Sebastopol Private Investigator Services, Built Around Surveillance
Bear Witness is the private investigator in Sebastopol that families, attorneys, and businesses call when they need facts, not guesses. Sebastopol is a city of about 7,500 people in Sonoma County. We are a veteran-owned, California-licensed firm (PI #18755), and surveillance is what we do best.
From infidelity and custody cases to workers’ compensation fraud and litigation support, we keep our caseload small so every Sebastopol client works directly with the investigator in the field — and gets a clear answer, documented to the standard California courts expect.
Sebastopol Surveillance Investigations: Our Specialty
Most investigations come down to one question: what is really happening? A private investigator in Sebastopol answers it with surveillance video, photos, and a written timeline.
Mobile Surveillance
Experienced drivers who anticipate turns and freeway exits, so your subject is documented from stop to stop.
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 Sonoma County, Sebastopol mixes residential neighborhoods with busy commercial corridors. We combine discreet residential positioning with mobile coverage on the roads in between.
What Our Sebastopol Private Investigators Handle
Four kinds of clients call us most — and surveillance is at the center of almost every case.
Personal Cases
- Runaways & missing persons — finding someone who has left Sebastopol or stopped answering.
- Infidelity & cheating spouse — a clear, factual answer for Sebastopol clients who suspect a partner.
- Nanny & daycare surveillance — observing caregiver conduct and advising on what in-home recording is legal.
Family Law Cases
- Divorce investigations — facts and evidence your family law attorney can use.
- Child support — uncovering unreported work that affects support.
- Child visitation — a factual record of exchanges and visits.
- Cohabitation — proof of a live-in partner when spousal support is at stake.
- Child custody — facts that help a court decide what is best for your child.
- Lifestyle investigations — documenting spending, activities, and lifestyle relevant to support claims.
Business Cases
- Injury claims — documenting physical activity relevant to personal injury claims.
- Workers’ comp fraud — surveillance on claims where activity and injuries don’t match.
- Business partner surveillance — answers before you sign or after trust breaks down.
- Insurance defense — field work that supports a strong defense.
- Employee theft — facts for Sebastopol employers before they confront anyone.
Law Firm Cases
- Evasive subpoena service — serving witnesses and parties who are avoiding service.
- Surveillance — time-stamped video and investigator reports for your case.
- Records research — court, property, business, and public records research.
- Court testimony — investigator testimony in California courts when needed.
- Witness statements — tracking down witnesses in Sebastopol and beyond.
- Evidence gathering — court-ready documentation for litigation.
The Bear Witness Difference in Sebastopol
Not every Sebastopol private investigator specializes in surveillance. Here is what makes Bear Witness different.
Licensed & Veteran-Owned
California PI License #18755, veteran-owned and operated, held to the standards set by BSIS.
Available 24/7
Nights, weekends, holidays — we work when your subject is active.
Court-Ready Evidence
Evidence gathered lawfully and documented the way California judges and attorneys expect.
Honest Results
We report what we observed — no stretching thin evidence to justify a case.
Absolute Discretion
Confidential from the first call; covert in the field.
Statewide Coverage
From Sebastopol to the rest of California, we follow subjects wherever the case leads.
What Our Clients Say
Real reviews from Bear Witness clients across California.
“Excellent communication, insight, and follow-through skills. Very impressed with your surveillance video. Excellent work. Thank you! Will refer to friends in need.”
“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.”
“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 →
Sebastopol Cases and the Sonoma County Courts
Sebastopol sits roughly 7 miles from Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County seat, where the main Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma facilities are located.
Divorce, custody, support, and civil cases involving Sebastopol residents are generally filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma. We document every case with that courtroom in mind: dated, time-stamped, gathered legally, and backed by testimony if needed.
Also Serving Near Sebastopol
If your subject lives in Sebastopol but works or travels elsewhere, that’s routine. Nearby areas include:
Straight-line distances from Sebastopol.
How Hiring a Private Investigator in Sebastopol 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 Sebastopol 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 Sebastopol
Do you also cover Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park?
Yes. Santa Rosa is about 7 miles from Sebastopol and Rohnert Park about 8 miles, and both are part of our regular coverage in Northern California.
What does a private investigator in Sebastopol 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 Sebastopol and across California.
Is surveillance legal in Sebastopol?
Yes, when done correctly. California allows observation in public places where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. Our investigators do not trespass, use hidden vehicle trackers, or record private conversations.
Can you help find a runaway or missing person?
Yes. We use people-location and investigative techniques to find family members and others who have left or lost touch.
How do I verify your license?
Look up PI License #18755 on the California Department of Consumer Affairs license search.
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.
How is a Sebastopol investigation priced?
Surveillance is billed by time. After a free consultation, you get a written estimate before any billable work begins.
How quickly can a Sebastopol case start?
Most cases begin within a day or two of your first call, once we agree on a plan.
Every case starts with a free, confidential consultation. Call 1(877)PROOF-24/7 to speak with a licensed investigator about your Sebastopol case.