Wellness Checks: When to Call a PI Instead of (or Alongside) Police
You have called. You have texted. Maybe you have contacted friends, checked social media or driven past the person’s home. Still, you cannot reach them.
At what point should you call police? And when might a wellness check private investigator be able to help?
When there is reason to believe someone is in immediate danger, experiencing a medical emergency, at risk of self-harm or potentially the victim of a crime, police or emergency services should be contacted first.
But not every concerning situation is an emergency. Sometimes an adult simply stops communicating. Sometimes police make contact and confirm the person is safe but cannot provide the family with the answers they want. In other cases, the person’s current location is unknown and additional investigative work is needed.
These are situations where a licensed private investigator may be able to help.
What a Wellness Check Actually Is
The terms “wellness check” and “welfare check” are commonly used to describe an attempt to determine whether someone is safe.
The circumstances can vary significantly.
A concerned adult child may not have heard from an elderly parent.
A parent may suddenly lose contact with an adult son or daughter.
A friend may notice an unusual change in someone’s behaviour followed by complete silence.
A landlord may be concerned about a tenant after noticing unusual circumstances at a property.
An employer may become concerned when an employee unexpectedly stops reporting to work and cannot be reached.
The concern in each case is similar: Is this person okay?
The Legal Definition vs. How People Use the Term
People often think of a wellness check specifically as a police service. In everyday conversation, however, the term is also used more broadly to describe efforts to confirm someone’s safety or wellbeing.
A private investigator does not perform a police wellness check and does not acquire police powers simply because a client is concerned about someone.
A private investigator can instead conduct lawful investigative work intended to locate the person, verify information, observe circumstances and, where appropriate, attempt contact.
That distinction is important.
Who Typically Requests a Wellness Check?
Requests may come from:
- parents concerned about adult children
- adult children concerned about elderly parents
- siblings or other relatives
- friends
- landlords or property managers
- employers
- lawyers or other authorized representatives
Before accepting an assignment, an investigator should understand why the client wants the person located or checked on.
A legitimate concern for someone’s wellbeing is very different from an attempt to locate a person for harassment, intimidation or another improper purpose.
Wellness Check vs. Missing Person Investigation
A wellness check and a missing person investigation can overlap, but they are not necessarily the same thing.
Someone may be unreachable without actually being missing.
You might know where your elderly father lives but have been unable to contact him for two days.
Alternatively, you may have no idea where an estranged adult child is currently living.
The second situation may require significantly more investigative work before anyone can even attempt an in-person check.
If someone is genuinely missing and there are concerns about their safety, do not assume you need to wait before involving police. The RCMP advises that there is no minimum waiting period for reporting a missing person, and recommends contacting police or 911 immediately when there are concerns about someone’s personal safety.
What Happens When You Call Police for a Wellness Check
Police are the appropriate first call when circumstances indicate an emergency, crime or immediate threat to safety.
What happens next depends on the information provided and the circumstances.
How These Calls Are Prioritized
Police services must respond to many different types of calls, from immediate threats to life to non-emergency concerns.
The information provided to the dispatcher can therefore be extremely important.
There is a significant difference between:
“I haven’t heard from my brother today.”
and:
“My brother sent me a message saying he intended to harm himself, and now he isn’t answering.”
Provide specific facts rather than simply saying you have a bad feeling.
The Ontario Provincial Police instructs the public to call 9-1-1 for emergencies and use its non-emergency line for other police matters.
What Officers Are and Aren’t Authorized to Do
Police have legal authorities that private investigators do not.
At the same time, concern from a family member does not automatically eliminate an adult’s legal rights.
The circumstances of the call, the information available to police and applicable legal authorities will affect what officers can do.
This is another reason a private investigator should never be presented as a substitute for police in an emergency.
Common Outcomes
Depending on the circumstances, police may locate the person and confirm that they are safe.
They may attend an address and receive no answer.
The individual may make contact but decline further involvement.
