A licensed private investigator is a state-registered professional authorized to conduct investigations on behalf of individuals, businesses, and legal counsel. In Virginia, this includes gathering information on crimes or civil wrongs, locating persons or property, determining the cause of accidents or damages, and collecting evidence for use in legal proceedings. Red Onion Solutions holds DCJS License No. 99-1026977 and operates in full compliance with Virginia lawxt goes here

Yes. Red Onion Solutions, LLC is a licensed private security services business regulated by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Our Principal Examiner holds an active PI registration and the firm carries all required bonding and liability insurance as mandated under Virginia law. You can verify our license status through the DCJS online database.

We handle a wide range of civil and private matters, including:

•       Surveillance and activity monitoring

•       Background investigations

•       Skip tracing and subject locates

•       Infidelity and domestic investigations

•       Insurance fraud investigations

•       Missing persons

•       Asset searches

•       Witness locates for attorneys and litigation support

Yes — and this is one of our core service areas. We regularly support civil litigation, family law matters, criminal defense, and personal injury cases. We understand chain of custody, courtroom evidentiary standards, and how to document findings in a format that holds up in deposition or at trial.

Our primary service area is the Greater Richmond metro and surrounding counties, including Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, Powhatan, Amelia, and Dinwiddie. We also accept cases statewide throughout Virginia. For digital forensics and expert witness engagements, we serve clients nationally and can support matters internationally.

Only under limited circumstances. Virginia maintains reciprocity agreements with select states, but only when the investigation originates in the investigator's home state and that state offers equivalent reciprocity to Virginia-registered investigators. If your matter involves cross-jurisdictional needs, contact us — we can advise on how to structure the engagement properly.

Confidentiality is foundational to everything we do. All client information, case details, and findings are kept strictly private. We do not discuss active or closed cases with third parties without client authorization or a valid legal obligation to do so. Our Client Services Agreement formalizes these protections before any work begins.

No. Private investigators are bound by the same federal and state privacy laws as the general public. We cannot access protected records without proper legal authorization. What we can do is legally gather open-source information, conduct lawful surveillance, document observable behavior, and work in coordination with attorneys who can subpoena protected records through proper channels.

No. A PI registration in Virginia does not grant arrest authority or the right to carry a concealed weapon on duty. Investigators who are armed must hold a separate DCJS firearms endorsement and a valid Virginia concealed handgun permit. Red Onion Solutions conducts all fieldwork lawfully and within the scope of our licensure

Investigative services are billed based on the scope and complexity of the case. We offer a free 15-minute intake call to understand your situation, followed by a formal case assessment. Retainers are required prior to case commencement, with billing applied against the retainer as work is performed. We provide itemized documentation of all time and expenses. Contact us for a consultation to discuss your specific needs.

Schedule a free 15-minute intake call through our website or contact us directly at raq@redonionsolutions.com. During that call, we’ll assess your situation, determine if we’re the right fit, and outline next steps.

Digital forensics is the scientific examination, preservation, and analysis of electronically stored information (ESI) for use in legal, civil, or investigative proceedings. You may need digital forensics if you’re involved in litigation where electronic evidence is at issue, suspect employee misconduct or data theft, are responding to a data incident, need evidence from a mobile device, or require expert testimony on technical matters.

We examine a wide range of digital media and devices, including:

•       Smartphones and tablets (iOS and Android)

•       Computers (Windows and Mac), laptops, and workstations

•       External hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards

•       Cloud storage and email accounts (with proper authorization)

•       GPS and telematics data

•       Social media and digital communications

•       Call detail records (CDR) and cell site analysis

Cell site analysis involves examining call detail records (CDRs) — the data logs generated by a carrier whenever a phone connects to the network — to establish the general location of a device at a given point in time. This is used in both criminal defense and civil litigation to corroborate or challenge location-based claims. Our Principal Examiner has specialized training in CDR interpretation and cell site analysis and can provide expert witness testimony on these findings.

In many cases, yes. Deleted data often remains on a device until it is overwritten. Using forensically sound tools and methods, certain software frequently recover deleted texts, photos, emails, browsing history, call logs, and other files. The recoverability of data depends on the device type, how long ago the data was deleted, and whether the device has been used since deletion. Do not continue using a device you believe may contain important evidence contact us immediately.

A forensically sound examination follows strict protocols to ensure that the original data is not altered during collection or analysis, and that the process is fully documented and defensible in court. This includes creating verified bit-for-bit copies (forensic images) of storage media before any analysis is performed. If digital evidence isn’t collected and handled properly, it may be challenged or excluded in legal proceedings. We follow industry-standard practices aligned with NIST guidelines and accepted forensic methodology.

When handled correctly, no. We work from forensic images — exact copies of the original — so the source media remains unaltered. Every step of our process is documented with hash values to verify data integrity throughout the examination. The original device or media is preserved and returned to the submitting party.

Yes. We provide eDiscovery support for civil litigation, including identification, preservation, collection, processing, and review assistance of electronically stored information (ESI). We work with legal teams to ensure compliance with court-ordered production requirements and can assist with early case assessment and ESI protocols.

Yes. Our Principal Examiner is available to provide expert witness testimony in federal and state court proceedings on matters involving digital forensics, mobile device examination, cell site analysis, CDR interpretation, and electronic evidence handling. We prepare written expert reports that meet the standards required under the Federal Rules of Evidence and Virginia court rules.

All digital evidence is received, logged, and stored under strict chain of custody protocols. Physical media is handled in a controlled environment and documented from intake through examination and return. We provide written chain of custody documentation upon request. Evidence storage follows secure procedures appropriate to the sensitivity of the matter.

Yes. We regularly work with criminal defense attorneys and their clients to independently examine digital evidence, identify inconsistencies in prosecution evidence, or locate exculpatory data that may not have been surfaced in the original investigation. Our work is independent, objective, and documented.

Absolutely. All matters — including the identity of our clients, the nature of the case, and any findings — are held in strict confidence. We operate under a signed Client Services Agreement that formalizes confidentiality obligations before any work is performed. We do not disclose client information to any third party without written authorization or legal compulsion.

Contact us first before shipping or dropping off any device. We will provide intake instructions, a chain of custody form, and a signed Work Order/Case Authorization before any examination begins. Do not attempt to access, reset, or continue using any device you intend to submit — doing so could compromise recoverable data.

Schedule a free 15-minute intake call through our website or reach us directly at raq@redonionsolutions.com. We’ll assess your needs, explain the process, and outline a scope of work before any fees are incurred.