Background Investigations

A background investigation is research, not surveillance. There's no stakeout — instead I pull together what the public record and verifiable sources say about a person so you can make a decision with your eyes open. A check like this is worth running before you go into business with someone, before you let a new partner around your kids, before you hire, rent to a tenant, or trust someone with money.

I'm Eugene Butler, a licensed Michigan private investigator in Flint, and I build a picture from the kinds of records that are lawfully available: criminal history, court filings, public records, address history, and verification of the things people claim about themselves. A real background check is more careful than the instant people-search websites you've probably already tried. Those sites mix records from different people who share a name, repeat old data, and rarely tell you what's actually true today.

Part of my job is confirming that a record belongs to your person and not a stranger with the same name, and flagging where the public record is thin or contradictory. I'd rather hand you a verified, modest set of facts than an impressive-looking report full of things I can't stand behind. What I can lawfully access has limits, and I'll be honest about them.

I don't pull credit reports or private financial data without a permissible purpose, I don't break into anything, and I don't pretend a guess is a fact. Some information simply isn't part of the public record, and I'll tell you that rather than invent it. When you need formal employment or education verification, I can often confirm those through the proper channels.

If something looks off, I'll say so plainly. This work is offered to attorneys too — to vet an opposing party, confirm a witness's history, or check the background of someone tied to a case. It is offered to an individual who wants peace of mind, or whose instincts are telling them something doesn't add up.

Both are good reasons, and neither is anything to be embarrassed about. Cost depends entirely on how deep you need to go. A focused check on one person in Michigan is very different from a layered investigation involving several names, businesses, and states, so I don't quote a flat price sight unseen.

I'll scope the work with you first and tell you what's realistic. If you need to know who you're really dealing with, call or text the Butler Investigations office at 810-513-0662.