Looking for a long-lost relative? Hoping to find the beneficiary or executor of a will? Looking to serve documents to an individual named in a civil process?
Often one of the first things we here at Gilliam Burke Investigations are often asked when a client inquires about locating another individual is: “how will that information be released to me?”
The answer is: it can vary, and it’s one of the reasons why we need to ask several questions when discussing a particular case with a client. Due to the nature of privacy laws in Canada and Alberta, it’s not just a matter of getting a phone number and handing it off to the client. All licensed investigators and ethical investigations will follow a few basic policies.
For Locates Involving a Legal Proceeding
If the reason for your locate involves the legal system in some way – including criminal litigation, civil litigation, wills and probates, or serving documents – the product of the investigation (address, phone numbers, birth dates, and other information procured) will be delivered to the client’s lawyer.
For Locates Not Involving A Legal Proceeding
Frequently we will get asked to locate a long-lost relative, friend, or other associate for a variety of reasons. This is something that can be done as easily as locating an individual for a legal proceeding, however the release of that information is slightly different. In Alberta all ethical private investigators follow something called the right of first contact. What this means, is that once the individual is located, we will approach them and request their permission first to release their information to the client. The individual being located has the right to decide if they wish for their information to be released to the party requesting that information.
Either the individual found will consent, in which case the information will be released to our client, or the individual will decline.
If the individual declines, we will (with the client’s permission) release the client’s permission to the found party, and it will be up to them to make contact.
Additionally, if there is a document, photographs, or other items that the client wishes to be delivered, we can also accommodate them in that way by delivering the items on their behalf.
While no investigator can 100% guarantee that an individual will be located, and that they will be willing to have their information released, a positive outcome is always the happiest for all parties involved, and we at Gilliam Burke Investigations always give our all to provide the client with the best possible outcome.