Commercial and private agent licences
Who needs a licence
You need a licence to work as a commercial agent, inquiry agent, process server or private bailiff in the Northern Territory.
Commercial agent
A commercial agent is someone who is paid to:
- locate or seize items subject to a hire purchase agreement or bill of sale
- collect or request payment of debts
- get evidence for legal proceedings
- search for missing persons on behalf of someone else
- seize goods to recover rates, taxes or money
- carry out legal processes as the result of a judgement or court order.
Inquiry agent
An inquiry agent, or private detective, is paid to collect information. This includes tasks like:
- getting information about a person's character, actions, business or occupation
- collecting evidence for legal proceedings
- searching for missing persons on behalf of someone else.
Private bailiff
A private bailiff executes warrants and processes. They can also make arrests.
Process server
A process server is paid to serve writs, summons or other legal processes on behalf of someone else.
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Last updated: 01 February 2019