In most countries a lie detector result is not proof on its own. Some courts refuse it completely. Others consider it only if both parties agree in advance. Some also allow it as part of an expert opinion. Lawyers therefore use the test mostly outside the courtroom. For example, to check a client's account, plan a strategy or support a settlement. A legal examination costs from $350, with a documented report within 24 hours.
When lawyers and their clients order a test
A legal examination is useful when the case turns on one person's word against another's. Usually there is little other evidence.
Checking a client's account before choosing a defence strategy. The result is sometimes also offered to the prosecution.
Allegations that are hard to prove either way. In practice, an examination can support a parent's position.
Disputes over verbal agreements, missing money or property. Often the facts are known to the parties only.
Claims of theft or misconduct at work, before or after an internal investigation.
Checking whether a loss happened as described. Usually at the request of an insurer or the claimant's lawyer.
A documented result that helps both sides agree without a long trial.
How a legal examination is carried out
Legal work needs more preparation than a private test. The report may be read by a judge. Besides, the other side can challenge it.
Before the session, the examiner studies the case materials provided by the lawyer. First, the exact wording of the relevant questions is agreed. The examinee is then interviewed, reads every question and signs a consent form. The recording follows a recognised comparison question technique. Also, the whole session can be video-recorded if the lawyer requests it.
The report describes the method, the questions and the test conditions. It also gives the result for each question. The charts are kept, so an independent examiner can review them. Where needed, the examiner can explain the findings to the lawyer. Where the procedure allows, they can also be explained to the court.
The lawyer sends the key facts. We confirm whether the issue can be tested and agree the questions.
The examinee signs written consent and discusses every question with the examiner.
The recording takes place under controlled conditions. Usually the full session lasts 2–3 hours.
Finally, a signed report follows within 24 hours. It also gives the method and result for each question.
How courts treat the results
There is no single answer. Every country sets its own rules, and in the US every state does too. Below is a general overview. However, your lawyer will know how the rules apply to your case.
United States
Most US courts do not admit the results. Many states allow them only if both parties agree in writing before the test. A few courts have discretion to admit them under their rules on expert evidence. Results are also widely used outside court. For example, by defence lawyers and prosecutors when discussing a case.
United Kingdom and Ireland
Results are not admissible as evidence in criminal trials. At the same time, polygraph testing is used by the probation service. In England and Wales it supervises certain offenders on licence. In civil and family matters, a result can help the parties and their solicitors. However, it does not prove anything by itself.
Continental Europe
Approaches vary. German criminal courts regard the method as unsuitable evidence. Spanish courts do not accept a result as proof. Polish criminal procedure, on the other hand, allows an examination with the person's consent. A court can also consider it as part of an expert opinion.
Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in R v Béland (1987) on this question. Such results are not admissible in criminal trials. However, tests are still used during investigations and by defence lawyers.
How lawyers actually use the result
Even where a report cannot be filed as evidence, it often has practical value. In practice, lawyers use it in four ways.
- checking whether a client's account is believable, before building a defence around it;
- support for negotiations with the other side, an insurer or the prosecution;
- preparation for mediation or a settlement in a family or civil dispute;
- clarity for a client when there is no other way to check a key fact.
A test ordered by the other party can also be answered with an independent examination. In that case, it helps to know the method used. That is why our reports always describe it in detail. Workplace incidents are covered separately. See our page on the lie detector test for employees.
Limits you should know
The test answers questions about specific past events. For example: did a person do something, see something or know something. It does not work with opinions, intentions or events the person may genuinely not remember. The examinee must also be fit to be tested. So we do not test anyone intoxicated, acutely ill or under strong sedatives.
Accuracy for a professional examination is 95–98%, which is high but not absolute. That is exactly why courts treat the method with caution. A report should therefore be one part of a case, not the whole of it.
Prices for legal examinations
Legal work usually takes longer: case review, a stricter protocol and a detailed report. The price depends on the number of issues and the materials to study.
| Service | Price (USD) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Court-ordered polygraph test | $400 – $800 | 2 – 3 h |
| Attorney-requested examination | $350 – $700 | 2 – 3 h |
| Insurance fraud investigation | $300 – $500 | 1.5 – 2 h |
| Borrower solvency assessment | $250 | 1 – 1.5 h |
Travel and video recording of the session are quoted separately. So is the examiner's attendance at a hearing. A coordinator replies within 24 hours, and lawyers can request a call with the examiner. All rates are on the lie detector test prices page.
Prices are indicative. Finally, a coordinator confirms the cost at booking or once the service is clear.
Legal examinations are carried out by a team of certified examiners. The team is led by Anton Vertel, Executive Director of Global Experts Union. He is a certified polygraph examiner and profiler-verifier. Anton Vertel is also trained in practical psychology and philosophical anthropology.
In legal work, the method matters as much as the result. We follow validated question techniques and keep every chart. Besides, each step is described in the report. So the other side can check how the conclusion was reached.
Tests for court cases: FAQ
Short answers to the questions lawyers and their clients usually ask.
Is a lie detector test admissible in court?
In most countries it is not accepted as proof on its own. Some courts refuse it completely. Others, however, consider it only if both parties agree beforehand. Some allow it as part of an expert opinion. Your lawyer knows how the rules apply in your case.
Can a court order a lie detector test?
In some countries, yes. Polish criminal procedure, for example, allows an examination with the person's consent. But in most jurisdictions nobody can be forced to take a test. A refusal is also not treated as an admission.
Why do lawyers order a test if courts rarely accept it?
Because the result helps outside the courtroom. It lets a lawyer check a client's account and prepare a strategy. It also supports negotiations or a settlement.
How much does a legal examination cost?
An examination requested by a lawyer costs $350–$700, and a court-ordered test $400–$800. The price usually depends on the number of issues and the case materials. A coordinator confirms the final cost at booking.
What does the report include?
The method, the exact questions and the test conditions. Also the result for each question, signed by the examiner. The charts are kept for independent review.
Can the other side challenge the result?
Yes, and they often do. That is why we describe the method in detail and keep the charts. So another examiner can review them.
How long does a legal examination take?
Usually 2–3 hours including the interview, plus time to study the case materials beforehand. The report follows within 24 hours.
Can the test be done online for a legal case?
For legal work we recommend an in-person examination. The conditions are usually easier to control and document. An online test is better suited to private questions.
Describe the case briefly and tell us the country.
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