Or the circumstances may lead to a larger missing person, criminal or emergency investigation.
One outcome can be particularly frustrating for families: police may locate an adult and determine that the person is safe without providing their location to the person who made the report.
The RCMP specifically notes that when a missing person is located, the individual’s privacy remains important and police may not provide the reporting person with information about their whereabouts if the individual does not want that information disclosed.
For a worried family member, that can be difficult. But an adult’s decision not to communicate does not necessarily mean they are in danger.
Why Police May Not Provide the Follow-Up You Want
Police involvement is driven by public safety, legal authority and the circumstances of the case.
A family may want to know:
Where are they living?
Why did they stop calling?
Who are they with?
Are they still working?
Have they moved?
Police involvement does not necessarily mean those questions will be answered.
That is where families sometimes begin exploring whether a private investigator can lawfully gather additional information.
Where the Gaps Leave Families Without Answers
Many wellness check private investigator inquiries begin in a grey area.
There is genuine concern, but no obvious emergency.
When the Person Isn’t Home But Isn’t Necessarily Missing
Suppose police attend an address and no one answers.
That does not establish what happened.
The person may have moved.
They may be staying somewhere else.
They may be travelling.
They may simply not have been home when police attended.
A private investigator may be able to conduct additional lawful inquiries to determine whether the address is still current or whether the person appears to be residing elsewhere.
Adults Have a Right to Be Left Alone
This is one of the hardest realities for some families.
A competent adult can choose not to communicate with relatives or friends.
Hiring an investigator does not give the client a right to force contact, demand access to someone’s home or override the person’s autonomy.
The investigator’s role must remain within legal and ethical boundaries.
Estranged Family Members
Estrangement can make wellness concerns particularly complicated.
A parent may sincerely worry about an adult child who has intentionally stopped communicating.
The concern can be genuine while the adult child’s decision to maintain distance is also genuine.
A professional investigator needs to consider both.
In some circumstances, the appropriate outcome may simply be determining that the individual appears safe without forcing unwanted contact.
Cases That Don’t Require an Active Emergency Response
There are situations where a person is not necessarily in immediate danger but the family still has legitimate concerns.
That is where private investigative work may provide another option.
What a Private Investigator Adds to a Wellness Check
A wellness check private investigator approaches the situation as an investigation rather than an emergency response.
The objective is to gather reliable information lawfully and determine the most appropriate way to verify the person’s circumstances.
Locating Someone Who Isn’t Answering Calls or Texts
Sometimes the first problem is that nobody knows where the person currently lives.
Private investigators regularly conduct locate investigations.
Depending on the circumstances and lawful sources available, the investigator may examine information connected with:
- previous addresses
- known associates
- publicly available records
- open-source information
- social media
- current or potential locations
- other relevant investigative leads
The purpose is to develop and verify leads, not simply assume that an old address is still accurate.
Discreet In-Person Verification Without Police Presence
There are situations where a uniformed police response may not be necessary or where the family is seeking additional verification after other efforts have failed.
A licensed investigator may attend a lawful location, observe activity from places where they are legally permitted to be and, when appropriate, attempt contact.
Private investigators cannot unlawfully enter a residence simply because a client has requested a wellness check.
Ongoing Monitoring When One Check Isn’t Enough
A single visit does not always answer the question.
Perhaps nobody answers the door, but there are signs the property is occupied.
Perhaps the person appears to be staying somewhere intermittently.
Depending on the circumstances, lawful observation over a longer period may help determine whether the person is coming and going normally.
This can be particularly useful when the objective is verification rather than confrontation.
Working Around a Reluctant or Estranged Subject
Discretion matters.
Showing up repeatedly at someone’s home or aggressively demanding answers can make an already difficult family situation worse.
An investigator can assess whether direct contact is appropriate or whether information can be verified through less intrusive investigative methods.
When to Call Police First
There are circumstances where you should not begin by looking for a private investigator.
