The Dangers of Being a Process Server and Private Investigator

The Dangers of Being a Process Server and Private Investigator

            Many people unfairly dislike process servers and sometimes have only a slightly more favourable attitude toward Oklahoma private investigators.  Indeed, certain police officers from suburban departments have actually smiled when they saw a process server get hurt.  Any private detective or process server who has served in the field for any length of time knows all too well that life threatening dangers abound.  Indeed, this is why many of them choose to go armed, wear bullet proof vests, carry tasers, pepper spray, and more.  From the looks of other stories out there in the news, they have good reason to do so . . .  http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/process-server-killed-children-choked-in-divorce-dispute.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com explores some of the dangers that process servers and armed private investigators face, as well as preventive and responsive measures that can help reduce the risks associated with the profession.

As noted above, it is often advisable for process servers and Oklahoma private investigators to help ensure that they always carry tasers, firearms, pepper spray, and wear bullet proof vests when allowed to do so by law.  Oklahoma process servers can strengthen their position for carrying protective items by obtaining a Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) license as an armed security guard and private investigator.

In addition, by getting an open carry license, carrying a gun openly is often a possibility.  While carrying any sort of offensive or defensive tool is always discretionary and may not may not always be beneficial, doing so can sometimes help deter would-be attackers.  Of course, having the right training in how to properly utilize a firearm or other protective devices is equally important.  It can also help reduce the chances that someone could take them away and use them against a private detective or Oklahoma City process server.

It also goes without saying that it is very important to ensure that each process server and private investigator knows as much as possible about each person he or she is going to serve or investigate.  Running background checks and asking the client for as much information before starting any services can also prove to be beneficial.  Of course, since clients do not always know how someone will react and because not all potentially violent people have criminal records, it is imperative that all process servers and private investigators treat all cases and individuals they encounter as potentially dangerous.  In as much as police officers do not have any “routine” traffic stops, the same also holds true for process servers and Oklahoma City private investigators.

Another helpful tactic for Oklahoma process servers and private investigators is for them to let the police, other colleagues, and even family members know where they will be, for how long, and when they expect to return.  If something ever goes wrong, at least someone will know the private detective or process server’s approximate whereabouts.  That way the police and family members can have a starting point to know where to go to provide assistance or even locate a missing body.

Letting the police know about one’s presence in advance also has another added benefit.  Doing so can sometimes put their minds at greater ease and might prevent law enforcement officials from coming out to unnecessarily blow a private investigator’s cover, while he or she is on an important stakeout, conducting surveillance, etc.  Of course, this could potentially backfire if the police are relatives or friends of those whom the process server is serving or who are the subject of an investigation.  Thus, informing the police of one’s whereabouts should only take place with good discretion when it will not jeopardize the case.

If something ever goes wrong, it is imperative to contact the police or other local law enforcement immediately.  All too often private detectives and process servers in Oklahoma City, Yukon, Norman, Moore, Edmond, Tulsa, Stillwater and elsewhere wait too long or do not call the police when someone tries to hurt them or impede their investigation.  At other times, they will contact colleagues or family members.  While getting backup and support from colleagues and family can certainly prove to be helpful in some cases, it is not always the best method.  Waiting to call the police can not only jeopardize the successful completion of the task at hand, but it can also increase the actual risk of physical harm to Oklahoma process servers and those working for private investigation companies.

Of course, calling the police is completely counterproductive if the jurisdiction lies within the Edmond Police Department in Edmond, Oklahoma.  This is why it is imperative for private investigators and process servers to always try to gauge the way everyone they come into contact with acts.  Where could an individual possibly be carrying a weapon?  Which people appear frightened, angry, or homicidal?  What do their body language and facial expressions say about them?  Knowing potential warning signs and threats is one of the most proactive approaches to safety that all Oklahoma City process servers and Oklahoma private investigators can take.

These are just a few of the many ways in which a process server or private investigator can work to reduce the risks often associated with their dangerous professions.  There is no perfect system to guarantee safety and prevent all threats 100 percent of the time.  However, private investigation firms and process serving companies which encourage effective preventive techniques and appropriate responsive measures can better protect their employees and thus better serve their clientele.

