Glossary of common terms
These plain-language definitions cover the words that appear most often across this guide. They are starting points; the governing statutes and court rules always control in a specific matter.
- Surveillance — lawful, discreet observation and documentation of a subject's activities, typically in public view.
- Background investigation — a human-verified assembly of a person's history from public and lawfully accessible records.
- Permissible purpose — a legally recognized reason required before certain regulated consumer data may be accessed.
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) — the federal law governing consumer reports used for employment, tenancy, insurance, or credit decisions.
- Service of process — the formal, documented delivery of legal papers that gives a party notice of an action.
- Proof of service (affidavit of service) — the sworn document proving who was served, when, where, and how.
- Skip tracing — locating a person who has moved or become difficult to find, using lawful data sources.
- Asset search — identifying property and holdings through public records to assess collectability or exposure.
- Due diligence — entity-level background investigation of a partner, vendor, target, or executive.
- Chain of custody — the documented handling of evidence that preserves its integrity for court.
- TSCM (technical surveillance countermeasures) — assessing and protecting spaces and communications against eavesdropping.
- Litigation paralegal — a non-attorney professional who organizes evidence and manages a case toward resolution.
Regulators and statutes
These bodies set and enforce the rules of the field. Verifying a provider or a requirement against the primary source is always the safest move.
- FDACS Private Investigation — Florida's licensing authority for investigators and agencies.
- FTC consumer-report guidance — federal rules for using background reports.
Courts and records
Court and archive systems are where much verified information actually lives. Their public pages explain how to access records the right way.
- National Center for State Courts — guidance and links for state court systems.
- National Archives — federal and military records and request procedures.
Professional associations
Membership bodies publish standards, ethics codes, and continuing education for their disciplines.
How to use these resources well
Primary sources beat summaries every time. If a provider tells you a certain method is permitted, or that a record is or is not public, the fastest way to check is to go to the governing regulator, statute, or court and read it yourself — the links above are starting points for exactly that. Rules also change and vary by state, so confirm that what you are reading applies to your jurisdiction and is current. When a matter carries real legal weight, treat these references as background and consult a licensed attorney for advice on your specific facts; nothing here is a substitute for that.
Keep learning
If you are researching a specific need, return to the field-guide home for the full map of disciplines, or go straight to hiring a licensed investigator when you are ready to engage a provider. The more you understand the work, the better the results you will get from it.