Signs of Immediate Danger or Medical Emergency
Call 9-1-1 if you reasonably believe someone is facing an immediate threat to life or requires urgent police, fire or medical assistance.
Do not delay an emergency response while trying to arrange a private investigation.
Suicide Risk or Threats of Self-Harm
If someone has communicated an intention to harm themselves, made a credible threat of suicide or appears to be in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
Provide police or emergency dispatchers with as much specific information as possible, including messages, statements, location information and anything else relevant to the immediate risk.
Suspected Crime, Abuse or Foul Play
If there are indications that someone may have been abducted, assaulted, abused or become the victim of another crime, contact police.
A private investigator may potentially assist later, but private investigative work should not interfere with an active police investigation.
When a PI May Be the Better Option
Not every unanswered phone call requires police.
There are circumstances where a private investigator may be appropriate from the beginning or after police involvement.
The Person Has a Right to Privacy and Police Won’t Intervene Further
An adult may simply choose not to communicate.
A PI cannot force that person to resume contact either.
However, depending on the circumstances, an investigator may be able to establish information that helps a concerned client understand whether there is a continuing reason for concern.
Repeated No-Contact Situations
Perhaps police have already attended but the problem continues.
An elderly parent repeatedly becomes unreachable.
An adult child disappears from communication for extended periods.
A relative’s living arrangements appear unstable.
An investigator may be able to conduct additional inquiries or observation rather than relying on repeated single-point checks.
Sensitive Family Situations
Some families specifically want discretion.
There may be estrangement, divorce, family conflict, inheritance disputes or other circumstances where an overt approach could make the situation worse.
A private investigator can evaluate whether there is a lawful and proportionate way to obtain the information required.
Employers or Landlords Seeking Verification
Employers and landlords need to be particularly cautious.
Concern about someone’s wellbeing does not provide unlimited authority to investigate their private life.
A landlord might have legitimate reasons to be concerned about a tenant, while an employer might be worried after an unexplained absence. The investigator should establish a legitimate purpose and define the scope carefully before proceeding.
Using a PI and Police Together
This does not always have to be a choice between a private investigator and police.
Sometimes both become involved at different stages.
Coordinating With Law Enforcement When Needed
If an investigator discovers circumstances suggesting immediate danger, a crime or another emergency, the appropriate response may be to contact police or emergency services.
A private investigator’s job is not to continue quietly investigating while ignoring an urgent threat.
Documenting Findings for Follow-Up
Professional investigators document their work.
Depending on the assignment, this may include:
- dates and times
- locations checked
- observations
- photographs where lawfully obtained
- attempts at contact
- information developed during the investigation
- relevant statements
- investigative steps taken
If circumstances later require police involvement, organized factual information may help explain what has occurred.
When Escalation to Police Is the Right Call
A wellness check private investigator should be prepared to recognize when the assignment has moved beyond a private inquiry.
If evidence suggests immediate danger, suspected criminal activity or another emergency, escalation may be necessary.
What a Professional Wellness Check Investigation Involves
Every case is different, but there is usually a logical progression.
Initial Information Gathering
The investigator begins by understanding the situation.
Useful information may include:
- full legal name
- date of birth
- recent photograph
- phone numbers
- last known address
- vehicle information
- known associates
- employment information
- social media accounts
- last confirmed contact
- reason for concern
- relevant medical or vulnerability information where appropriate and lawfully provided
- previous police involvement
Clients should also explain the relationship and why they are requesting the investigation.
Location Verification and Address Checks
The investigator may first determine whether the last known address appears current.
If it is not, further locate work may be required.
This prevents wasting time repeatedly checking a property the person left months earlier.
Discreet Observation Before Direct Contact
Depending on the circumstances, observation may be appropriate before approaching the individual.
An investigator might determine whether there appears to be ordinary activity at the residence or whether the subject is seen coming and going.
Any surveillance or information gathering must remain within applicable law and professional standards. In Ontario, private investigators performing investigative work for pay must hold the appropriate licence. You can review the province’s private investigator licensing requirements here.
