How do I check whether a private investigator in Hollywood, FL is licensed?

Use the FDACS public lookup: individuals at licensing.fdacs.gov/access/individual.aspx and agencies at licensing.fdacs.gov/access/agency.aspx. Individual Florida investigators hold a Class C license, and agencies hold a Class A license.

Which court handles cases from Hollywood, FL?

Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit. Its main courthouse is the Central Judicial Complex at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, and the South Regional Courthouse is at 3550 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.

Can a PI search court records in Broward County?

Yes. The Broward County Clerk of Courts offers an online case search, and an investigator will also check other counties and states where a person has lived.

Is what I tell a private investigator confidential?

Florida licensees can be disciplined for betraying a professional secret or releasing information without authorization under s. 493.6118, F.S.

What should I bring to a first consultation?

Names, addresses, vehicle descriptions, recent photos, a short timeline of events, and your attorney’s contact details if one is involved.

Hiring a Private Investigator in Hollywood, FL: What to Expect

Hollywood sits in south Broward County, between Fort Lauderdale and the Miami-Dade County line, and had 153,067 residents at the 2020 Census. That location shapes a lot of investigations here: people live in Hollywood, work in Miami-Dade and have court cases in Fort Lauderdale. If you are thinking about hiring a private investigator in Hollywood, this guide explains how to confirm an investigator is licensed, what happens at a first consultation, what a PI can legally do, and how Broward’s courts and Clerk fit into your case.

Hollywood’s investigative landscape

Hollywood’s nearby communities include Hallandale Beach, Dania Beach, Pembroke Pines, Pembroke Park, Davie, Miramar, West Park and Cooper City. Port Everglades lies partly within the city, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport carries its name. For an investigator, that means subjects move easily across city and county lines, and any surveillance or locate plan has to account for travel between Broward and Miami-Dade. An investigator who knows the area plans for that from the start.

Step 1: verify the license yourself

Private investigation in Florida is regulated under Chapter 493 of the Florida Statutes and licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Licensing. Under s. 493.6201, F.S., a private investigative agency holds a Class “A” license, and “any individual who performs the services of a private investigator shall have a Class ‘C’ license.” Interns hold a Class “CC” license and work under a sponsoring licensee. Before you hire anyone, check:

Individual investigators at licensing.fdacs.gov/access/individual.aspx, searchable by name or license number.
Agencies at licensing.fdacs.gov/access/agency.aspx.

Performing regulated investigative work without a license is a crime under s. 493.6120, F.S. If someone cannot give you a license you can verify, keep looking.

Step 2: what to expect from the first consultation

A good first conversation is about your goal, not a sales pitch. Expect the investigator to ask what you are trying to prove or find, what you already know, whether an attorney is involved, and whether there is a court date coming up. Come prepared with names, addresses, vehicle descriptions, recent photos and a short timeline of events. In return, you should get:

A plain explanation of what can be done lawfully, and what cannot.
A recommended plan, whether that is records research, surveillance, a locate or a combination.
A written agreement describing the scope before any work begins.
A clear understanding of how and when you will receive updates and the final report.
A written explanation of how fees are structured and which expenses, such as mileage or records charges, are billed separately.

Confidentiality is part of the job. Florida licensees can be disciplined for “willful betrayal of a professional secret or any unauthorized release of information” acquired through their regulated work (s. 493.6118, F.S.).

Step 3: know what a PI can and cannot do

Florida defines private investigation to include gathering information about a person’s “identity, habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, reputation, or character,” finding missing persons, and securing evidence for use in trials (s. 493.6101, F.S.). A licensed investigator working a Hollywood case can conduct surveillance in public places, search public records, interview witnesses and locate people. There are firm limits:

No impersonating law enforcement. It is a ground for discipline under s. 493.6118 and a crime under s. 843.08, F.S.
No trespassing onto posted property or into structures and vehicles (s. 810.08 and s. 810.09, F.S.).
No secret recording of private conversations; Florida requires all parties’ consent (s. 934.03, F.S.).
No GPS trackers on another person’s property without consent, and no general PI exception (s. 934.425, F.S.).

An investigator who promises results by crossing those lines is putting your case, and you, at risk.

Step 4: how Broward’s courts and Clerk fit in

Hollywood is in Broward County, which makes up Florida’s 17th Judicial Circuit. The circuit’s main courthouse is the Central Judicial Complex at 201 SE 6th Street in Fort Lauderdale. The circuit also has regional courthouses, and the closest to Hollywood is the South Regional Courthouse at 3550 Hollywood Blvd. The others are the North Regional Courthouse in Deerfield Beach and the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation. Check the circuit’s court locations page and your own case paperwork to see where a particular hearing will be held. Appeals from the 17th Circuit go to Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach.

Court records are kept by the Broward County Clerk of Courts, which offers an online case search. Investigators rely on clerk records constantly: to find prior lawsuits, evictions, judgments, and family or criminal cases, and to confirm names and addresses. Electronic filings in Florida courts go through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. If your matter is headed to court, your investigator should coordinate with your attorney so the findings are ready when they are needed.

Step 5: reports, evidence and testimony

At the end of an assignment, you should receive a clear written report with dates, times, locations and supporting photos or video. For court use, evidence must be authenticated, meaning there has to be proof it is what it claims to be (s. 90.901, F.S.). An investigator who personally captured the footage can testify to how it was recorded. That is one reason method and documentation matter as much as the result itself. If your case may go to a hearing, ask at the start whether the investigator will be available to testify and how that time is handled, so there are no surprises later.

Common reasons Hollywood residents hire an investigator

Suspected infidelity, and questions about how it may affect a divorce.
Child custody concerns; see our guide to child custody investigations in Broward County.
Locating a missing relative, a witness or someone who owes money; see how to locate a missing person in Florida.
Vetting a tenant, caregiver, business partner or new relationship through background investigations.
Documenting activity for insurance or workers’ compensation claims through surveillance.

Not sure you need an investigator at all? Our article on when you need a private investigator walks through the most common situations.