PI LICENSING: Massachusetts

[Danielle Bosley]

We are contemplating moving from NH to Mass- would the above: "NO LICENSED NEEDED IF YOU ARE WORKING: Investigations if engaged in earning livelihood by genealogical work and the compilation of family history while so engaged." cover me as not needing a license to locate adoptees, birth parents, missing persons, etc?

[Michael Newman]

We are contemplating moving from NH to Mass- would the above: "NO LICENSED NEEDED IF YOU ARE WORKING: Investigations if engaged in earning livelihood by genealogical work and the compilation of family history while so engaged." cover me as not needing a license to locate adoptees, birth parents, missing persons, etc?

There is no law in any state that prohibits you from locating anyone, as long as you use public records.

But if you plan on confronting a missing person from records that are not in the public domain, that may take a different strategy (in another topic).

[Danielle Bosley]

I always find it tricky because most states stipulate that you must be a licensed PI to find missing persons.

[Eric S Neal]

I always find it tricky because most states stipulate that you must be a licensed PI to find missing persons.

I don't yet know enough about the private investigation laws in MA (I live in my and work in NH), but I do know that I don't need a license to investigate persons / companies owing money to my clients, other known as "skiptracing". I have a registered collection agency in NH (previously in MA) and never needed a license for that.

[Meridith Kronenberg-Cummings]

I was under the assumption it was according to hours.

[David Copeland]

I was under the assumption it was according to hours.

Generally, the number of experience hours dictates what the amount of years of experience is, based on an average work week of 8 hours/day times approximately 50 weeks a year = 2080 hours (approximately) for one year of experience.

David