Private Investigator exam
California Private Investigator Exam Study Guide
Questions with Detailed Solutions 2025
Understanding the California vehicle code will help you because: -Correct Answer
✔Determine the party most at fault
Written questions submitted to a party from the adversary, in order to find answers in
the form of writing, that have relevance to the issue in a lawsuit, and are signed under
oath, are: -Correct Answer ✔Interrogatories
California Department of Insurance online database hold information on: -Correct
Answer ✔Insurance agents and brokers
The best way to serve process in a federal case is by what rules or guidelines? -Correct
Answer ✔By following State law
When defendant is induced to committing a crime that he or she would not ordinarily
commit, by the influence of a peace officer -Correct Answer ✔Entrapment
A person or business, whom a claim is brought against -Correct Answer ✔Defendant
During formal court procedures, the initial questioning of a witness in a criminal trial by
the person who called him or her is known as: -Correct Answer ✔Direct examination
When an attorney attempts to impeach the other party's witness for the FIRST time
court: -Correct Answer ✔Cross examination
What is it called when an attorney attempts to rehabilitate their own witness, after a
cross examination? -Correct Answer ✔Redirect examination
What is the one last stage in a jury trial? -Correct Answer ✔Jury deliberation
Trial, by judge, when one of the parties in a civil action, gives the judge an outline of the
evidence he will present, and what the evidence will prove, he is said to be engaging in:
-Correct Answer ✔Opening statement
Towards the end of the trial but before jury deliberations, what is given to the jury? -
Correct Answer ✔Jury instructions
Which court hears matters involving family related issues, such as divorce and child
custody? -Correct Answer ✔Superior court
Private Investigator exam
,Private Investigator exam
The US court of appeals hears cases from: -Correct Answer ✔District Courts
What describes the pretrial process of an attorney interviewing a person under oath with
a court reporter present? -Correct Answer ✔Deposition
You're Investigating a slow speed vehicle traffic collision. The crash occurred within four
car lengths from the intersection. One of the involved drivers complains of whiplash to
his neck; the other party claiming whiplash, too. Both vehicles' front airbags deployed
but not the side bags. What piece of evidence are you MOST likely to find in the
roadway? -Correct Answer ✔A piece of tail light
During an administrative hearing, the attorney is questioning the other witness with
questions that impute an answer. This line of questioning is known as: -Correct Answer
✔Cross examination
One of the second steps of a process during a lawsuit is to: -Correct Answer ✔Serve a
summons
During a re-direct examination by the attorney who hired you, he forgot to ask you a
question that would make or break the case: what should you do? -Correct Answer
✔Not bring the issue up to the attorney, at least while you are on the stand
Can a person follow and record a subject, WITHOUT compensation, and not have to
become a bona fide private investigator? True or false -Correct Answer ✔True
The husband of your client wants an update on his wife's case. Can you disclose any
information about the case? True or false? -Correct Answer ✔False- no.
Can you accept employment from a client, who was an adversary to a former client in
the past? T or F -Correct Answer ✔False- you may not
What is the best way for a private investigator to determine the speed of a party
involved in a crash? -Correct Answer ✔By getting an expert opinion.
(Blank) are used to frame a responsive, pleading, or a disposition and are done mostly
before a deposition: -Correct Answer ✔Interrogatories
what should you do if you find out that your client has a restraining order against him or
her, and the real reason for the surveillance is that the client wants to harass the
subject. What should you do? -Correct Answer ✔Leave immediately and stop working
for the plant
Private Investigator exam
, Private Investigator exam
What should you do if you find out that a client committed a murder, and this is aside
from the case you were hired to help him investigate? -Correct Answer ✔Notify the
clients attorney.
You are contracted by a criminal defense attorney to help investigate a case where your
client was accused of fraud. During your investigation, you learned that your client
kidnapped and raped a witness. However, the witness is now safe. What does the law
require you to do? -Correct Answer ✔Maintain confidentiality, however, gives you the
option of notifying law-enforcement authorities
What should you do If a witness does not answer your calls? -Correct Answer ✔Visit the
persons, residence or employer
Should you answer questions
Immediately when you are on the witness stand? True or false. -Correct Answer
✔False- avoid answering the question immediately.
Giving a witness tickets to a baseball game scheduled on the same day as the trial, is
an example of what? -Correct Answer ✔Dissuading or influencing a witness (pursuant
PC 136.1)
Who must you contact if your employee is injured on the job? -Correct Answer
✔Division of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)
Where can you obtain a death record? -Correct Answer ✔The county Recorders Office
Who do you serve a subpoena Ducaes Tacem at a doctors office? -Correct Answer
✔Serve the custodian of records.
What do you do if your new investigator is unable to find a suspect employee, who was
suspected of stealing? -Correct Answer ✔Consider training or retraining your
investigator.
