DO YOU THINK LIKE A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR?
Every day, our private investigators are hired to uncover the truth, connect the dots, and find answers hiding in plain sight. But how sharp are your instincts?
In this quick challenge, you’ll face real-world situations inspired by cases our P.I.’s encounter every day. Your mission? Trust your gut, make your call, and see how your detective skills stack up.
Will you think like a licensed investigator… or fall for the same mistakes most people make?
Take the quiz below and find out.
Lead With Facts And Not Assumptions!
Question 1 Your spouse has been acting strange. You want to see who they've been texting. Is it legal to read their messages without their knowledge?
A) Yes, they’re your spouse so you have the right
B) No, accessing someone’s phone or accounts without permission is illegal
C) Only if you share a phone plan
D) Yes, as long as you don’t share what you find
Answer: B Even in a marriage, accessing someone’s private messages without consent can violate federal wiretapping and computer fraud laws. A licensed PI won’t touch digital accounts. We document behavior in the real world, where it counts in court.
Question 2 You suspect your partner is meeting someone at a hotel. You hire someone to follow them and take photos. Is that legal?
A) No, that’s stalking
B) Yes, but only if the PI is licensed
C) It depends on where the photos are taken
D) Both B and C
Answer: D A licensed PI can legally conduct surveillance in public spaces. Photos taken in parking lots, restaurants, or entering/exiting a building are generally admissible. Photos taken through windows into private spaces are not. Licensing matters because an unlicensed “investigator” can compromise your case and expose you to liability.
Question 3 You want to put a GPS tracker on your partner's car to see where they go. Legal or not?
A) Legal, it’s your relationship
B) Legal only if your name is also on the vehicle title
C) Illegal no matter what
D) Legal as long as you remove it within 30 days
Answer: B In Texas, placing a tracking device on a vehicle you jointly own is generally permitted. If the vehicle is solely in their name, you could be facing criminal charges. This is one of the most common mistakes people make trying to investigate on their own.
Question 4 You find an email your partner left open on a shared family computer. You screenshot it as evidence. Is that usable?
A) Yes, it was on a shared device
B) No, email is always private
C) It depends on your jurisdiction and how the account was accessed
D) Only if you forward it to your attorney first
Answer: C Courts have gone both ways on this. The key factors are whether the device was truly shared, whether the email account required a separate login, and whether you intentionally bypassed any password. Talk to your attorney before assuming anything found digitally is clean evidence.
Question 5 A PI tells you they can get your spouse's phone records, bank statements, and location history directly from their carrier. Should you trust them?
A) Yes, PIs have special access to that information
B) No, that is illegal and a red flag
C) Only if they have law enforcement contacts
D) Yes, if they’ve been licensed for more than 5 years
Answer: B No legitimate PI has legal access to private phone records, bank statements, or real-time location data through carriers. Anyone offering that is either lying or operating illegally, and anything they obtain could destroy your case. Walk away.
Question 6 Your partner denies an affair. A PI provides you with timestamped photos, a surveillance log, and documented locations over several weeks. Which of these carries the most weight in a Texas family court proceeding?
A) The photos alone
B) The surveillance log
C) All three together, compiled by a licensed investigator
D) None of it, courts don’t accept PI evidence
Answer: C Texas courts do accept properly gathered evidence from licensed investigators. A documented, corroborated case file carries far more weight than a single photo. The licensing, methodology, and chain of custody all matter when it goes in front of a judge.
Question 7 You record a phone call with your partner without telling them. Is that legal in Texas?
A) No, both parties must consent
B) Yes, Texas is a one-party consent state
C) Only if the conversation involves criminal activity
D) No, recording any call without a warrant is illegal
Answer: B Texas follows one-party consent law, meaning you can legally record a conversation you are part of. You cannot record a conversation between two other people that you are not participating in. Know the difference before you hit record.
How Did You Score???
7 correct: You think like a PI.
Terrance may have a opening for you at our next hiring event!
5 to 6 correct: Sharp instincts. You know enough to know when to call a professional.
3 to 4 correct: You’re learning, but the gaps could cost you in court.
0 to 2 correct: Please, do not investigate this yourself. Call us.
- Contact Us
Get Answers. Get Results.
Contact Terrance Private Investigator & Associates
Think you have a case? At Terrance Private Investigator & Associates, we handle infidelity investigations the right way, legally, thoroughly, and in a way that holds up when it matters most.
Call or visit piterrance.com to schedule a confidential consultation.
Website: https://piterrance.com/
Call or Text: (833) 495 0003
