Refund policy
Last updated: October 1, 2026
Your written agreement comes first
Every case starts with a signed agreement. It sets out the scope, fees and any retainer. If that agreement says something different from this page, the agreement controls.
Free consultations
Your first consultation is free. You pay nothing unless you choose to hire us.
Retainers
A retainer is a payment in advance. We bill our time and approved expenses against it as the work happens. When the case closes, we refund any part of the retainer we did not use.
What we can't refund
We can't refund time already spent on your case. That includes research, field work, travel and report writing. We also can't refund costs we already paid on your behalf, such as database searches, records fees, court fees or partner investigator fees.
Results aren't guaranteed
We work hard to find the facts. But an investigation can't promise a certain outcome. A result you didn't hope for is not, by itself, a reason for a refund.
If you cancel
You can stop a case at any time by telling us in writing. We stop work as soon as we can. We then bill for work done and costs paid up to that point and refund what is left of your retainer.
If we end the case
We may stop a case if it can't be done lawfully or safely. If we do, we refund any unused retainer.
How refunds are paid
We send refunds to the original payment method within 30 days after the case closes, along with a final statement of time and costs.
Questions or disputes
If you have a question about a bill, please contact us first. We'll go over it with you.