And if somebody asks you to stop recording them in the middle of an interrogation, keep
the recording, but contact an
attorney for advice. True or false. -Correct Answer ✔False, turn the recorder off
continue the interrogation and take good notes
Does a private investigator have legal access to criminal offender record information,
a.k.a. A rap sheet? -Correct Answer ✔No, a private investigator is a private person and
not a peace officer
Private Investigator exam
California Private Investigator Exam Study Guide
Questions with Detailed Solutions 2025
Understanding the California vehicle code will help you because: -Correct Answer
✔Determine the party most at fault
Written questions submitted to a party from the adversary, in order to find answers in
the form of writing, that have relevance to the issue in a lawsuit, and are signed under
oath, are: -Correct Answer ✔Interrogatories
California Department of Insurance online database hold information on: -Correct
Answer ✔Insurance agents and brokers
The best way to serve process in a federal case is by what rules or guidelines? -Correct
Answer ✔By following State law
When defendant is induced to committing a crime that he or she would not ordinarily
commit, by the influence of a peace officer -Correct Answer ✔Entrapment
A person or business, whom a claim is brought against -Correct Answer ✔Defendant
During formal court procedures, the initial questioning of a witness in a criminal trial by
the person who called him or her is known as: -Correct Answer ✔Direct examination
When an attorney attempts to impeach the other party's witness for the FIRST time
court: -Correct Answer ✔Cross examination
What is it called when an attorney attempts to rehabilitate their own witness, after a
cross examination? -Correct Answer ✔Redirect examination
What is the one last stage in a jury trial? -Correct Answer ✔Jury deliberation
Trial, by judge, when one of the parties in a civil action, gives the judge an outline of the
evidence he will present, and what the evidence will prove, he is said to be engaging in:
-Correct Answer ✔Opening statement
Towards the end of the trial but before jury deliberations, what is given to the jury? -
Correct Answer ✔Jury instructions
Which court hears matters involving family related issues, such as divorce and child
custody? -Correct Answer ✔Superior court
Private Investigator exam
,Private Investigator exam
The US court of appeals hears cases from: -Correct Answer ✔District Courts
What describes the pretrial process of an attorney interviewing a person under oath with
a court reporter present? -Correct Answer ✔Deposition
You're Investigating a slow speed vehicle traffic collision. The crash occurred within four
car lengths from the intersection. One of the involved drivers complains of whiplash to
his neck; the other party claiming whiplash, too. Both vehicles' front airbags deployed
but not the side bags. What piece of evidence are you MOST likely to find in the
roadway? -Correct Answer ✔A piece of tail light
During an administrative hearing, the attorney is questioning the other witness with
questions that impute an answer. This line of questioning is known as: -Correct Answer
✔Cross examination
One of the second steps of a process during a lawsuit is to: -Correct Answer ✔Serve a
summons
During a re-direct examination by the attorney who hired you, he forgot to ask you a
question that would make or break the case: what should you do? -Correct Answer
✔Not bring the issue up to the attorney, at least while you are on the stand
Can a person follow and record a subject, WITHOUT compensation, and not have to
become a bona fide private investigator? True or false -Correct Answer ✔True
The husband of your client wants an update on his wife's case. Can you disclose any
information about the case? True or false? -Correct Answer ✔False- no.
Can you accept employment from a client, who was an adversary to a former client in
the past? T or F -Correct Answer ✔False- you may not
What is the best way for a private investigator to determine the speed of a party
involved in a crash? -Correct Answer ✔By getting an expert opinion.
(Blank) are used to frame a responsive, pleading, or a disposition and are done mostly
before a deposition: -Correct Answer ✔Interrogatories
what should you do if you find out that your client has a restraining order against him or
her, and the real reason for the surveillance is that the client wants to harass the
subject. What should you do? -Correct Answer ✔Leave immediately and stop working
for the plant
Private Investigator exam
, Private Investigator exam
What should you do if you find out that a client committed a murder, and this is aside
from the case you were hired to help him investigate? -Correct Answer ✔Notify the
clients attorney.
You are contracted by a criminal defense attorney to help investigate a case where your
client was accused of fraud. During your investigation, you learned that your client
kidnapped and raped a witness. However, the witness is now safe. What does the law
require you to do? -Correct Answer ✔Maintain confidentiality, however, gives you the
option of notifying law-enforcement authorities
What should you do If a witness does not answer your calls? -Correct Answer ✔Visit the
persons, residence or employer
Should you answer questions
Immediately when you are on the witness stand? True or false. -Correct Answer
✔False- avoid answering the question immediately.
Giving a witness tickets to a baseball game scheduled on the same day as the trial, is
an example of what? -Correct Answer ✔Dissuading or influencing a witness (pursuant
PC 136.1)
Who must you contact if your employee is injured on the job? -Correct Answer
✔Division of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)
Where can you obtain a death record? -Correct Answer ✔The county Recorders Office
Who do you serve a subpoena Ducaes Tacem at a doctors office? -Correct Answer
✔Serve the custodian of records.
What do you do if your new investigator is unable to find a suspect employee, who was
suspected of stealing? -Correct Answer ✔Consider training or retraining your
investigator.
And if somebody asks you to stop recording them in the middle of an interrogation, keep
the recording, but contact an
attorney for advice. True or false. -Correct Answer ✔False, turn the recorder off
continue the interrogation and take good notes
Does a private investigator have legal access to criminal offender record information,
a.k.a. A rap sheet? -Correct Answer ✔No, a private investigator is a private person and
not a peace officer
Private Investigator exam
