Kentucky One-Party
Licensing & Regulation
Kentucky licenses PIs through the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators under KRS 329A.010 et seq. Applicants must be 21+, complete 40 hours of approved training, pass a written examination, submit fingerprints, and have no disqualifying convictions. Renewal is biennial.
Physical Surveillance
Public surveillance is permitted. Kentucky's stalking and harassment statutes (KRS 508.130-150) constrain intrusive conduct. GPS tracking on a non-owned vehicle is risky.
Audio & Video Recording Consent
Kentucky is a one-party-consent state under KRS 526.010. The recording party must be a participant.
Domestic, Marital & Infidelity Investigations
Kentucky is a no-fault divorce state. Marital misconduct can affect maintenance. PIs document patterns. Accessing a spouse's accounts violates KRS 434.845 (unlawful access to a computer).
Cybersecurity, Hacking & Digital Investigations
KRS 434.840-855 (computer crimes) parallels the CFAA. OSINT is permitted; pretexting is barred federally.
Missing Persons, Skip Tracing & Harassment
Kentucky State Police coordinate missing-persons cases. DPPA fully applies. Kentucky's stalking statute is broad.