The Watson PI Intelligence Brief
Expert guidance on private investigation, Texas law, and how to protect what matters most, from a 19-year LAPD veteran.
15 articles published
What Can a Private Investigator Do Legally in Texas?
Pop culture has painted a very specific, and highly inaccurate, picture of what private investigators do. Understanding the legal boundaries is crucial before you hire an investigator.
Why Criminal Defense Attorneys Need a PI with Law Enforcement Experience
In the criminal justice system, the prosecution has the vast resources of law enforcement at their disposal. Hiring a criminal defense investigator with actual law enforcement experience provides a massive tactical advantage.
7 Signs Your Spouse Is Hiding Assets in a Texas Divorce
Texas is a community property state. When one spouse is determined to walk away with more than their share, asset concealment becomes the primary battlefield. Here are the seven signs I look for immediately.
Austin Attorney's Guide to Hiring a Criminal Defense Investigator
Most Austin defense attorneys have a mental list of investigators they trust. If you're building that list, or evaluating whether your current PI is actually helping your cases, this guide is for you.
5 Insurance Fraud Investigation Mistakes That Let Fraudsters Walk
Insurance fraud costs Texas carriers billions annually. I've worked insurance fraud investigations as a State Farm Approved Vendor for years. Here are the five most common mistakes that let fraudsters walk away with money they don't deserve.
What Happens When You Call a Private Investigator for the First Time
Most people who call a private investigator have never done it before. Here's exactly what happens when you call Watson PI at 512-801-9754, no mystery, no pressure.
10 Online Dating Red Flags That Warrant a Background Check
Online romance fraud cost Americans over $1.3 billion in 2023. Texas consistently ranks in the top five states for reported cases. Here are the ten patterns I most commonly see.
How Austin's Tech Boom Created a Corporate Espionage Problem
Austin added more than 150,000 tech jobs between 2018 and 2024. With that concentration of intellectual property comes a problem Austin companies weren't fully prepared for: corporate espionage.
Child Custody Investigations: What Texas Courts Want to See
Every custody case I work comes to me from a parent who is genuinely worried about their child. Texas family courts operate under the 'best interest of the child' standard. Here's what actually moves judges.
Why Holiday Season Is Peak Season for Infidelity Investigations
Family law attorneys call January 'Divorce Month.' The decisions that lead to those January filings don't happen in January, they happen in November and December.
6 Mistakes People Make Before Calling a PI That Hurt Their Case
By the time most people call me, they've already been sitting with their suspicion for weeks. And in almost every case, they've done a few things in that window that make my job harder, and their case weaker.
How to Find a Missing Person in Texas When Police Won't Help
One of the most heartbreaking calls I receive is from someone whose family member is missing and who has been told by law enforcement that there's nothing they can do, at least not right now.
Travis County Defense Attorney's Checklist for Working With a PI
This is a working document, the kind of thing I'd hand to a new associate attorney who's never managed a defense investigation. Organized around the questions I get most often from Austin defense counsel.
GPS Tracking Laws in Texas. What You Need to Know
GPS tracking is one of the most powerful tools in a surveillance investigation, and one of the most legally complicated. Here's what you need to know before placing or suspecting a tracker.
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David Watson answers every call personally. 19-year LAPD veteran. TX License A11319.