I'm Looking for a Private Investigator

On your end, the decision is already made. What's missing is the starting point. And above all, the right professional to entrust your situation to.

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In What Situations Should You Hire a Private Investigator?

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A private investigator steps in when a personal or professional question requires verified facts, not impressions.

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Among private individuals, suspected infidelity ranks first. Inquiries often begin with changes in habits that are hard to explain, and many people recognize after the fact the signs of infidelity and the most common lies told by their partner. Next come situations involving harassment or repeated intrusions, where each episode must be dated and documented. Another frequent case: doubts about a relationship formed online, when requests for money come before the first in-person meeting.

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For businesses, the reasons are more concrete. A suspicious sick leave that coincides with a parallel activity. Vetting a business partner before signing a contract. Or unfair practices: diversion of clients, information leaks, misuse of internal data.

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In every case, the methods used must remain proportionate to the objective and comply with data protection law. That is why no surveillance is justified without a legitimate interest. A licensed investigator frames the assignment before acting: they assess what is feasible, what is lawful, and what never will be. Doing the opposite exposes the client as much as the investigator.

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How to Identify a Reputable Private Investigator in Switzerland

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The first question to ask is not "who should I choose?" but "in which canton will the investigation take place?" In Switzerland, the private investigator profession is not regulated at the federal level. Only three cantons require an official license to practice legally: Geneva, Neuchâtel, and Ticino. In those cantons, an investigation conducted without a license exposes not only the professional but also the client to serious legal risks, particularly regarding the admissibility of evidence.

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In the other Swiss cantons, no license is required, which makes preliminary checks all the more important before awarding an assignment. In Geneva, the profession is governed by the LAInt of May 20, 1950. You can verify that a professional is properly licensed by consulting the list of authorized private investigators in Geneva.

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As for AGOP, our private investigation agency holds official licenses in the cantons of Geneva and Neuchâtel, and operates in the other Swiss cantons, with the exception of Ticino.

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4 Important Factors to Take into Account

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Four factors deserve your attention before awarding an assignment:

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• A promise of guaranteed results: no reputable professional can guarantee the outcome of an investigation. Such a promise is a misleading sales signal, regardless of the size or claimed reputation of the agency.
• The absence of a written engagement agreement: never hire a private investigator without having read and signed an engagement agreement.
• Refusal to provide a license number: this simply means the provider is not licensed, or at least not in the three regulated cantons mentioned above.
• An unusual volume of Google reviews: in this line of work, most clients do not leave reviews, for obvious confidentiality reasons. The few existing reviews most often come from attorneys or fellow professionals who have worked with the agency.

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Pricing transparency follows the same logic. A detailed written engagement agreement is the standard before any intervention, and it helps you understand a private investigator's rates in Geneva according to the type of assignment.

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One last point matters going forward: the private investigator's investigation report. It can be forwarded to your attorney and produced in court proceedings, provided that the material was gathered by lawful means.

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First Contact: What Actually Happens

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The first conversation serves to understand your situation, not to sell an assignment. The investigator listens to the facts, assesses the feasibility and legality of the request, then proposes a suitable approach. No decision is made in haste.

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On your end, prepare what you have: the facts you observed, the dates, the locations, any available documents or messages. Precise context makes it possible to frame the assignment faster and to avoid hours of unnecessary research.

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Every exchange remains confidential from the very first call, even before an engagement agreement is signed. There is no obligation to move forward.

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Looking for a private investigator therefore begins with two simple steps: verifying the cantonal license and presenting your situation to a professional willing to assess its feasibility. If you recognize yourself in one of the situations described here, AGOP remains available through our contact form. Every request is handled with the strictest confidentiality, from the very first exchange.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How can I verify that a private investigator is authorized to practice in Switzerland?

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The regulations depend on the canton where the investigation is to take place. Only Geneva, Neuchâtel, and Ticino require an official license. In those cantons, ask for the professional's license number and verify their listing on the official register published by the canton. In the other Swiss cantons, no license is required.

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Is evidence gathered by an investigator admissible in court?

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Yes, if it was obtained through proportionate and lawful means. A dated, detailed report supported by documented observations can be forwarded to your attorney or produced in proceedings. The final assessment rests with the judge.

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How much does a private investigation cost in Geneva?

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The rate depends on the type of assignment, its duration, and the resources deployed. At AGOP, fees range from CHF 100 to CHF 150 per hour excluding VAT, with no surcharge for nights or weekends. Signing an engagement agreement is mandatory before any intervention. This document defines the scope of the investigation, the terms of intervention, and each party's obligations. It constitutes the legal basis for conducting the investigation in compliance with the law.