Discretion. Integrity. Results.
I protect your reputation through discreet investigative work.
As a San Francisco–based licensed investigator, I intervene quietly and professionally to prevent false narratives, misuse of information, or attempts to influence your relationships or standing within the Bay Area’s close-knit personal and professional circles.
I safeguard your livelihood with strategic investigations.
In a region where careers are built on trust, visibility, and discretion, I conduct sensitive inquiries designed to prevent harm to your employment, partnerships, or business. Early action ensures your professional world remains intact and insulated from disruptive forces.
I restore your peace of mind through clear, lawful investigative direction.
Complex situations can leave you fearful, uncertain, or feeling cornered. When Spade & Archer steps in, I take control of the investigative strategy, provide clarity, and guide you forward so you’re no longer controlled by intimidation, misinformation, or hidden threats.
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Discreet Investigation Services
My services are structured around the matter or issue, not the investigative technique. Resolving a situation may require one or several methods, depending on the facts and circumstances involved. The appropriate approach is determined during consultation, after the nature of the matter is understood. Clients are encouraged to begin by identifying the situation they need help with; the investigative methods are selected only as necessary to bring clarity and resolution.
Understanding Investigation Services
Private investigation is often framed around individual techniques—surveillance, asset searches, or database inquiries. That framing overlooks the reality of investigative work. Clients come with matters that require clarity, not a specific tool. The methods employed are selected only after the situation is evaluated, and a matter may involve several investigative approaches. Common labels rarely capture the full range of work necessary to resolve an issue properly.
Please understand these are but a few of the solutions that may help your matter. We custom tailor everything to your specific need.
Surveillance
Surveillance is a lawful investigative technique used in a wide range of matters throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, not solely infidelity cases. It may be applied in family situations, business and corporate matters, litigation support, or disputes where activities, representations, or conduct need to be verified. When appropriate, surveillance is conducted discreetly and in compliance with California law to document facts and establish reliable context. Its value lies in how it supports clarity and informed decision-making for the matter at hand, not in the technique itself.
Background Checks
Background checks are used across many types of matters in San Francisco and the Bay Area, including business decisions, legal matters, family situations, and due diligence inquiries. These investigations focus on verifying identity, history, and relevant records to provide accurate context for decision-making. When appropriate, background checks are conducted lawfully and with attention to accuracy, scope, and regulatory considerations. Their value lies in supporting the underlying matter with reliable information, not in producing a generic report.
Asset Investigations
Asset investigations are used across a range of matters in San Francisco and the Bay Area, including business disputes, litigation support, family matters, and financial inquiries. These investigations focus on identifying, verifying, and contextualizing assets where clarity is required for decision-making or legal strategy. When appropriate, asset investigations are conducted lawfully and discreetly, with attention to accuracy, documentation, and the regulatory environment governing financial and property records. Their purpose is to support the underlying matter, not to pursue information in isolation.
Process Service
Process serving involves the lawful delivery of legal documents in support of matters throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, including civil litigation and court-ordered proceedings. This work focuses on proper service, accurate identification, and timely documentation in accordance with California procedural requirements. When appropriate, service is performed discreetly and with attention to detail to ensure validity and reliability. The purpose of professional process serving is to support due process and evidentiary integrity within the underlying legal matter.
Locating People
Locating individuals and witnesses is an investigative function used in a variety of matters throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area, including litigation support, business disputes, family matters, and pre-trial preparation. These efforts focus on identifying current whereabouts, verifying identity, and establishing reliable contact where lawful and appropriate. Work is conducted discreetly and in compliance with California law, with careful documentation when findings may be relevant to legal proceedings. The objective is to support the underlying matter with accurate, verifiable information, not simply to obtain an address.
Business
Corporate investigations support a range of matters in San Francisco and the Bay Area, including internal concerns, disputes, due diligence, and risk management. These engagements focus on gathering accurate, verifiable information to help organizations address financial, operational, or reputational issues. When appropriate, work is conducted discreetly and in compliance with applicable laws and corporate governance considerations. The objective is to provide clarity that supports informed decision-making, not to pursue investigative activity in isolation.
The Fees To Hire Spade & Archer Private Investigations
Trust starts with transparency in fees. No other provider of San Francisco private investigation services will give you an honest upfront fee schedule, not even a starting price. This is because many unethical people want to manipulate the numbers to your financial standing, and dress that up by saying it's because they don't know your needs. I call bull on that. Although, I too need to know your details, I will at least give you a starting fee.
From My Desk
From $1800
In-Office Investigations
Work that is undertaken from the office, and does not require fieldcraft, is $1800 per day. This includes all expenses associated with the investigation. For example, if I am looking for a person, looking for assets, conducting background research.
Field Investigations
From $1800
Fieldcraft Investigations
Private work outside the office such as discreet observation, crime scenes, interviews, stings, undercover, and other services conducted away from the office. Your price will be determined after we consult and I understand the scope more fully.
Case Success Stories
A prominent San Francisco entrepreneur retained Spade & Archer® after noticing irregularities in their spouse’s financial disclosures during a contentious divorce. Their lifestyle—multiple Bay Area properties, private investments, and substantial annual income—did not align with the assets listed in the filings. The concern was clear: significant holdings appeared to be missing.
Our objective was to identify undisclosed assets, verify the legitimacy of claimed financial losses, and provide the client’s legal counsel with clear, admissible intelligence. The investigation required a discreet approach tailored to the complex financial structures often used in high-net-worth Bay Area households.
A lifestyle and expenditure review revealed inconsistencies in travel patterns, real estate use, and luxury spending. Corporate-structure mapping uncovered several shell LLCs tied to the spouse, including out-of-state registrations designed to obscure ownership. Quiet-title research identified an undisclosed Marin County property held through a layered trust-controlled LLC. Publicly traceable transaction indicators also revealed a secondary investment account that had not been disclosed during discovery.
The results were decisive: three significant assets had been omitted—a real property interest, a valuable minority stake in a private tech venture, and an active investment account used to reposition funds. Once presented with this intelligence, the spouse amended their disclosures, shifting negotiations entirely.
The client avoided a multimillion-dollar shortfall and gained clarity over the true marital estate, enabling their legal team to proceed from a position of strength and discretion.
Private Investigation FAQs.
Do you handle sensitive or complex investigations?
Yes. As a San Francisco Bay Area private investigator, I conduct discreet inquiries involving personal matters, corporate concerns, digital evidence, and reputational risks. Clients across San Francisco, Silicon Valley, the Peninsula, Napa, and the East Bay trust Spade & Archer for confidential, legally compliant investigative work.
Should I try to handle the situation on my own before hiring an investigator?
No. Contact me early. Attempting to manage a sensitive matter without guidance can compromise evidence or escalate the situation. I provide a clear investigative strategy from the outset, ensuring the best possible outcome.
Can you investigate matters that begin on social media or digital platforms?
Yes. Many Bay Area cases originate on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, or dating apps. Whether it involves misinformation, impersonation, hidden relationships, or digital activity that needs verification, I can investigate and document the facts.
Can you ensure my information and identity remain confidential during an investigation?
Yes. Spade & Archer operates with strict discretion. Your identity, circumstances, and findings remain fully confidential, and clients appreciate the privacy standards expected in the Bay Area’s professional and executive communities.
How do you approach a private investigation?
Each case begins by reducing uncertainty: clarifying your concerns, identifying the facts, and determining what is known—and unknown. From there, I develop a tailored investigative strategy, whether that involves digital research, fieldwork, interviews, surveillance, or evidence analysis. Every step is measured, lawful, and designed to reveal the truth without unnecessary disruption.