How Oklahoma Private Investigators Can Write Effective Surveillance Reports

How Oklahoma Private Investigators Can Write Effective Surveillance Reports

            Oklahoma private investigators often perform surveillance in a variety of situations.  From investigating cheating spouses to custody cases and more, private investigators often need to write up reports for their clients.  This is particularly important, as Oklahoma private investigators’ reports often end up before judges and elsewhere in courtrooms.  Private detectives need to know the best practices for writing reports.  By doing so, it will help their clients, too.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com examines some tactics which can help with writing these special reports.

First and foremost, it is vital that private investigation companies that are writing reports include the facts and exclude opinions.  Commentaries have no place in formal written reports, and they can often do more harm than good in the courtroom.  It is indeed as  they used to say in the television show Dragnet, “Just the facts, Ma’am.”

The formal presentation of the written investigative report is also just as important.  The following is an outline which is often helpful to private detectives in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman, Moore, Yukon, Tulsa and elsewhere.  While there is no set format per se, the following can be helpful for a private investigator to use:

Summary Report – Surveillance Performed for [Insert Name Here]:

It is often helpful to include the name of the person for whom the private investigator has prepared the investigative report.  The word “for” can be changed to “on” and the name that follows thereafter may also be different.

Location:

This is an important place for an Oklahoma private detective to note the location(s) where the surveillance took place.  The areas may include several places, and the private investigation company should also note the times that the surveillance took place.  All reports should accurately reflect the date and time stamps of any video recording devices the private investigator used.

Purpose:

This is the place where an Oklahoma City private investigator should note the purpose of the investigation.  Was the purpose to find out if a married husband was visiting a special lover?  Perhaps there is a court order that specifically prohibits a husband or wife from cohabitating with anyone else while divorce proceedings are in progress.  Whatever the reason for the private investigation, the person conducting it should carefully but succinctly note the purpose(s) of conducting the investigation itself.

Integrity:

Some Oklahoma private investigators prefer to make note of integrity footage they took while on surveillance.  This time and date stamped video footage can show which times that the private investigator was still out there.  This way if a private investigator is ever asked how he or she knew if someone was at a particular place all night long, then the integrity shots can help prove the private detective’s continued presence in the area.

Observations:

This is the perfect area for the Oklahoma private detective to denote what he or she saw.  Who was there?  What happened?  When did these events take place?  Where did everything happen?  Once again, it is important for the private detective to be thorough, but also clear and concise.  Commentaries and opinions are not necessary.

Identification of the Subjects:

This is the perfect spot for an Oklahoma private investigator to list how he or she identified the subjects in the video.  Did he or she have photographs of the individuals in the video footage beforehand?  Perhaps the client provided photographs or at least a physical description of the person beforehand.  It is important for surveillance purposes for the licensed private investigator to be able to properly identify the person or individuals he or she is conducting surveillance on.  Of course, sometimes this is not always possible, especially if the subjects are not known.

What if there are people in the video that the private detective could identify but others that he or she could not?  Sometimes other people who are not known to the client or the private investigator unexpectedly appear.  If there are unidentifiable people in the video footage, a private investigator definitely needs to note this in the written report.

All Oklahoma private investigators should be sure to include their names, private investigator license numbers, and private investigation agency license number(s).  This is extremely vital, if others are to view the report with any credibility.  A report, which should include the date it is signed, is not official unless signed by all private detectives involved in the case.  Private investigators should take great care to do so in front of an Oklahoma notary public.  The signature area can look something like the following:

_________________________                      _________________________

[Insert Private Investigator’s Name Here],                       Date:

         Licensed Private Investigator

         PI License #: [Insert # Here]

         Agency License #: [Insert # Here]

All private detectives should ensure that a notary public has authenticated the signature of their investigative reports.  This makes a formal written report more credible, and it helps the judge know that the client or some unknown party did not unlawfully forge the private investigator’s signature.  A sample notary statement that reports can include is as follows:

Signed and affirmed before me, _______________________, a notary public for the State of Oklahoma, by [Insert the private investigator’s name here], on this _______ day of _______, 2013. 

Each investigative report should also include page numbers (i.e., Page 1 of 3) and places on each page for the private investigator or private detectives to initial.  This helps to ensure the integrity of the report, and it makes it harder for someone to change out pages for unethical purposes.

