Marcy Phelps and Associates

Public records sources: What to know and what to avoid

June 29, 2020 / by Marcy Phelps / Information sources / 0 comments

When conducting online investigations, public records add valuable info about our subjects. Assets, liabilities, legal trouble, and much more. Public records are useful, but searching can be tedious and time-consuming, and our findings affect people’s lives and livelihoods. So, in addition to using quality information, we need to gather it efficiently. That’s why it pays […]

How to become a private investigator

May 20, 2020 / by Marcy Phelps / Investigative business / 0 comments

How do I become a private investigator? People often ask me this question, and I generally offer some standard advice, but I decided to tap into my network of fellow PIs to see what else I should be telling others about breaking into this exciting and rewarding profession. Many thanks to all who responded to […]

What’s missing from your research?

April 20, 2020 / by Marcy Phelps / Information skills / 2 comments

As an investigator or researcher, what you don’t find is often as important as what you do find – if not more. To be thorough, you need to be mindful of what you can and can’t deliver to your client. A recent case reminded me of this important lesson, and I’d like to share what […]

Fact or fiction? – How to avoid misinformation on the web

April 6, 2020 / by Marcy Phelps / Information skills, Information sources / 0 comments

It’s nothing new. We’ve been relying on the web and social media for the information we need for a long time. In the age of self-isolation, uncertainty, and new threats, though, we’re doing it more than ever. These days, it seems that the web has become our primary source of news and other critical information. […]

What sources do I use for searching news?

March 23, 2020 / by Marcy Phelps / Information sources, Search tools / 0 comments

Newspapers and tablet with business news

I’m frequently asked about what I use for news searching, so I thought I’d share my sources and why they’re so important to my investigations. Note that these include free and fee-based sources, because – with online information – you definitely get what you pay for. You can’t do a thorough job with just free. […]

What is due diligence?

March 9, 2020 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence / 0 comments

In looking over past blog posts, I’ve realized that I frequently write about due diligence, but I’ve never really explained what it is. Also, judging by the questions I get, there are lots of misconceptions about what it really is, what it’s used for, and why someone would bother taking this step. So, what follows […]

Searching online public records – How to prepare

February 24, 2020 / by Marcy Phelps / Information skills, Tips/Techniques / 0 comments

Text sign showing Are You Ready Question. Conceptual photo Be Prepared Motivated Warned Readiness Aware written on Notebook Book on the Green background Marker and Pen next to it.

Searching public records such as corporation filings, recorded documents, and court records can be the most challenging type of online research – even for the professionals. I’ve been searching online information for more than 20 years, and public records never cease to amaze me. No uniformity among jurisdictions, missing records, clunky search tools, and other […]

After the background investigation: What’s next?

February 10, 2020 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence / 0 comments

You’ve finally completed the due diligence background investigation. You’ve gathered your findings, analyzed the results, and written and sent your report. Time to cross this one off your to-do list and bask in that wonderful feeling of a job well-done. Or maybe not – because due diligence background investigations don’t end here. What else could […]

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