Commercial and private agent licences

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.

Go to how to apply for an agent licence.