Private investigation reports can really help to present the findings in the best possible, accurate, organized light.  They can greatly complement video footage, photographs, and courtroom testimony, if applicable.  All Oklahoma private investigation agencies should ensure that their private detectives prepare and write professional reports for their clients.  Doing so not only benefits the people they serve, but it also adds to the professionalism of those working in the field.

Oklahoma Process Servers Should Join the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS)

Oklahoma Process Servers Should Join the National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS)

            The field of process serving is a professional one.  It usually requires licensing, training, and can sometimes prove to be deadly.  Indeed, the state of Oklahoma considers its process servers to be officers of the court.  Other professionals, such as teachers, often join organizations like the National Education Association (NEA).  Medical Doctors in America are usually members of the American Medical Association (AMA).  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com believes that professional process servers in Oklahoma and elsewhere should likewise join an organization which represents them, requires them to adhere to higher standards of service, and which also serves to help further professionalize the field.

The National Association of Professional Process Servers, also known as NAPPS www.NAPPS.org, provides this wonderful opportunity for process servers.  The application process takes time, and applicants must first undergo a background check/screening.  Current members also have the opportunity to voice their opinions and object to process servers who are applying for membership, when they know those individuals would prove to be detrimental to the organization and/or the field.  Objections by current members do not necessarily bar them from joining, but it sometimes happens.  Likewise, members can get expelled for violations of the ethical codes they have pledged to uphold and for unlawful practices.  Indeed, members of this process serving association help to self-regulate both themselves and one another.

Oklahoma process servers can also benefit from joining the National Association of Professional Process Servers Association in numerous other ways.  Many Oklahoma City process servers benefit from the opportunity to network, share experiences with other process servers throughout the nation, and get crucial updates on the ever-changing process serving laws.  Fortunately, there are numerous other benefits of joining NAPPS!

Members of NAPPS also post jobs for serves in other states and offer them to other members of the organization.  With one e-mail, they an Oklahoma process server can immediately get responses from fellow members from that particular area (i.e., Tampa, Florida).  This makes finding reliable professionals who share the same core values of the other dedicated professional process servers much easier and more efficient.

A process server who is a member of the National Association of Professional Process Servers can also know that someone he or she calls upon for help is likely to be more reliable and honest.  There are too many process servers out there with little or no experience, and many of these individuals just perform this work on a part time basis.  Knowing whom to trust with important clients and time sensitive documents is vital, and fellow NAPPS members tend to be more reliable.  Indeed, if any problems arise between members, there is a special grievance form, and the process can go through mediation instead of the courts.

Finding others who take the field of process serving very seriously is much easier to discern with the National Association of Professional Process Servers.  Members of NAPPS even get permission to place a special organizational insignia onto their websites.  This makes identifying process servers who belong to NAPPS even easier.  This serves as yet another benefit to those who serve as Oklahoma process servers.

The National Association of Professional Process Servers also holds an annual conference for its members.  This is particularly important when it comes to networking, gaining additional skills and training, and having fun!  This annual convention is not unlike the conferences that many other professional organizations like the American Medical Association (AMA) hold for their members.  This is yet another benefit and helps professionalize the field of process serving in Oklahoma and nationwide.

Like any professional field, the more organized process servers are the more they tend to get paid.  This is especially important, as many who enter the field of process serving often begin working for very little money.  They may unknowingly place themselves in harm’s way without fair compensation.  Process servers who are members of NAPPS can often advise others who are newer to the field as to what a job is really worth.

It goes without saying that joining NAPPS has numerous benefits for both its members and the clients they serve.  Professional process servers in Oklahoma and elsewhere work hard and deserve to receive fair pay for the services they provide.  Joining professional organizations like NAPPS comes with many benefits, some of which this article did not mention, and helps make the field better for everyone.  All process servers who are truly dedicated to the profession should give serious consideration to joining the National Association of Professional Process Servers.

Why Private Investigators and Process Servers Should Keep a Low Profile on the Internet

Why Private Investigators and Process Servers Should Keep a Low Profile on the Internet

            Oklahoma private investigators and process servers should often intentionally try to keep a low personal/individual profile on the Internet.  Indeed, many private investigators and process servers do indeed own their own private detective agencies and process server companies.  However, revealing the owner’s identity and those of the private investigators that work there can sometimes prove hazardous to private investigators, process servers, and the clients they serve.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com elucidates . . .

