Witness Location: An Assignment Checklist for Attorneys

A witness-location assignment works best when the investigator knows who must be found, why the location matters and what deadline governs the work. A name and an old address can start a search, but they do not establish identity or a current residence. Counsel needs findings that distinguish a supported match from an unresolved lead.

Use this checklist to prepare an initial conversation with a Florida investigator. Share sensitive identifiers and case documents through a method agreed during the consultation, rather than attaching an entire discovery file to an open inquiry.

Define the next action

Tell the investigator whether the immediate goal is to develop an address lead, verify a location, arrange a voluntary interview or support preparation for formal service. Those are different assignments. Locating a witness does not ensure that the person will cooperate or that a process server can complete service.

State the deposition, hearing or other relevant deadline. Ask the agency to confirm availability before treating the deadline as accepted. A short turnaround may change the proposed scope; it does not make uncertain information more reliable.

Separate identifiers from assumptions

Prepare the information counsel already holds lawfully:

• Name, spelling variations and known aliases.
• Approximate age and other available distinguishing information.
• Previous addresses, with the date and source for each.
• Known contact details, clearly marked as current or historical.
• The witness's role and any restrictions on contact.
• Research already attempted, including unsuccessful leads.

Flag what came from a client recollection, a document or an unverified online result. Two people sharing a name is a reason to corroborate, not a reason to choose the closest-looking match.

Agree on a first phase

A useful first phase has a defined question and a spending limit. Ask which records or research steps are proposed, whether field verification is included and when further authorization will be requested. An address-only result may cost less than research plus travel and attempted contact, but it may not answer counsel's actual question.

Our cost and hiring guide explains how to compare scope, expenses and reporting. Ask whether the estimate includes the written findings you need.

Specify the report

Request source references, the basis for an identity match, dated findings and a list of unresolved points. An unsuccessful attempt is still relevant when it records what was checked and why a lead remains uncertain. Do not ask the report to describe a possible address as a confirmed residence.

A practical handoff states: what is supported, what is unconfirmed and what could reasonably be checked next. Counsel can then decide whether further research or legal process is appropriate.

Start with a concise brief

For witness location services, describe the goal and deadline in your inquiry. Roberts Investigative Services is based in Fort Pierce and discusses lawful scope, reporting and likely cost before work begins. You can meet the team and verify Florida licensing through the FDACS license search.