When hiring someone for a professional service, regardless of industry type, it is important to verify that your service provider is actually licensed to do what he or she says they do. In Georgia, there are numerous professions that require licensure, including Security and Private Detectives. It only take a few moments of your time to do your due diligence and verify the license status before doing business with them.

1. Simply visit the Georgia Secretary of State website at https://verify.sos.ga.gov/verification/ or the newer https://goals.sos.ga.gov/GASOSOneStop/s/licensee-search
2. Search by Profession, License Type, License Number or Name. You must select at least two variables to conduct a search.
3. Verify the details and license status as Active, Lapsed, or Inactive.

If the person / entity you wish to do business with comes up as Active, then their License is on good standing. If their license is lapsed, they are NOT in good standing and are not allowed to do business. The same holds true for Inactive – they should NOT be engaging in business. Additional benefits of this search tool is that it allows you to see any Public Board Orders, if they are on probation or if their license has been revoked License. It would be ill advised to do any business with anyone that has any license deficiencies. The legal implications and ramifications do not outweigh any cost you think you might be saving. As far as the Security & Private Detective industry is concerned – they are not only a liability to you but they are also engaging in a criminal act as defined by Georgia Code § 43-38-16!!!

Georgia Code § 43-38-16 states: “Any person who engages in the private detective business or private security business or offers, pretends, or holds himself out as eligible to engage in the private detective business or private security business and who is not legally licensed or registered under this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each day or fraction of a day that he practices in violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense”