How to Hire a Private Detective in Georgia

Georgia licensing at a glance

Georgia licenses private detective companies and registers private detective employees through the Georgia Board of Private Detective & Security Agencies, administered by the Secretary of State.

Step by step: hiring in Georgia

1. Define your question. What do you need to know, and what decision depends on it?
2. Verify licensing. Look the detective up on the Georgia Board of Private Detective & Security Agencies (Secretary of State) website rather than relying on a license number shown in an ad. Confirm the license is active and check the agency license as well as the individual's where both exist.
3. Agree on scope and cost in writing. Know what will be done, for how long, and what you'll receive.
4. Share what you know. Names, addresses, photos, vehicles and schedules save billable hours.
5. Insist on lawful methods. Georgia generally allows a participant to record a conversation (one-party consent). Detectives shouldn't hack accounts, pretext for records, trespass or track phones.

What affects the cost of an investigation in Georgia

Georgia spans 159 counties. Surveillance in a dense area like Atlanta may call for two detectives to keep a subject in view, while work in rural counties can involve more travel time. Records research that requires courthouse visits in several counties takes longer than searches available online.

Most surveillance is billed hourly plus expenses such as mileage; defined research tasks are often flat-fee. Our cost guide explains pricing in detail.

Questions to ask a Georgia detective

• Are you licensed for work in Georgia, and who will actually do the work?
• How often do you handle matters like mine in Georgia?
• How do you handle recording and tracking under Georgia law?
• Which county courts or records will you need, and how long will that take?
• What will the report include, and could you testify if needed?

More questions are in our list of 15 questions to ask before hiring.

Where we coordinate work in Georgia

Mooney & Boland coordinates investigations throughout Georgia, including Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah and Athens. See private detective services in Georgia for coverage and services.

Local pages for Georgia communities:

Common questions

Sources

• Georgia Board of Private Detective & Security Agencies (Secretary of State) (official regulator)
• Justia: Recording Phone Calls and Conversations, 50-State Survey

Reviewed November 2026.