About Mooney & Boland · Since 1862
An established name in American detective work.
The Mooney & Boland name traces to 1862. A century and a half later, the questions people bring to a detective are remarkably familiar, and the way they're answered has been completely transformed.
1862
A nation in upheaval, and a profession taking shape.
In 1862 the United States was in the second year of the Civil War. The telegraph had only just crossed the continent, and Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act that summer, setting the transcontinental railroad in motion. People, money and information were moving faster and farther than ever before.
Private detective agencies were still a new idea in American cities. Their work was built on the same things that matter now: finding people who didn't want to be found, establishing what really happened, and putting facts in front of the people who needed them.
The earliest recorded operations under the Mooney & Boland name date to that year.
The evolution of the work
From notebooks to databases, and back to judgment.
Every generation of investigators has gained new tools. None of them replaced the need to verify, document and use good judgment.
- 1860s
Legwork and the ledger
Detective work meant interviews, observation and handwritten records. Information moved by letter, rail and the newly spanned telegraph, and a detective's notebook was the case file.
- Turn of the century
Camera and telephone
Portable cameras and the telephone changed what could be documented and how quickly. Photographic evidence and faster communication began to shape modern casework.
- Mid-1900s
Licensing and standards
States increasingly regulated private investigators through licensing, and the profession developed clearer expectations around conduct, reporting and lawful methods.
- Late 1900s
The database era
Computerized public records and commercial data services transformed background and locate work, making research faster but verification more important than ever.
- Today
The digital footprint
Social media, online marketplaces and digital records now sit alongside traditional field work. The skill is knowing what's reliable, what's lawful and what holds up.
What hasn't changed
Four principles carried forward.
Methods change with every decade. These don't.
Discretion
Clients come to us with private matters. Inquiries, plans and findings are handled with care, and nobody is contacted on a client's behalf without their agreement.
Verification
A lead is not a fact. Information is corroborated across sources and, where it matters, confirmed in the field before it is reported.
Documentation
Findings are written up clearly, with dates, sources and supporting material, so they can be relied on by the client and by counsel.
Judgment
Not every question needs an investigation, and not every method is lawful. Honest advice about what makes sense comes before any work begins.
Mooney & Boland today
A modern investigative approach, organized nationally.
Today Mooney & Boland coordinates private detective services across the United States for people and organizations who need reliable answers: a parent worried about a child's safety, an employer facing internal theft, an attorney preparing for trial, an insurer verifying a claim.
The approach is straightforward:
- Listen first, and be honest about whether an investigation is the right tool.
- Define the scope, method and cost before work begins.
- Use lawful methods appropriate to the state where the work takes place.
- Combine records research, digital investigation and field work as the matter requires.
- Report findings in plain language, with documentation that can be relied on.
Listen carefully. Verify everything. Document what you find. Keep the client's confidence.
Who we serve
The same discipline, shaped to each client.
Whether the matter is personal or professional, the work starts with understanding what you actually need to know.
Individuals & families
Relationships, missing persons, family concerns and personal safety.
Businesses
Internal investigations, due diligence, theft and misconduct.
Attorneys
Witnesses, evidence development, assets and background research.
Insurers
Claim verification, activity checks and fraud investigations.
About the agency
Common questions about Mooney & Boland.
If you'd like to know more before reaching out, these answers are a good place to start.
How long has the Mooney & Boland name been in use?
Records show operations under the Mooney & Boland name as early as 1862. The agency today carries that name forward with a modern, nationally oriented approach to investigative work.
Where does Mooney & Boland provide services?
Investigations are coordinated throughout the United States. Our service area directory has a page for each of the 50 states, covering local considerations and the services most requested there.
Who does the agency work with?
Individuals and families, businesses and employers, attorneys and law firms, and insurance professionals. The service directory is organized by the kind of problem each client is trying to solve.
How do I start a conversation?
Call 629-310-8667, email contact@delatorgroup.com or send a short confidential inquiry. A few sentences about what you're trying to find out is enough to begin.
Confidential inquiry
A long tradition. A simple first step.
Tell us what you're trying to find out. You'll get a straight answer about what's possible and what it would involve.