How to Request a Free Paranormal Investigation from TAPS

We built the request process to be as straightforward as possible, because the last thing someone dealing with unexplained activity needs is a complicated intake form. This post walks through exactly what happens from the moment you submit a request to the night we show up — and what you should expect at each step.

Step 1: Submit the Request Form

The case request form takes about ten minutes to complete. It asks for contact information, the location you want investigated, a description of the activity you've experienced, and some background about the property and the people in it. You don't need to have everything figured out before you submit — if you're not sure about some of the details, leave them blank and we'll discuss them in the intake conversation.

The questions that feel personal — who lives in the home, whether there are children or elderly residents, whether anyone has experienced anything physically — are there because they shape how we approach the investigation and how we handle the debrief. We ask about vulnerability not because it changes whether we'll take the case, but because it changes how carefully and gently we communicate.

Everything you submit is confidential. Your name, your address, and the details of your case will not be shared publicly without your explicit consent.

Step 2: Case Review

After you submit, your case goes to a TAPS case manager. Most submissions are reviewed within a few business days. The review looks at the nature of the reported activity, the location, whether the case falls within the capacity of the nearest available team, and whether there are any urgent safety concerns — like the CO and gas issues we occasionally identify from case descriptions alone.

We take every submission seriously. We have never dismissed a case because the activity seemed implausible or the person seemed uncertain. The reason people come to us is exactly because they're not sure what's happening — certainty isn't a prerequisite.

Step 3: The Intake Conversation

A case manager will contact you — by email, phone, or text depending on your preference — to discuss your submission. This is not an interrogation. It's a conversation. We're trying to understand what you've experienced, when it started, whether it's gotten worse, whether anything in the property has changed, and what you're hoping to learn from an investigation.

This is also your opportunity to ask us anything. What equipment do we use? What happens if we find something? What happens if we don't? How long does it take? You're trusting us to come into your home — you should know exactly who we are and what we do before we get there.

Step 4: Scheduling

Investigations are typically scheduled for an overnight — we arrive in the evening and wrap up early in the morning. We work around your schedule as much as possible. You don't need to vacate the property; you can be present or you can arrange to stay elsewhere for the night. Both are fine. We discuss this during the intake conversation.

Timelines between submission and investigation vary. Residential cases with reported activity that could indicate a safety risk are prioritized. Geographic distance from the nearest available team is a factor. In general, most cases are investigated within several weeks of submission.

Step 5: The Investigation

We arrive, conduct a full environmental assessment, set up equipment, run the investigation, collect data, and leave. You'll receive a written summary of our findings and a debrief conversation. If we found something we can't explain, we tell you exactly what it is and exactly what we ruled out. If we found a rational explanation, we tell you that too — and who to call.

“You deserve to know what's happening in your own home. That's the whole point.”

Frequently Asked Questions

• —Is it really free? Yes. TAPS has never charged a client and never will. We are a non-profit organization.
• —Do I have to be present? No. You can be present or arrange to be elsewhere — whichever you prefer.
• —Will my case be on television? Only if you explicitly consent. Most of our investigations are private and confidential.
• —What if nothing is found? We still tell you everything we observed, every environmental factor we documented, and our full assessment of the property. No findings is a finding.
• —Can you investigate my business or historic site? Yes. We investigate homes, businesses, historic buildings, and outdoor locations.

If you're ready to submit a request, the form is on the Request page. It takes ten minutes. It's free. And a real person will read it.