`           Oklahoma City private investigators and process servers, by their very definition, may want to keep their identities as secretive as possible.  While these professionals do have to identify themselves when asked by law enforcement officials, etc., it is usually best if their identity is not out there all over the Internet.  If it is, then it is quite a bit easier for those seeking to discover their identity.

Let us assume that a process server has gone to make a serve.  His or her name will be there on the affidavit of service (AoS).  When someone eventually files this document, it becomes a matter of public record.  Given how many people have taken to insulting, attacking, and even killing Oklahoma process servers, who wants to make their personal information easily accessible on the Internet?  Why give someone who might be very mentally or emotionally unstable the extra opportunity to track down and potentially harm a licensed process server who was merely doing his or her job?  It is bad enough that many people already try to do so while process server is trying to serve the papers.

This same concept holds true for private investigators.  Private investigators are supposed to try to keep their identities more secretive, hence the word “private” investigator.  Someone who has his or her name out there all over the place is sometimes doing a disservice to both himself or herself and his or her clients.  This is especially true for private detectives who may get called in as expert witnesses during court cases.

Anyone who has ever served as a private investigator in Oklahoma for any length of time has undoubtedly had to take the stand at least once.  Why make it easy for the opposing side to find out things about an Oklahoma private investigator that could discredit him or her on the stand?  Privacy is already a thing of the past, and there is no need to make the other side’s job easier.

Of course, keeping one’s identity a secret is not always an easy task, and sometimes doing so comes with its downsides.  Many professionals use their identity to market their business.  A great number of private detectives and process servers work alone or perhaps with a partner, and they need to market themselves.  Otherwise, they will not have any clients and will soon go out of business.  Besides, by having a great deal of positive information out there about one’s company, it can help preempt the negative kinds of feedback that can hurt business.

Others in the field might contend that there are many ways in which one can market his or her company on the Internet without using personally identifiable information.  For a little extra money, one can conceal the owner’s name of a website domain name.  Likewise, instead of the process server or private investigator choosing to use his name to market the detective agency or process serving company, he or she can use actors or can use other marketing methods that focus more on the company and less on any one individual.

If someone wants to find out the “goods” on an Oklahoma private investigator or Edmond process server, then a simple report that a private investigator can run on TLO www.tlo.com can often do the job.  While TLO will not always pull up much “dirt” or “goods” on an individual, it sometimes does.  In addition, TLO can also provide the “beginning pathway” to help make it easier to find additional information about a process server or private investigator.

Facebook www.Facebook.com is one of these beginning pathways that can also add more information, which is why it is inadvisable to keep much identifiable information easily accessible the public on social media networks.  Facebook and other social media sites have proven to help lead to the ultimate downfall of politicians, teachers, and a wide variety of other professionals.

While having a personal life on the Internet might be fun and is sometimes helpful when promoting a business, those conducting private investigations and who serve process must first give it serious thought.  There are pros and cons to putting one’s personal information out there, and either way it is a double-edged sword.  Private investigators and Oklahoma City process servers should weigh the costs against the benefits to decide what works best for them.

Oklahoma City Private Investigators Need to Wear Proper Attire When On Duty

Oklahoma City Private Investigators Need to Wear Proper Attire When On Duty

            Oklahoma City private investigators should be mindful about what they wear while on duty.  This is particularly true for armed private investigators in Oklahoma, who may carry weapons which they must conceal.  There are many factors when it comes to proper clothing attire which can affect an Oklahoma private investigator’s performance.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com examines some of the circumstances in which certain clothing could prove to be more desirable for private investigators.

 It goes without saying that private investigators should dress professionally.  That being said, an adept private investigator also has to blend in with his or her environment.  Thus, whereas a coat and tie might work in one situation, a T-shirt and a ball cap might be most appropriate in another.  While dressing professionally for any profession is indeed vital, wearing the right attire for the occasion is equally essential, if not more so, for Oklahoma private investigators.

Private investigators should also be mindful about the various weather conditions they will be working in.  If it is going to rain, then the need for rain jackets, umbrellas, and other such gear could come in quite handy.  If, on the other hand, it is going to be extremely hot, then sunglasses, a light T-shirt and shorts will probably prove to be much more desirable.  Given Oklahoma’s sometimes bizarre and volatile weather conditions, the weather can change at any moment.  A skilled Oklahoma private investigator will often keep a set of backup clothes into which he or she can change as the need arises.