Reporting Back to the Client
What can appropriately be reported will depend on the circumstances and the information obtained.
A professional investigator should distinguish confirmed facts from assumptions.
For example:
“The individual was observed leaving the residence at 8:15 a.m. and entering a vehicle.”
is a factual observation.
“The individual seems completely fine.”
may be an unsupported conclusion.
Good investigative reporting focuses on what was actually established.
Situations to Approach Carefully
Wellness investigations can involve highly personal circumstances.
That makes professional judgment particularly important.
Respecting an Adult’s Privacy and Autonomy
Hiring a PI does not transfer someone’s privacy rights to the client.
An investigator should not assume that because a parent, sibling or former partner wants information, every piece of information discovered should automatically be disclosed.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada provides extensive information about privacy and investigations in Canada, and privacy obligations can vary depending on the circumstances and applicable legislation.
Avoiding Escalation in High-Conflict Family Situations
A request presented as a wellness concern can sometimes be part of a larger family dispute.
Investigators should watch for warning signs that the requested information could be used to harass, intimidate or circumvent someone’s deliberate attempt to maintain distance.
The reason for the investigation matters.
Working Within the Law When Locating Someone
Professional private investigators do not have unlimited access to personal information.
They must work within the laws governing their activities and the information they obtain.
Ontario requires anyone working for pay primarily to conduct investigations for the purpose of providing information to hold a valid private investigator licence. The province also requires licensed investigators to comply with the Private Security and Investigative Services Act and its Code of Conduct.
A legitimate investigation is not permission to trespass, impersonate police or obtain information unlawfully.
FAQs About Wellness Checks and Private Investigators
Can a private investigator do what police do in a wellness check?
No. A private investigator does not have police powers. A PI can conduct lawful investigative work to locate someone, verify information, observe circumstances and potentially make contact, but emergencies and suspected crimes should be directed to police.
Is it legal to hire a PI to check on someone without their knowledge?
There are circumstances where licensed private investigators can lawfully gather information without notifying the subject in advance, but the purpose and methods of the investigation matter. Investigators must comply with applicable laws, licensing requirements and privacy obligations.
What if the person doesn’t want to be found?
An adult’s desire for privacy must be taken seriously. A private investigator cannot force someone to communicate with family or disclose information simply because a client wants it. The investigator must assess what can lawfully and appropriately be done in the circumstances.
How fast can a PI conduct a wellness check?
It depends on the urgency, location, information available and whether the person’s current address is known. A known local address may allow an investigation to begin quickly, while locating someone whose whereabouts are unknown can require significantly more work.
What information do I need to give a PI to start a wellness check?
Provide as much accurate information as possible, including the person’s full name, date of birth, recent photograph, last known address, phone number, vehicle, known associates and details about when and why you became concerned.
Can a PI’s findings be used if the situation becomes a police matter?
Potentially. Investigators should maintain accurate records of their observations and investigative steps. If the situation develops into a police matter, relevant information can be provided to law enforcement, although police will determine how it fits into their own investigation.
Need to Check on Someone You Can’t Reach?
Not knowing whether someone you care about is safe can leave you with more questions every hour that passes.
The first decision is determining what kind of situation you are dealing with.
If there is an immediate threat to life, a medical emergency, credible risk of self-harm or evidence of a crime, contact police or emergency services.
If the situation is not an emergency but you still cannot locate or verify the wellbeing of someone you are concerned about, a private investigator may be able to help determine the next step.
The Smith Investigation Agency conducts professional investigative work for clients who need reliable information, discreet inquiries and assistance locating individuals. Each situation is assessed individually to determine what can appropriately and lawfully be done.
Speak with an Investigator Now
When you’re worried and police aren’t the right fit, The Smith Investigation Agency can assess the circumstances and determine whether a discreet locate or wellness-related investigation can help provide the answers available within the law.
