Pre Marital Investigations in New York City

A pre marital investigation is a quiet, legal check on the person you plan to marry. Some people call it a premarital background check. We look at the three things most people want to know: past marriages and divorces, money trouble like judgments, liens and bankruptcies, and criminal records. The three searches start at about $1,600 together, and you can order any one alone. Your partner is never contacted.

A wedding joins two lives, two sets of money and sometimes two families. Most people know their partner well. But some things only show up in records, and nobody brings them up over dinner. A pre marital check gives you the facts before you sign, so you can enjoy the day instead of wondering.

Why People Check Before the Wedding

Asking for this does not mean you are suspicious. It means you are careful. Some met their partner online, or after a move, and know little about the years before. Some are about to merge savings, buy a home or blend families. Some have a family member who asked them to be sure. And some just heard one story that did not quite fit.

Marriage changes your legal and money life in New York. Property bought during a marriage is split by the court in a divorce, and a spouse's money problems can follow you home. Knowing about a past marriage, a large judgment or a criminal case before the wedding lets you ask the right questions while it is still easy to ask them.

What a Pre Marital Investigation Covers

These are the three searches people ask for most. They are the same three the office quotes on the phone, at the same prices.

All three together start at about $1,600. If you have a more specific worry, like a partner who may still be seeing an ex, we can talk about discreet surveillance on the same call. Surveillance is $240 an hour, and a background check is free when you book it.

Is a Pre Marital Investigation Legal in New York?

Yes. New York licenses private investigators through the Department of State. Ours is license #11000169770, and you can look it up below. Marriage filings, court cases, liens and criminal records are public, and a licensed investigator knows where they sit and how to read them.

What we search

• Marriage and divorce records
• Civil court judgments and bankruptcy filings
• Tax and other liens
• Property and other assets on record
• Criminal and driving records

What we will not do

• Pull a credit report. Federal law requires your partner's written consent.
• Read texts, email or social media messages
• Get into a phone or an online account
• Contact your partner, their family or their friends

That line protects you as much as it protects your partner. A report built from public records is something you can rely on and show your attorney.

A Partner From Another State

Many New York couples met after one of them moved here. That matters, because each state keeps its own criminal records. The comprehensive search reaches records nationwide, so it can turn up something as small as a traffic case in another state. The New York State criminal search covers New York only. If your partner spent years in California, Florida or anywhere else, tell us on the first call and we will price a criminal search there as well.

How It Works

1. A free, private talk. Call, text or visit our Fifth Avenue office. Tell us what you want to know and when the wedding is.
2. The right searches. We tell you which searches answer your question, and which ones you can skip.
3. A written estimate. You see the cost before any work starts.
4. The searches. A licensed investigator runs and checks each record. Your partner is never contacted.
5. Your report. A plain English report of what we found, sent to you securely.
6. A follow up call. We walk you through the results and answer your questions.

What You Do With the Answer

When a report comes back clean, that is the point. You stop wondering and go into your wedding day with peace of mind.

When a report does find something, you have choices. Many findings have a simple story, and you can ask your partner about it. A judgment or a past bankruptcy is worth knowing before you merge accounts or buy a home together. And if you plan to sign a prenuptial agreement, bring the report to your attorney first.

Official Sources You Can Check Yourself

We would rather you check this than take our word for it. These are the primary sources behind the guidance on this page.

• Fair Credit Reporting Act. The federal law that limits who can see a credit report. It is why we do not pull one without consent.
• New York State Unified Court System, Criminal History Record Search. The statewide court record search for New York criminal cases.
• Domestic Relations Law 236 Part B. How a New York court divides marital property, and the law behind prenuptial agreements.
• New York Department of State license search. Look up any New York investigator by name or license number. Ours is #11000169770.