Oklahoma City private investigators who carry firearms also need to wear clothing that will help them easily conceal protective guns, tasers, etc., that they carry.  Most private investigators do not want those they are investigating to know what they are carrying, if anything, or where it is located.  By wearing jackets with special pockets and other loose clothing, a licensed private investigator can help conceal what he or she is carrying.  This helps put the private investigator at a tactical advantage and aids in decreasing his or her risk level.

Private investigators working for private detective agencies might have other corporate attire that they must wear.  While most private investigation firms do not require their Oklahoma private investigators to wear clothing which will distinguish them as working for a private investigation agency or as a private investigator, some do.  However, anyone working as a professional private investigator who is sporting easily recognizable clothing which associates him or her with a private detective agency or as a private investigator, is going to find himself or herself at a significant strategic disadvantage.

There are a plethora of reasons as to why Oklahoma private investigators should dress professionally and appropriately.  What private investigators wear and when they wear it can have a significant impact on their overall success or failure.  The overall goal of private investigators is to follow the laws, try to bring his or her clients the greatest amount of success, and to stay safe in the process.  Clothing can indeed play a significant part in this process.

Oklahoma Armed Private Investigators Face Critical Ammunition Shortage

Oklahoma Armed Private Investigators Face Critical Ammunition Shortage

As hunters, sportsmen, law enforcement officers, security guards, and others throughout Oklahoma rush to buy all of the ammunition they can, some Oklahoma City private investigators have found themselves without.  Of course, there are many causes for this shortage, and it poses a direct security risk for those who really do engage in dangerous professions.  Without adequate ammunition for firearms, Oklahoma bodyguards, police officers, private detectives, process servers, and others may lack what the need to perform their duties to the best of their abilities.  It is important that those at Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com examine the causes of the ammunition shortage, how professionals can cope with it, as well as what society as a whole can do to prevent more shortages in the future.

In the wake of multiple mass school and theater shootings, many people have turned to carrying firearms and buying up all of the ammunition they can.  The media’s coverage of these killings has played a tremendous part in hyping up the shootings, inadvertently encouraging subsequent killings by other would-be copycat killers who want their fifteen minutes of infamy.  Thus, the public finds itself scared, and many people in American society rush out to buy weapons and ammunition to protect themselves.   This jeopardizes the well-being of armed Oklahoma private investigators, who serve in more dangerous capacities on a regular basis and often need these bullets to protect themselves from harm.  Of course, other reasons for the ammunition shortage also exist.

Many people fear that President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party will take away all of their firearms and ammunition.  Once again, the media, often backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), gun dealers, ammunition manufacturers, lobbyists, politicians, corporate stock holders, and other private individuals, both directly and indirectly strike fear into the hearts of those in America.  Fearing some new drastic change in the law, people have once again significantly increased the rate at which they have stockpiled weapons and ammunition.

These shootings and everyone who has been involved in them have proven to be very “good” business for many interest groups.  While private investigators have suffered, all of the aforementioned have profited greatly from the mass killings and evasive anti-weapon laws.  Since the demand for firearms and ammunition has greatly outpaced capacity, something that gun and ammunition manufacturers, among others, surely “could not have seen coming”, they and their supporters have reaped in enormous financial profits.  Thus, while special interest groups have once again scammed Americans through fear, private detectives in Oklahoma have found themselves in greater peril.

Oklahoma City private investigators need to help take the lead in trying to calm the fears of those around them, through meaningful education about what is really taking place.  While the United States Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to bear arms, the panic special interest groups have intentionally caused is only causing a gun and ammunition shortage, and it is also unnecessarily pushing up the prices.  This is exactly what the gun and ammunition manufacturers want and runs contrary to what is most helpful to society.  Quite frankly, it is very un-American.

If a private investigator cannot conduct an investigation because he or she does have the needed firearms to feel safe on the job, this hurts the profession.  Since armed private detectives often find themselves in greater danger than those working in other fields, they should at least get a higher preference category during these shortages.  Of course, creating this special class might inadvertently cause resentment among non-private investigators.  This could lead to a backlash against Oklahoma private investigators and those who own and run private detective agencies.

