About Atlas Investigations

A Brief History of our Firm and Experience

ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa is owned and operated by TIMOTHY BRAATZ who has a B.S. degree in Paralegal, and over 37 years total work experience as a Private & Legal Investigator and Paralegal. This includes over five years experience as a Staff Investigator at large Law Firms in MN & WI, in which he conducted several hundred different investigations relating to Plaintiff or Defense Personal Injury Accidents and Workers' Compensation Claims, Criminal Defense Investigations, Civil, Family, Business, Probate, and Real Estate related matters. Mr. Braatz has investigated numerous Alcohol and Liquor Liability or “Dram Shop” related cases over the years, and has recently became “TIPS” (Training for Intervention Program) Certified for Alcohol Premise related Investigations.

Prior to to starting ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS, Mr. Braatz was also employed for over five years as a Registered Private Detective at two different Private Investigative firms in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. Metro. area, during which time he personally conducted or was involved in over 2500 cases involving Surveillance in suspected Insurance Fraud related matters, and the Investigation and Interviewing of Persons involved in Workers' Compensation or Personal Injury Claims, Property Loss or Theft Claim Related Matters. Mr. Braatz worked throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region of MD, VA, DC, DE, WVA, PA, and other surrounding states during this time period, and was District Manager of a Washington D.C./Northern VA Field Office for almost two years for one of the firms in that region.

Since establishing ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS in Minnesota in 1994, Mr. Braatz has continued to assist Attorneys, Businesses, Insurance Companies, Governmental Agencies, and Individuals with Professional Service and Quality Results in a Cost Effective Manner throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

MAPI and TCCCFE Board Member

Mr. Braatz has volunteered as Board President of the Minnesota Association of Private Investigators and Protective Agents (MAPI) from 5/2016 to Present, and has been Board Secretary from 3/2013 to the present. His primary responsibilities include scheduling seminars and professional training, website promotion, and handling all membership registration and corporate sponsorships for the Association.

Tim has also volunteered as a Board Member of the Twin Cities Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (TCCCFE) from 2021 to Present. He participates in monthly Board Meetings of the Chapter and assists with the planning of Educational Training and the day to day Operations of the Chapter. He has also attended and represented the Twin Cities Chapter at both the 2022 and 2023 Global Fraud Conferences.

Educational Outreach

In fall of 2016 and 2017, Tim Braatz was a guest speaker discussing Private Investigation to the students in the Legal Office Management class at Winona State University in Winona, MN. He has also been a guest speaker to Paralegal students in the WSU Legal Investigation Course in the past. He continues to be available to Winona State Paralegal students through the WSU Mentorship Program.

ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS was proud to be featured on the (now offline) Minnesota School of Business blog in 2013, after Tim Braatz spoke to the Paralegal Students about the relationship between Paralegals and Private Investigators.

“Tim Braatz had very good advice for us as paralegal students. He had great stories to tell about his investigative endeavors. He opened our eyes to yet another aspect of paralegal job opportunities like investigation!” -- Students Track Down Real-Life Private Investigator Archived image

Our Coverage Area

ATLAS INVESTIGATIONS has been conducting Investigations, Surveillance, Civil Process, and other types of Legal Support throughout the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin since 1994, and in Iowa since 2003. Although we can handle work throughout all three States, our main service area is Southern Minnesota, the entire Twin Cities Metro. area, Western Wisconsin, and Northern Iowa. This includes all of the areas noted in the highlighted Map on this page. We have extensive field experience having worked in all of the Cities and Counties in these areas and beyond, including but not limited to Rochester, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Mankato, St. Peter, Le Sueur, New Ulm, Fairmont, Austin, Albert Lea, Owatonna, Faribault, Northfield, Waseca, Winona, Caledonia, Preston, Red Wing, Wabasha, Lake City, Cannon Falls, and all of the Cities in the Seven County Twin Cities Metropolitan area.

In addition to the aforementioned MN areas, we also provide Investigative, Surveillance and Legal Support to all of Western Wisconsin from Hudson, Rice Lake, Eau Claire, Black River Falls, Sparta and Tomah to all along the Mississippi River Valley from Prescott, to La Crosse, Viroqua, and Prairie Du Chien. Finally, we also handle work throughout Northern Iowa from Decorah and Cresco to Charles City, Mason City, Clear Lake, and Estherville and beyond.

Memberships and Affiliations

Mr. Braatz is an active member of and frequently attends annual seminars and continuing education classes through all of the following organizations:

Please Contact Us

If you have a matter you wish to discuss with us, please call at the below listed phone numbers, or send us an Email request using the Contact button on the left. We will do our best to provide you with the best solution and/or ideas to assist in resolving your issues.