Your Petaluma Private Investigator for Surveillance and Investigations
If you need a private investigator in Petaluma, Bear Witness has been documenting the truth for California clients since 1996. Petaluma is a city of about 59,000 people in Sonoma County. Surveillance is our specialty, and every case is handled by a licensed investigator — never a call center.
Our Petaluma clients include individuals facing infidelity or a missing family member, parents in custody and support disputes, employers and insurers dealing with fraud, and law firms that need evidence and testimony. What they share is a need for discreet, lawful surveillance that holds up.
Surveillance Specialists Serving Petaluma
As a Petaluma 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
Experienced drivers who anticipate turns and freeway exits, so your subject is documented from stop to stop.
Static Surveillance
We hold position at the locations that matter to your case and record activity with time-stamped video.
Two-Investigator Teams
For careful or unpredictable subjects, two investigators trade off so the same car is never seen twice.
Like much of Sonoma County, Petaluma mixes residential neighborhoods with busy commercial corridors. We combine discreet residential positioning with mobile coverage on the roads in between.
What Our Petaluma Private Investigators Handle
Four kinds of clients call us most — and surveillance is at the center of almost every case.
Personal Cases
- Nanny & daycare surveillance — observing caregiver conduct and advising on what in-home recording is legal.
- Runaways & missing persons — people-location work to find someone who has gone missing or run away.
- Infidelity & cheating spouse — discreet surveillance that gives you a clear answer, either way.
Family Law Cases
- Child custody — facts that help a court decide what is best for your child.
- Child visitation — a factual record of exchanges and visits.
- Cohabitation — proof of a live-in partner when spousal support is at stake.
- Lifestyle investigations — showing how someone actually lives when income or need is in dispute.
- Child support — identifying undisclosed work or income when support is in question.
- Divorce investigations — facts and evidence your family law attorney can use.
Business Cases
- Insurance defense — field work that supports a strong defense.
- Business partner surveillance — verifying what a partner or associate is really doing.
- Workers’ comp fraud — surveillance on claims where activity and injuries don’t match.
- Injury claims — verifying the extent of claimed injuries through lawful observation.
- Employee theft — documenting internal theft and misconduct before you act.
Law Firm Cases
- Evasive subpoena service — serving witnesses and parties who are avoiding service.
- Court testimony — investigator testimony in California courts when needed.
- Surveillance — surveillance your client’s case can stand on.
- Witness statements — finding and interviewing the people who saw what happened.
- Evidence gathering — facts collected to evidentiary standards.
- Records research — court, property, business, and public records research.
Why Petaluma Clients Choose Bear Witness
Not every Petaluma private investigator specializes in surveillance. Here is what makes Bear Witness different.
Absolute Discretion
Confidential from the first call; covert in the field.
Available 24/7
Cases don’t keep business hours. We take calls and work surveillance day, night, and weekends.
Statewide Coverage
From Petaluma to the rest of California, we follow subjects wherever the case leads.
Direct Access to Your Investigator
We limit our caseload, so you talk to the investigator working your case — not a call center.
Honest Results
If nothing is going on, we tell you. A clear answer is the goal, not more billable hours.
Court-Ready Evidence
Evidence gathered lawfully and documented the way California judges and attorneys expect.
What Our Clients Say
Real reviews from Bear Witness clients across California.
“Of all the private investigators I have used, the Bear Witness Detective Agency has proven to be the only investigation company I can completely rely on and trust. When I need smart surveillance investigators who get the job done right, they are always at the very top of my call list.”
“Wow. Outstanding job! I really did get lucky when I picked you guys. I don’t think any other private investigator could have handled my case better than you did. Very on top of your game, from start to finish. Excellent work!”
“Thanks for the great investigation. This was my first time hiring a private investigator and you guys really made it a positive experience. The surveillance video and information your company obtained really helped me out in making a tough decision. I appreciate all your hard work and personal attention.”
Names and/or locations altered for client privacy. Read more client reviews →
Petaluma Cases and the Sonoma County Courts
Petaluma sits roughly 15 miles from Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County seat, where the main Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma facilities are located.
If your Petaluma matter ends up in the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma, documentation quality decides whether the evidence helps. We keep chain-of-custody records and write reports in plain chronological order.
Also Serving Near Petaluma
If your subject lives in Petaluma but works or travels elsewhere, that’s routine. Nearby areas include:
Straight-line distances from Petaluma.
How Hiring a Private Investigator in Petaluma 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 Petaluma 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.
Petaluma Private Investigator FAQs
Do you also cover Cotati and Rohnert Park?
Yes. Cotati is about 7 miles from Petaluma and Rohnert Park about 8 miles, and both are part of our regular coverage in Northern California.
How far is Petaluma from the Sonoma County courthouse?
Petaluma is roughly 15 miles (straight-line) from Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County seat, where the main Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma facilities are. Some matters are heard at branch courthouses; your attorney can confirm the location.
What does a private investigator in Petaluma 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 Petaluma and across California.
Can you catch a cheating spouse in Petaluma?
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.
Do you work with Sonoma 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.
Do you handle workers’ compensation and insurance claims?
Yes. We conduct claimant surveillance and claim investigations for employers, insurers, and defense counsel.
Can you document cohabitation for a spousal support case?
Yes. Under California Family Code section 4323, a supported spouse living with a partner can create a presumption of decreased need for support. We document cohabitation for you and your attorney.
Ready to talk to a private investigator in Petaluma? Call 1(877)PROOF-24/7 for a free, confidential consultation.