People should remember to keep calm, turn off the mostly negative news media, and should not panic to go buy up all of the guns and ammunition they can find.  Violence prevention and the elimination of fear, panic and price gouging start with each individual person, and together we can keep these special interest groups who wish to make a killing off of the masses from prevailing.  If those in our society fail to do so, they will only cause increased harm to those (i.e., private investigators) who are actually in much more dangerous situations than they.

Why Oklahoma Process Servers are Paid Well Below the Regional Average

Why Oklahoma Process Servers are Paid Well Below the Regional Average

Compared to process servers in other states, Oklahoma process servers earn far below the regional average.  This does not just apply to process servers, but also to teachers and other professionals.  What often happens is that the best teachers and process servers in other states travel elsewhere (i.e., Texas) to make a reasonable living.  This is unfortunate, as it causes a “brain drain” per se of some of Oklahoma’s most talented individuals.  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com examines the complexities behind this phenomenon.

A process server performing a standard serve in Oklahoma often earns around fifty dollars, which is what a sheriff’s deputy makes.  On the contrary, a process server in Dallas, Texas, which is only about three hours away from Oklahoma City, can easily receive eighty-five or ninety-five dollars per local service of process.  Likewise, process servers in Arkansas, Kansas, and other states also generally receive more money than an Oklahoma process server does.  This can become quite problematic for those wishing to serve process throughout the State of Oklahoma.

Perhaps part of the reason Oklahoma process servers make relatively small amounts has to do with the fact that obtaining a process server license is far too easy.  In order to become a process server in Oklahoma, all one has to do is to is to get some passport photos made, pay the fee, and receive the license.  Unfortunately, no education, training, or other experience is required.

State law does not require process servers to know the process serving laws or perform any type of internship.  While the individual must be at least eighteen years of age and of “good moral character” that is also absent any felonies, that is about it.  Perhaps this is yet another reason why process servers in Oklahoma not only make a relatively little amount of money, but is also a contributing factor as to why the general  public often holds Oklahoma process servers in relatively low regard.  Of course, as noted earlier, process servers are not the only one to experience this salary discrepancy.

A teacher in Oklahoma with a doctoral degree and ten years of teaching experience can actually make substantially less than a teacher in Texas with a master’s degree and fewer years of experience.  While some might contend that the cost of living is higher in Texas, this is usually not the case.  Likewise, teachers in both states have to undergo similar training requirements.  Thus, if the amount and type of training is not the issue, then what is?

Many have long contended that the economy in Texas and other states is higher than Oklahoma’s.  While this might prove true to some degree for some areas in Texas, the same cannot be said for those in Kansas or Arkansas, where the economic differences between there and Oklahoma are really quite minimal.  What, then, could the other factors be that make the fields of teaching, process serving, etc., pay so much less in Oklahoma than in other states?

Oklahoma has not been known in the international or even regional arenas to place a high value on education.  Given that Oklahoma’s economy has long been agriculture-based where formal education was unnecessary, the importance that many residents have traditionally placed on schooling has not kept up with those in certain other states.  Likewise, a strong correlation between the value placed upon education and teachers’ salaries exists.  Needless to say, the same holds true for process servers.

With the exception of attorneys and those who need to have papers served in an efficient manner, many people in Oklahoma simply do not value process servers.  When one takes the complete lack of educational requirements and experience required for a process server license into account, this just lowers the standards of the profession and thus the pay.  In order for process servers to receive higher pay, three things will need to happen, which are as follow:

*Oklahoma will need to value its Oklahoma City process servers more.

*Oklahoma needs to establish more advanced training and educational requirements for process server licensing.

*Oklahoma’s process servers need to unionize for better wages, and they need lobbyists at the state capitol.

*The “economic recovery” really needs to continue to materialize, thereby reducing the number of people who apply to become process servers.

*Oklahoma’s population as a whole needs to value its process servers more, which is a difficult task given that they often bring unwelcomed news.

Unless and until the aforementioned things take place, a process server in Oklahoma is likely going to continue to make less money than their colleagues who live and work in other nearby states.  Unless Oklahoma process servers, teachers and other professionals take a strong stand and work to help make their profession one that is more organized, trained, and valued by society, then they, like teachers, will likely continue to make a very minimal amount of money.

