Your Lafayette Private Investigator for Surveillance and Investigations
Looking for a private investigator in Lafayette? Bear Witness Private Investigators is a California-licensed firm (PI #18755) that has specialized in surveillance since 1996. Lafayette is a city of about 25,000 people in Contra Costa County, and it is part of our regular coverage across Northern California.
Whether you suspect a cheating spouse, need evidence for a custody or support case, are dealing with a questionable workers’ compensation claim, or represent a client who needs court-ready surveillance, our Lafayette investigators plan each case around the subject’s real routine and document it with time-stamped video.
Why Surveillance Is at the Heart of Every Lafayette Case
As a Lafayette private investigator, surveillance is the core of what we do. We document activity legally, discreetly, and in a way that holds up in court.
Mobile Surveillance
We follow the subject by vehicle through Lafayette and beyond, keeping distance and cover so they never know we are there.
Static Surveillance
Discreet observation of a home, workplace, or business from a lawful public vantage point, documenting who comes and goes.
Two-Investigator Teams
For careful or unpredictable subjects, two investigators trade off so the same car is never seen twice.
Like much of Contra Costa County, Lafayette mixes residential neighborhoods with busy commercial corridors. We combine discreet residential positioning with mobile coverage on the roads in between.
What Our Lafayette Private Investigators Handle
Whatever the situation, the work comes down to documenting the facts lawfully and clearly.
Personal Cases
- Infidelity & cheating spouse — a clear, factual answer for Lafayette clients who suspect a partner.
- Nanny & daycare surveillance — observing caregiver conduct and advising on what in-home recording is legal.
- Runaways & missing persons — finding someone who has left Lafayette or stopped answering.
Family Law Cases
- Child visitation — observing whether visitation terms are being followed.
- Divorce investigations — evidence for Contra Costa County family court, documented properly.
- Child custody — facts that help a court decide what is best for your child.
- Cohabitation — evidence of a supported spouse living with a partner, relevant to support.
- Child support — documenting employment and income the other parent may not be reporting.
- Lifestyle investigations — what someone’s day-to-day life really looks like.
Business Cases
- Business partner surveillance — due diligence and surveillance on partners and key associates.
- Injury claims — showing what a claimant can really do.
- Employee theft — facts for Lafayette employers before they confront anyone.
- Workers’ comp fraud — surveillance on claims where activity and injuries don’t match.
- Insurance defense — field work that supports a strong defense.
Law Firm Cases
- Witness statements — locating witnesses and taking their statements.
- Records research — court, property, business, and public records research.
- Surveillance — time-stamped video and investigator reports for your case.
- Evidence gathering — documentation built for the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa.
- Evasive subpoena service — service on people who don’t want to be found.
- Court testimony — investigator testimony in California courts when needed.
Why Lafayette Clients Choose Bear Witness
Choosing a private investigator in Lafayette comes down to experience, discretion, and evidence that holds up.
Court-Ready Evidence
Time-stamped video, detailed reports, and investigator testimony that stand up in court.
Honest Results
If nothing is going on, we tell you. A clear answer is the goal, not more billable hours.
Licensed & Veteran-Owned
A veteran-owned firm licensed by the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
Statewide Coverage
Coverage across Southern, Northern, and Central California, including all of Contra Costa County.
Surveillance Specialists
Surveillance has been our focus since 1996. It is not a side service — it is what we do best.
Available 24/7
Cases don’t keep business hours. We take calls and work surveillance day, night, and weekends.
What Our Clients Say
Real reviews from Bear Witness clients across California.
“Thank you for all your help. You guys were really great! I will definitely refer your private detective agency to all my friends & colleagues in need.”
“I first consulted with a few other investigation companies in the area, yet I remained skeptical about their service. But, after I talked over my case with James, I was pleased with the high levels of confidence and experience he conveyed. In the end, I am glad I chose Bear Witness to perform my surveillance investigation. Thanks for the video your company obtained. It was eye-opening.”
“Thank you for getting me the information I needed to make a smart life-altering decision. I had a weird feeling my fiance was seeing another woman. But, your company got me the hard proof. And you got it fast. Many thanks to your private investigators! You saved me from making a big mistake.”
Names and/or locations altered for client privacy. Read more client reviews →
Lafayette Cases and the Contra Costa County Courts
Lafayette sits roughly 7 miles from Martinez, the Contra Costa County seat, where the main Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa facilities are located.
Divorce, custody, support, and civil cases involving Lafayette residents are generally filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa. We document every case with that courtroom in mind: dated, time-stamped, gathered legally, and backed by testimony if needed.
About 77% of Lafayette households own their homes. Stable, quiet neighborhoods mean residents notice unfamiliar cars, so residential surveillance here takes careful positioning.
Nearby Areas We Cover
Cases rarely stay inside one city limit. From Lafayette, we regularly work:
Straight-line distances from Lafayette.
How Hiring a Private Investigator in Lafayette Works
- 1
Call Us
A short, private conversation about your situation, with no obligation.
- 2
Strategy
We decide when and where surveillance in and around Lafayette is most likely to answer your question.
- 3
Fieldwork
One investigator handles your case from start to finish.
- 4
Results
Documented findings in plain language — including a clear “nothing found” when that is the truth.
Questions About Hiring a Private Investigator in Lafayette
Do you also cover Orinda and Moraga?
Yes. Orinda is about 3 miles from Lafayette and Moraga about 3 miles, and both are part of our regular coverage in Northern California.
What does a private investigator in Lafayette do?
We document facts for personal, family law, business, and legal cases — most often through surveillance, along with background research, people location, witness statements, and process serving.
Do you specialize in surveillance?
Yes. Surveillance has been Bear Witness’s specialty since 1996, and it is part of nearly every case we handle in Lafayette and across California.
Can you catch a cheating spouse in Lafayette?
We can document what your spouse actually does and who they meet, with time-stamped video and a written report, and give you a clear answer either way.
Can you serve someone who is avoiding service?
Yes. We locate the person first, then time service attempts around when they are actually there, and document service for the court.
Is everything I tell you confidential?
Yes. Your case is handled by your assigned investigator and never discussed with anyone outside the firm.
Do I need to meet in person?
No. Most Lafayette clients handle everything by phone, from the first call to the final report.
Do you work with Contra Costa County attorneys?
Yes. Law firms use us for evidence gathering, surveillance, witness statements, records research, evasive subpoena service, and court testimony.
What if the investigation finds nothing?
You get an honest report that says so. A clean result still answers the question.
Ready to talk to a private investigator in Lafayette? Call 1(877)PROOF-24/7 for a free, confidential consultation.