A licensed private investigator can help you find a missing person when police will not open a file, leads go cold, or you need dedicated time to locate someone who left without explanation. Investigation Hotline provides missing persons and skip tracing across Toronto, the GTA, and Ontario using lawful databases, interviews, and field work that produce documented findings families and lawyers can act on.
When should you call police vs hire a private investigator?
If you believe someone was kidnapped, is in immediate danger, or is a vulnerable minor, contact police first. Many adult locate cases debtors, estranged relatives, witnesses, or heirs are not police matters. When public agencies cannot sustain a search, a licensed investigator can focus full time on lawful skip tracing while you keep one point of contact.
What information should you gather before hiring a PI?
The more accurate your starting details, the faster investigators can rule out dead ends. Essential information includes:
- Full legal name, aliases, maiden names, and date of birth
- Last known address, workplace, school, or neighbourhood
- Phone numbers, email addresses, and social media profiles
- Names of friends, relatives, coworkers, landlords, or former partners
- Photographs, vehicle details, and travel or financial patterns you can legally share
Even a name alone can start a file, but sparse intake usually means a longer search. Bring everything you have to the first consultation so database work can begin immediately.
How do private investigators search for missing persons?
Licensed Ontario investigators use proprietary databases unavailable to the public, then verify hits through interviews and open-source checks. Field contacts neighbours, former employers, associates fill gaps when records stall. For a broader overview of professional practice, see how private investigators approach missing persons cases.
All methods must comply with the Private Security and Investigative Services Act (Ontario) and privacy rules such as PIPEDA.
What types of missing person cases do investigators handle?
Missing persons investigations are not only kidnapping stories. Licensed teams routinely locate:
- Estranged family members, heirs, or next-of-kin for estates
- Runaway youth or adults where families need a wellness check
- Debtors, insurance claimants, witnesses, or former spouses tied to support enforcement
- Long-lost contacts, biological parents, or parties tied to legal proceedings
In harder cases, subjects may be in custody, healthcare settings, or tragically deceased. Clear goals at intake help investigators choose lawful methods and set realistic expectations.
How long does a missing person investigation take?
Timelines depend on how much starting information you provide, whether the subject is actively hiding, and whether they moved locally or across provinces. Many subjects surface near their last known address; others appear through employment, financial, or travel records weeks later. Investigators document findings in writing so you can take next steps with confidence.
Need help locating someone in Ontario?
Investigation Hotline has handled missing persons and skip tracing since 1988. Call (416) 205-9114 for a confidential consultation with our licensed investigators.
To learn more, contact Investigation Hotline at