How a Notary Public in Oklahoma Can Make the Best Bargain With Loan Signing Companies

How a Notary Public in Oklahoma Can Make the Best Bargain With Loan Signing Companies 

Professional notaries public put a great deal of time and effort into their work.  This is especially true for mobile notaries who utilize their cars, gasoline, mileage, printers, paper, etc.  Indeed, an Oklahoma notary public may also carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, and may have successfully completed specialised notary public training courses.  When also factoring in the cost of the commission, notary supplies, advertising costs, etc., this can prove to be quite a large investment.  This is precisely why Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com wants other notaries in Oklahoma to know how to ensure that signing agents and title companies pay them fairly for their services.

Once a notary public has gotten himself or herself set up with all of the commissions, training, supplies, etc., phone calls are likely to follow.  While Oklahoma currently has a set maximum price of $5.00 per signature if someone comes to meet a notary at his or her home or office, there is no such limit when the mobile notary travels to the client.  While some signings that require the services of a mobile notary might include individual clients who are seeking car title changes, wills, etc., other more lucrative contracts will come from loan signing agencies such as Banc-Serv.

Loan signing and title companies often require services for home loans, sellers’ packages, refinancing loans, and more.  It is important to keep in mind that the banks, title companies, and the loan signing agencies all stand to make a profit from the transaction, and mobile notaries should as well.  This is why it is imperative for notaries in Oklahoma to try to find out how much their corporate client stands to make off of the deal.

Mobile notaries will seldom, if ever, make more than their clients do, as this takes away the financial benefits and incentives for their business.  However, if the loan signing company stands to make $200, it might be willing to pay $150 for a new home loan.  Of course, since loan signing companies are also out to make a profit, they are going to try to find the best notaries around for the cheapest possible price.  This is where the cost benefit analysis for this field becomes especially important.

Finding the right balance between how much a notary public can get for his or her services and what the client is willing to pay becomes crucial.  If an Oklahoma City notary public is always setting the price very high, others mobile notaries may receive more calls than those with lower prices.  Of course, those who prostitute themselves out for next to nothing will get more phone calls, but they will also make less money for their time.

It is also important to note that a signing agency’s first offer to a notary public is generally not as high as it can really go.  Thus, if a signing agency offers $75 for a relatively small signing, it can usually increase that amount.  It seldom benefits notaries to settle for the first offer they receive from new customers.  Responding politely with a fair counteroffer can often help net the best possible fees.

Aside from the aforementioned, Oklahoma notaries should really consider the following additional factors when setting their mobile notary fees, which include but are not limited to the following:

• How soon the service needs to be done
• Whether or not bilingual services are needed
• The time of day the signing needs to take place
• The distance to and from the signing (i.e., mileage and gas)
• The number of pages the notary will need to print out
• Whether the signing will take place on a weekend and/or holiday
• Postage costs and whether special trips to FedEx Office or the United States Post Office will be necessary
• Whether or not the client wants everything or even certain pages faxed back or sent via e-mail
• Other individual/personal factors and considerations for the notary

The more of the aforementioned that the signing agency or title company requires, the higher the Oklahoma City notary public should set the price.  Time is money, and supplies also cost money.

It is imperative that notaries public not set their standards too low and work for too little.  This pushes down the price for professional notaries so much that it makes it harder for all other mobile notaries to thrive.  Mobile notaries who have a clear understanding of the signing agent’s needs, how much company is getting, and how much time and supplies are required from the Oklahoma notary public, can often negotiate the best possible price.

Oklahoma Private Investigators: Armed or Unarmed While on Duty?

Oklahoma Private Investigators: Armed or Unarmed While on Duty?

It goes without saying that those who serve as private detectives in Oklahoma often face significant danger while on and off the job.  As discreet as they often are, private detectives remain vulnerable to both physical and psychological attacks.  This is especially true for private investigators who serve as bodyguards, private security, and those who investigate criminal matters.  Whether the private investigation entails a minor civil matter or a dangerous criminal one, the question remains: should private investigators arm themselves while on and off duty?  Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com examines this issue . . .

In order to become licensed to carry firearms, private investigators in Oklahoma must first go through a psychological examination, training in firearm accuracy and safety, and other Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) certification tests.  Only once an Oklahoma private investigator has adequately met all of these requirements can he or she carry a gun.  Is a gun really necessary though?  All of the experts in the field are unable to unanimously agree.

