potential beneficiaries
• Investigating suspicious claims against an estate
• Finding assets that weren't disclosed
• Checking backgrounds of executors or trustees

Estate litigation can get ugly, and a thorough investigation can either support or refute claims being made.

 
A Story That Shows Why This Matters
I had a client on Long Island who was about to partner with someone in a business deal. Seemed like a solid guy—well-dressed, professional, had a nice office, drove a luxury car. They'd talked for months about this venture. My client was about to invest $150,000.

Just as a precaution, he came to us for a background check. He'd already done a quick Google search and one of those online background checks. Nothing alarming came up.

But we dug deeper (legally, of course) and found:

A fraud conviction from another state - It was eight years old, but it was there. The guy had been convicted of defrauding investors in a real estate scheme. Served probation, paid restitution. Never mentioned any of this to my client.

A dissolved business with substantial unpaid liens - He'd started a company three years ago, ran it into the ground, and left suppliers and contractors unpaid to the tune of over $200,000. The company was dissolved, but the liens were still active.

An active lawsuit alleging misrepresentation - Someone else was currently suing him for lying about a business opportunity. The case was ongoing.

The kicker? The records were filed under slightly different personal information—he'd used his middle name as his first name in some cases, and there was a one-digit difference in his date of birth in some records (likely a clerical error that worked in his favor for hiding his past).

Those instant search sites would never catch these discrepancies. They rely on exact name and birth date matches. We found it because we know how to search variations, check multiple jurisdictions, and verify information against multiple sources.

Our work helped that client avoid what would've been a six-figure disaster. Last I heard, the partnership fell through and the guy moved on to find other potential victims—I mean, partners.

That's the difference between a real investigation and an algorithm.

 
What You Get When You Work With Us

Our reports aren't just data dumps. We provide clear, usable information:

Identity verification that holds up - We confirm we're investigating the right person with documentation that proves it.

Key findings presented plainly - You get an executive summary up front that tells you what we found and why it matters. No need to dig through fifty pages of raw data.

Detailed evidence when permitted - Supporting documents, source information, and clear citations for everything we report.

Risk assessment and recommendations - We don't just hand you information and walk away. We help you understand what it means for your situation and what steps you might want to consider.

Attorney collaboration if needed - If your case involves legal action, we work with your attorney to make sure our findings are documented in a way that's admissible and useful.

You get information you can actually act on—without legal worries keeping you up at night.

We also guarantee accuracy. If we get something wrong, we fix it. Try getting that guarantee from a $9.99 website.

 
How We Keep Everything Above Board

Compliance isn't something we take lightly. For every case, we document:

Why the investigation is legally permitted - What's your legitimate interest in this information? Are you an employer with an applicant's consent? An attorney with a litigation need? A business person considering a transaction? We document this before we start.

Your legitimate interest or legal right to the information - Not every person can request every type of information about every other person. We make sure you have proper standing.

What data we can access and what's off-limits - Based on your situation and purpose, we determine exactly what we can legally provide and where the boundaries are.

How we handle and eventually destroy sensitive information - Background check information doesn't live forever. We have retention and destruction policies that comply with legal requirements and protect everyone involved.

We're licensed (NYS License #11000228434 - you can verify this yourself), insured, and take the ethics of this work seriously. Every single time.

I've been doing this long enough to see what happens when investigators cut corners or ignore compliance. They lose their licenses. They get sued. Sometimes they face criminal charges. And their clients get dragged into the mess with them.

That's not how we operate. Ever.

 
When Should You Consider a Professional Background Check?

If any of these sound familiar, it's time to have a conversation:

You're letting someone into your life in a significant way - Dating seriously and thinking about moving in together? Hiring someone to care for your children or elderly parents? Bringing on a roommate? These situations put you, your family, or your home at risk if you choose wrong.

You're entering a business relationship or major contract - New business partner? Major vendor or supplier? Investor? Before you sign contracts or write checks, know who you're dealing with.

You're an attorney preparing for court - Need to verify a witness? Investigate the opposing party? Check jury backgrounds? Build a case for litigation? We provide the documented, defensible information you need.

You're a landlord dealing with high-value property - The higher the rent and the more valuable the property, the more important tenant screening becomes. A basic application and credit check might not be enough.

