How Private Investigators Help Build Civil Cases Before You Hire a Lawyer in New York

When most people think about hiring a lawyer, they imagine going into a courtroom with everything already prepared. But in many civil cases—whether it’s a contract dispute, a child custody battle, or an issue involving fraud—there’s often one key step that’s overlooked:

Gathering evidence before the attorney even gets involved.

That’s where a licensed private investigator (PI) comes in.

If you suspect you may need to take legal action, or you're trying to determine whether a lawsuit is even worth pursuing, working with a PI can give you the answers (and documentation) you need—before paying thousands in legal fees.

When Civil Cases Begin Without a Lawyer

Civil disputes often start informally. Maybe you:

• Loaned money that hasn’t been repaid
• Suspect your ex is violating a custody order
• Believe a contractor defrauded you
• Think someone is impersonating you online
• Are considering a harassment or defamation suit

But before a lawyer can act, they need proof. Many attorneys won’t even take a case without verifiable evidence. That’s why clients come to Easton Secure Solutions first—to document the facts and establish a foundation for legal action.

What a Private Investigator Can Do Before Legal Representation

Here’s how a PI helps build a civil case from the ground up—legally, ethically, and thoroughly:

1. Verify or Locate Key Parties
Before a lawsuit can proceed, you need to identify and verify the person you’re planning to take action against.

We handle:

• Skip tracing for individuals who’ve vanished or are actively avoiding contact
• Address and employment verification to determine where someone can be served or sued
• Identity verification when someone is hiding behind fake names, online aliases, or burner phones

➡️ Read more about our Skip Tracing Services

2. Collect Evidence Through Surveillance and OSINT

We gather legal evidence using a mix of:

• Surveillance – Photos, videos, and timestamps documenting behavior, movements, or violations
• OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) – Collecting public data from social media, forums, business listings, and more
• Witness interviews – Discreet conversations with neighbors, coworkers, or witnesses to help build context

This type of evidence is often what turns a weak suspicion into a viable legal case.

3. Identify Assets or Hidden Information
In cases involving fraud, unpaid debts, or potential judgments, it helps to know what someone actually has.

We help identify:

• Property and vehicle ownership
• Business affiliations
• Employer details
• Lifestyle indicators that can contradict sworn financial claims

This is especially helpful before filing for small claims, divorce, or civil recovery lawsuits.

4. Confirm or Refute Suspicions
Sometimes you don’t want to rush into legal action without being sure. Maybe you're:

• Not 100% sure your ex moved someone new into the home
• Questioning whether a contractor truly "went out of business"
• Wondering if your tenant is subletting against your lease

Instead of guessing—or confronting someone prematurely—you can let us quietly investigate and give you a clear, unbiased report.

Real Case Example: Building a Case Before Legal Action

A client contacted us after suspecting that their former business partner had started a competing company using proprietary client lists—violating a signed non-compete agreement.

The client wasn’t ready to hire an attorney, but they needed to know if legal action was even possible.

Our investigation uncovered:

• A newly registered LLC tied to the former partner
• The partner’s current employment status and office address
• Online ads and social posts promoting the new business using old client logos
• Witness interviews confirming that several former clients had been solicited

With that information, our client approached a civil attorney, who immediately moved forward with a cease and desist, followed by a lawsuit seeking damages.

Had the client gone to a lawyer first without any evidence, they would have likely spent thousands before even knowing if the case was viable.

Why This Step Saves You Time and Money

Attorneys charge by the hour—and most don’t investigate. If you walk into a consultation without hard facts, they’ll either:

1. Tell you there’s not enough for a case
2. Assign an expensive paralegal or third-party firm to gather evidence
3. Require you to return later once you have proof

Hiring a PI before you hire a lawyer allows you to:

✅ Confirm if legal action is even worth pursuing
✅ Avoid wasting money on dead-end lawsuits
✅ Walk into your attorney’s office prepared with evidence
✅ Strengthen your case from day one

Types of Civil Cases Where a PI Can Help First

We commonly assist in cases involving:

• Breach of contract or civil fraud
• Harassment, stalking, or defamation
• Child custody and cohabitation violations
• Unpaid debts or judgments
• Property disputes
• Online impersonation or identity misuse
• Landlord-tenant conflicts
• Contractor abandonment or false claims

Many of these cases never even reach court—because the facts we uncover lead to early settlements, negotiated resolutions, or preemptive legal action.

What We Need to Start Your Case

In most cases, we can begin with minimal information:

• Name (even partial is okay)
• Phone number, email, or business name
• Social media profiles
• A description of the situation and your goals

Once we understand your situation, we’ll tailor the investigation based on what you're trying to prove or uncover.

Work With a Licensed New York PI You Can Trust

At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we specialize in helping individuals and businesses gather the facts they need to move forward—legally, ethically, and with clarity.

Whether you’re in New York City or Long Island, our licensed investigators know how to discreetly get results in sensitive civil matters before the lawyers ever step in.

📞 Call us at (516) 962-1267
📧 Email: [email protected]
➡️ Visit our Identity Verification or Surveillance Services pages

Before You Hire a Lawyer, Hire a PI Who Gets Results
If you're thinking about pursuing a civil case, don’t wait until you’re deep into legal fees. Get the evidence you need now—so you can make informed decisions and walk into court prepared.