Legal · Investigator Referral

Terms of Service

Smoothquill LLC · Last updated July 14, 2026

These terms govern your use of Smoothquill's investigator referral service, which connects you with independent, licensed private investigators. Please read them alongside our Privacy Policy and Acceptable Use Policy.

What this service is — and is not: Smoothquill is a referral and connection service. Smoothquill is not a private investigator, is not licensed as an investigation agency, and does not perform investigations, surveillance, skip tracing, records searches, or forensic work. We connect you with an independent, licensed investigator in your jurisdiction. Any investigative work is performed by that investigator, under their own license, and governed by their own agreement with you and by applicable law.

1. The service

When you submit a request, we route it to one or more independent private investigators licensed in the relevant jurisdiction (or, where a state does not license investigators, operating lawfully there). The investigator contacts you to discuss scope, pricing, permissible purpose, and their own terms. Whether to engage the investigator is entirely your decision.

2. No investigator-client relationship with Smoothquill

Using this service does not create an investigator-client, attorney-client, or professional-services relationship with Smoothquill. That relationship, if any, is formed directly between you and the independent investigator you choose to engage.

3. Licensing and lawful use

Investigative services are licensed and regulated state by state. We connect you only with investigators who represent that they are licensed (where licensing applies) in your jurisdiction. All work must be performed within the bounds of applicable law. You agree to use any information obtained only for lawful, permissible purposes, as further described in our Acceptable Use Policy.

4. Permissible purpose

Certain data and searches are restricted by law (for example, under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Driver's Privacy Protection Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act). You represent that your request has a lawful, permissible purpose, and that you will not use the service or any results for a prohibited purpose — including stalking, harassment, unlawful discrimination, or any decision governed by the FCRA (such as employment, credit, housing, or insurance) unless performed by a properly authorized consumer reporting agency. Smoothquill is not a consumer reporting agency and does not provide consumer reports.

5. Fees

The investigator sets and quotes their own fees directly, and you pay the investigator, not Smoothquill, for any investigative work. Smoothquill does not currently charge you a fee to be connected with an investigator. If this ever changes, any fee will be clearly disclosed to you before you incur it.

6. No guarantee of results

We do not guarantee that an investigator will be available, will accept your matter, or will achieve any particular result. Investigative outcomes depend on facts, lawful methods, and available information.

7. Independent professionals

Investigators are independent professionals, not employees or agents of Smoothquill. Smoothquill is not responsible for their acts, omissions, methods, licensing status, pricing, or work product. Any dispute about investigative services is between you and the investigator.

8. Disclaimers

The service is provided "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent permitted by law, Smoothquill disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including any warranty that a referral will meet your needs.

9. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Smoothquill LLC will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for the acts or omissions of independent investigators or your use of any information obtained. Because Smoothquill provides a referral and connection service and does not perform investigative work or charge you for the connection, its total aggregate liability to you for any matter arising out of or relating to the service will not exceed one hundred U.S. dollars ($100). Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of these may not apply to you.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Smoothquill LLC from claims arising out of your requests, your use of the service or any results, or your breach of these terms or the Acceptable Use Policy — including any unlawful or impermissible use of information.

11. Changes

We may update these terms. The "Last updated" date reflects the current version; continued use after changes means you accept them.

12. Governing law and disputes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Idaho, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these terms or the service will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Idaho, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts. Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking injunctive relief where appropriate.

13. Contact

Questions about these terms? Email privacy@smoothquill.com.

Note: This document is provided for general information and does not constitute legal advice. It may be updated from time to time; the effective date above reflects the current version.