You need to verify trust before a major decision - Inheritance situation? Custody battle? Pending marriage with significant assets involved? Sometimes trust needs verification.

Something just feels off - Look, sometimes you just have a gut feeling something isn't right. Maybe the person's story doesn't quite add up. Maybe their references seem too perfect. Maybe you've caught them in small lies and wonder what else they're not telling you. Your instincts matter.

A proper background check is insurance. Simple as that.

The cost of a thorough background investigation is almost always less than the cost of making a decision based on incomplete or inaccurate information. Whether it's a bad hire, a fraudulent business partner, or a dangerous person around your family—the investment in certainty pays for itself.

 
The Process: What to Expect When You Hire Us

People often ask what working with us actually looks like. Here's our typical process:

1. Initial Consultation (Free)
You reach out, and we have a confidential conversation about what you need. We ask:

What's the situation?
What specific concerns do you have?
What will you use this information for?
What's your timeline?
This helps us determine what's legally possible and what level of investigation makes sense for your needs.

2. Engagement Agreement
If we can help you, we provide a clear agreement that outlines:

What we'll investigate
What the cost will be (we provide flat fees for most background checks, not hourly billing surprises)
How long it will take
What you'll receive
How the information can be used legally
Everything is in writing. No surprises.

3. Information Gathering
You provide us with the information you have about the subject:

Full name and any known aliases
Date of birth
Current and previous addresses
Any other identifying information
The more accurate information you have at the start, the better and faster our results will be.

4. Investigation
We conduct the research using legal, compliant methods. Depending on the scope, this might take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Complex investigations involving multiple jurisdictions or hard-to-find information take longer.

5. Report Delivery
You receive a clear, written report with our findings. We schedule a time to walk through it with you, answer questions, and discuss what the information means for your situation.

6. Follow-Up
If our findings raise new questions or if you need additional investigation, we discuss next steps. If you need to take legal action based on what we found, we can work with your attorney to support that process.

Throughout the entire process, everything is confidential. We don't discuss your case with anyone else. We don't share your information. Your privacy is absolute.

 
Common Questions People Ask

"How long does a background check take?"

Most standard background checks are completed within 5-7 business days. More complex investigations involving multiple states or hard-to-access records can take 2-3 weeks. If you have an urgent situation, let us know—we can often expedite for critical cases.

"How much does it cost?"

Our standard background checks start at $199 for basic investigations and go up depending on scope and complexity. We provide flat fee quotes upfront, so you know exactly what you're paying before we start. No hidden hourly fees or surprise charges.

"Is this legal?"

Yes. Everything we do is fully compliant with federal and New York State law. We only accept cases where we can legally obtain the information requested for your stated purpose.

"Will the person know I ran a background check?"

In most cases, no. However, if you're using the information for certain purposes (like employment or tenant screening), federal law requires you to notify them and give them certain rights. We advise you on these requirements.

"What if you don't find anything?"

Sometimes that's the best news. If we find a clean background, we document what we checked and found nothing concerning. That gives you confidence to move forward. You're paying for certainty either way.

"Can you guarantee you'll find everything?"

We guarantee we'll conduct a thorough, legal investigation using all available resources. However, we can't guarantee specific results. Records might be sealed, expunged, or simply not exist. What we can guarantee is that if information is legally available and findable, we'll find it.

 
Stay Connected
We share safety tips, investigative insights, and legal updates regularly:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eastonsolutions
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Easton-Secure-Solutions/61554936922612/

Follow us for real-world examples, case studies (with identifying details changed), tips for protecting yourself, and updates on investigative techniques and legal requirements.

 
Ready to Get Real Answers?

When you hire a licensed investigator, you're not just buying information. You're buying accuracy, legal protection, and the confidence to move forward with important decisions.

Whether you need a standard background check or a complex investigation, we're here to help—professionally, confidentially, and legally.

Call: 516-962-1267
Email: [email protected]
Website: eastonsecuresolutions.com
Schedule a consultation: https://calendly.com/eastonpro-eastonsecuresolutions/30min
Submit case details: https://eastonsecuresolutions.com/client-intake
Verify our license: NYS License #11000228434

Easton Secure Solutions LLC
Trusted. Discreet. Results that hold up.

 
Serving Long Island, New York City, and throughout New York State. Licensed, insured, and committed to legal compliance and professional ethics in every investigation.