Skip to content
Effective date: November 2026
Who We Are
Ward’s Investigations (“we,” “us”) is a licensed private investigation business run by Maghen Ward (California PI #189509, Arizona PI #1820391, New Mexico PI #PI-2026-1479). This policy explains what personal information we collect through wardsinvestigations.com and in the course of our work, how we use it, and the choices you have.
Information We Collect
- What you send us. When you use a contact, consultation or investigation request form, email or call us, we collect what you provide: your name, email address, phone number, and the details of your situation. Those details may include information about other people. Please do not submit Social Security numbers, financial account credentials, medical records, or sensitive case documents through our general contact form or ordinary email. Contact us first for secure submission instructions. Submitting an inquiry does not, by itself, engage us to provide services.
- Information gathered during an investigation. When you hire us, we gather information needed for the assignment. Depending on the case, this can include names, addresses, contact details, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, court and public records, photographs, video and audio recordings, and medical or insurance records. We get it from you, from public records, from licensed data providers, from interviews, and from lawful observation.
- Information about other individuals. In the course of an investigation, we may collect personal information about individuals who have not contacted or hired us, including witnesses, subjects of investigations, and other people relevant to an assignment. We may obtain this information from our clients, public records, licensed data providers, interviews, and lawful observation. We handle this information in accordance with applicable law and the safeguards described in this policy.
- Payment information. When you pay us, your card or account details are entered with our payment processors (see “Payments” below). We do not keep full card numbers.
- Technical information. Our website collects basic technical information, including your IP address, browser type, and pages visited. Our web host maintains this information in server logs for security and troubleshooting purposes.
How We Use Information
- To respond to your inquiries and to determine whether we can accept your case.
- To perform the investigation or services for which we were engaged and report the results to you or the entity that engaged us.
- To bill for our services and process payments.
- To comply with legal, licensing, and recordkeeping requirements and protect our rights.
- To protect and maintain the security of our website and systems.
Who We Share Information With
- We do not use your personal information for advertising or send marketing emails.
We do not sell or rent personal information or share it for advertising purposes.
We share information only:
- With the client who hired us, or the entity that engaged us, as part of reporting on the assignment.
- With service providers that run our business systems, subject to applicable confidentiality obligations and contractual restrictions: website hosting (GoDaddy), email and file storage (Microsoft 365), website forms (JotForm), website email delivery (Mailgun), spam filtering for website forms (Akismet), and payment processing (see Payments below).
- When the law requires it, such as a subpoena, court order or licensing authority request, or, to the extent permitted by law, to protect someone’s safety.
- With your consent, where you are legally authorized to permit the disclosure.
Payments
Payments are handled by Square, QuickBooks Payments (Intuit), Zelle, ACH, Banks and PayPal. You enter your card or account details with them, and their privacy policies govern that information. We receive payment confirmations, not your full card number, and we do not write down or store card numbers.
Cookies, Outside Content, and “Do Not Track”
- Our website uses only cookies necessary for its operation. It does not use analytics or advertising trackers.
- Third-party providers, including JotForm, Square, and PayPal, supply certain forms and payment features on our website. When you use these features, the providers may place cookies on your device in accordance with their privacy policies.
- We do not track visitors across websites or permit advertisers to track visitors through our website. Our website does not respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals.
Security and How Long We Keep Information
- We keep case information in a business Microsoft 365 account protected by multi-factor sign-in, on encrypted, password-protected devices. Sensitive files are shared only with named recipients, not by public link.
- We take reasonable measures to protect personal information. If a data breach occurs, we will provide notice as required by applicable law.
- We keep information only as long as we need it for the purpose it was collected, or as long as the law, our licensing rules or our contract with a client requires. Case files are kept only as long as the matter, our client agreement, and our legal and licensing obligations require, and are then securely destroyed. Inquiries that do not become cases are deleted when no longer needed. Legal holds or other preservation obligations may require longer retention.
Your Choices and Rights
- You may contact us using the information below to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information. We will verify your identity before acting on your request. Requests are subject to applicable law and the exceptions below.
- Requests may be limited or denied as permitted by applicable law, including to comply with preservation, legal, or licensing obligations or to protect privileged or otherwise legally protected information. We will explain any denial as required by law.
- We may retain information to comply with preservation obligations, fulfill legal or licensing duties, or protect privileged or confidential attorney work.
- California privacy requests. To the extent the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended (CCPA), applies to our handling of your personal information, we respond to privacy requests as required by applicable law, subject to applicable exceptions. You may submit a request using the contact information below. When we process personal information on behalf of a client, we assist with requests as required by applicable law and our agreement with that client, and may direct you to the client to submit your request. Requests remain subject to protections for privileged or otherwise legally protected information.
Children
- Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them through the website. Investigations, including custody matters, may involve information about minors. We protect that information in accordance with applicable law and the safeguards described in this policy.
Changes
- We will post any updates to this policy on this page and revise the effective date accordingly.
Contact
- Ward’s Investigations POB 7386 Mammoth Lakes CA 93546
- Telephone: (707) 636-4579
- Email: ward@wardsinvestigations.com
