Explain the decision you need to make
You do not need a polished dossier to ask for help. Start with two sentences: what has happened, and what you need to establish. ‘I need to check which company entered this agreement’ gives a clearer starting point than ‘I want a full investigation’. Explain how the answer would help you decide what to do next.
Include your connection to the matter and any deadline. If a solicitor is already involved, mention that at the outset. The initial discussion should establish what is useful and appropriate before anyone commits to a particular method or a volume of work.
Separate facts, concerns and gaps
Use three short headings in your notes: what I know, what concerns me, and what I still need to establish. Give the source of each important fact. For example, distinguish a statement in an email you hold from something a third party told you by telephone.
- The main question, written as one sentence.
- Your relationship to the people or organisations involved.
- A short chronology with dates, marking estimates clearly.
- The records you already hold and how you obtained them.
- Any previous searches, enquiries or professional advice.
- The deadline, available budget and a safe way to contact you.
Send an outline before sending a bundle
For a first enquiry, describe the documents rather than sending every attachment. Keep original files in a secure place and use working copies for your notes. Ask how relevant material should be transferred if more detail is needed.
Do not send account passwords, unrelated medical information or intimate material in a general enquiry. If a document contains information about several people, explain its relevance before sharing it. A useful brief reduces the amount of personal information passed around while making the important issue easier to understand.
Define a useful stopping point
Think about what would count as sufficient information, and what would make further work unnecessary. A first stage might assess feasibility or resolve one inconsistency before a larger instruction. PDC offers an initial discussion and a tailored proposal. Bring your outline, ask for basic pointers and take time to understand the proposed scope before deciding whether to proceed.
Questions you may have
Do I need to know which service to ask for?
No. Explain the question and the circumstances. The discussion can then establish whether a service, a simple next step or another professional is appropriate.
What if some dates are uncertain?
Mark them as approximate and explain the basis for your estimate. An honest gap is more useful than false precision.