For some Oklahoma private investigators who perform investigations into dangerous matters and protect high profile individuals, they obviously need to carry some sort of weapon.  In many situations, not carrying some kind of weapon could prove especially detrimental to a private investigator’s health.  This is especially true when facing armed and especially crazy or angry individuals, as law enforcement officials could take a long time to arrive on the scene to provide assistance in emergency situations.

Other private investigators in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Norman, Yukon, Mustang, Stillwater, and elsewhere in Oklahoma simply do not feel comfortable with the idea of carrying a firearm.  They may have an aversion to guns, which are sometimes necessary in the private investigation profession.  Of course, they may prefer other items such as pepper spray, shock knuckles, tasers, etc., instead of a gun.  Others may not want the liability, costs, maintenance, or increased insurance rates that often accompany firearms.

Whether using a firearm or nothing at all, the decision about whether to use them or not essentially comes down to two main factors: the private investigator’s comfort level with guns and the overall danger levels he or she faces.  Each private detective agency must ultimately decide whether or not to allow its private investigation staff to carry firearms while on duty.  However, each Oklahoma City private investigator must determine for himself or herself whether to carry a firearm while off duty.  After carefully weighing their options, is it better for private investigators to be safe than sorry?  Do the risks the profession carries with it merit the use of firearms?  At the end of the day, each private investigator must ultimately decide this for himself of herself.

Oklahoma City Private Investigators Who Provide Expert Witness Testimony in Courts Should Come Prepared

Oklahoma City Private Investigators Who Provide Expert Witness Testimony in Courts Should Come Prepared 

Oklahoma City private investigators will sometimes find that they must provide expert witness testimony in Oklahoma’s various courts.  Whether they are needed to attest to incidents they saw or to counter another private detective’s testimony on procedural grounds, Oklahoma private investigators always need to come prepared.  Private detectives have a duty bound obligation to do so in a professional manner that will best benefit everyone involved in the case.  By following a few best practices for the profession that Oklahoma Judicial Process Servers www.OklahomaJudicialProcessServers.com suggests, those conducting private investigations can accomplish this with much greater ease.

First and foremost, it is important for all private investigators to practice answering questions in their head that attorneys and judges might ask them.  Sometimes it can help if the attorney that has hired the private investigator reviews those possible questions with him or her in advance.  While it is vital that attorneys do not coach private investigators, it sometimes helps to practice what one might say and the manner in which he or she says it before taking the stand.

Of course, it is important to remember that lawyers and judge may ask questions that the private investigator has not yet considered.  Trying to memorize answers is seldom a good idea; rather, it is more desirable to have a general idea of what one might say.  Initial questions may include, but are not limited to, “What are your educational and field-related training areas?” and, “How long have you worked as a private investigator?”  Then again, some Oklahoma City private investigators do better flying by the seat of their pants.  Whatever the case, the expert witness testimony should come out freely and should not look rehearsed.

Another important aspect of expert witness testimony is to always tell the truth.  While individuals and attorneys hire private investigators and pay them for their services, this does not mean they have to lie or otherwise embellish the truth.  In fact, ethical standards of the profession strictly prohibit it.  Besides, what court case is worth getting caught lying on the stand and subsequently charged with perjury?

Sometimes it is easy for those on the stand to want to add a commentary or even become emotional.  However, the facts are what count the most.  Many legal professionals and juries alike often do not view Oklahoma private investigators who add unnecessary opinions, unless specifically asked for them, or who become emotional as very professional.  Doing so is likely to make the expert witness testimony less credible and is something all private investigators should strive to avoid.

Private investigators who are providing expert witness testimony should never argue while on the stand.  Astute attorneys may try to goad a licensed private investigator into a debate or argument, but this will only work against the person testifying.  Someone who is telling the truth in a professional manner does not need to raise his or her voice, argue, debate, etc.

An Oklahoma private investigator should also come to court on time and dressed professionally.  If a private investigator wants the judge, jury, the attorneys, and the client(s) to take the testimony he or she provides seriously, then proper attire and mannerisms are imperative.  Who would take a judge seriously if he or she came to the bench in a nightgown and cap?  How a private investigator in Oklahoma looks and acts is almost as important as what he or she says.

These are just a few of the best practices that all of those serving in the private investigation field should follow.  Indeed, private investigations and the testimony that those running effective private detective agencies can provide sometimes helps make or break a case.  Expert witness testimony in courts throughout Oklahoma is a very serious matter, and everyone involved should take it very seriously.