Practical brief for Florida business owners, corporate counsel and transactional attorneys.
Financial statements tell you about the deal. Due diligence on the people tells you who you are doing it with. Before a client signs an operating agreement, accepts an investment or forms a joint venture, a focused check on the principals can surface the problems that never make it into a pitch deck: prior lawsuits from former partners, failed companies, regulatory discipline, liens and judgments.
Taking on a partner or investor?
Call (321) 340-3280 to scope a pre-deal check with a licensed investigator. Prefer to write? Use our case request form.
Start with identity
Confirm the person is who they say they are: full legal name, prior names, date of birth and address history across public records. Many problems begin with a principal who uses a variation of their name, which can hide prior litigation or failed entities.
Entity history
Sunbiz filings show every Florida company where the person has served as an officer, manager, member or registered agent, with formation dates, annual reports and dissolutions. A string of administratively dissolved companies, or companies that closed shortly after lawsuits, is worth a conversation. We check other states when the person has lived or done business there.
Litigation, liens and judgments
- State court cases in the counties where the person lived and worked, and federal cases in PACER.
- Bankruptcy filings, personal and business.
- Judgments, tax liens and UCC financing statements that show debts and secured lenders.
- Prior disputes with partners, investors, employees or customers, including how they ended.
Licenses, regulators and sanctions
- Professional and occupational licenses and discipline through Florida licensing agencies.
- Securities industry records through FINRA BrokerCheck, and enforcement actions published by the SEC and state regulators, where the person raises or manages money.
- The U.S. Treasury OFAC sanctions lists.
Claims worth verifying
Pitch materials often mention prior exits, credentials and relationships. We verify what can be verified through public records and direct confirmation, such as a company’s actual role in a claimed deal or whether a claimed license exists. Degree and employment verification may require the person’s consent, which counsel can make part of the process.
Public footprint and reputation
Media coverage, public social media, reviews and public statements can show how the person treats partners and customers. We capture public content with dates and sources, and we separate verified facts from allegations.
Legal limits
- If a consumer report is part of the process, the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s permissible-purpose and consent rules apply. Counsel decides whether and how to use one.
- We do not obtain bank or phone records by pretext, which federal law prohibits.
- Interviews of former partners or employees are lawful and voluntary, and Florida’s all-party consent rule applies to any recording.
When findings change the deal
Most checks end in one of three places: nothing material, issues that can be handled with deal terms such as representations, escrow or personal guarantees, or issues serious enough to walk away. The report is built so counsel can see which, with sources attached. For executive hires and acquisition targets, see our related guide to executive background checks and pre-deal due diligence.
Working with MAYN Investigations
MAYN Investigations is a Florida private investigation agency licensed under Chapter 493 (agency license A3400126), working statewide for law firms and businesses. Partner and investor checks are part of our executive background checks, supplier and vendor screening and corporate investigations work. We support clients in Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Ocala, West Palm Beach and across Florida. For Ninth Circuit matters, see our private investigator Orlando page.
FAQ: partner and investor due diligence
How much does a pre-deal check cost?
It depends on the number of people and entities, the states involved and whether interviews or field work are needed. We discuss scope and rates by phone.
Do we need the other side’s permission?
Public records research does not require consent. Some verifications, such as education or employment records, may require it, and FCRA rules apply if a consumer report is used.
Can you check entities outside Florida?
Yes. Entity, court and property records in other states are researchable, and many principals have history in more than one state.
Should counsel retain you?
Often, yes. Retention through counsel helps keep the work organized for legal advice. Your attorney can advise on that structure.
Talk to an investigator before you sign
Call (321) 340-3280 with the names, entities and timeline for the deal. We will tell you what to check, what it costs and how fast we can start. Rates are discussed by phone. You can also send a case request and we will get back to you.
MAYN Investigations is a licensed and insured Florida private investigation agency working statewide for law firms and businesses. Follow us on Instagram at @mayninvestigations for short briefs on Florida investigations, and browse more investigation insights for attorneys.
This article is general information for attorneys and legal professionals. It is not legal advice, and decisions about discovery, admissibility and compliance belong to counsel.
