Frequently asked questions
What to know before we search.
Short answers about cost, timing, permissions, insurance and the places we can—and cannot—work.
Are you insured?
Yes. Ring & Relic Recovery is insured for recovery and research work on other people's property.
How much does a recent-loss search cost?
Recent-loss projects are quoted individually. A destination and search fee is due upon arrival, with an additional recovery fee or agreed reward when the item is found.
Can historical property research be free?
Yes. A historical property project may be offered at no cost when the research, access or recovery opportunity itself makes the project worthwhile. Each property is considered individually.
How quickly should I contact you after losing something?
As soon as possible. Stop unnecessary foot traffic, mowing, raking or moving objects in the suspected area. Mark the best-known location and call or text us.
What should I document after losing an item?
Record when the item was last confirmed, the best-known location, what happened immediately before and after it disappeared, and any route you traveled. Take wide photographs of the overall area and close photographs of landmarks. Photos and precise location details help tremendously.
What information helps you plan a search?
The nearest address, when the item was last seen, what happened immediately before it disappeared, photos of the item and any pictures or landmarks that help define the search area.
Where do you work?
Oklahoma is our primary service area. Regional and nationwide projects are considered individually when the circumstances justify travel.
Do I need the property owner's permission?
Yes. We require permission before searching property that you do not own or control.
Are there places you will not search?
Yes. We do not search along the sides or shoulders of highways, cemetery ground, or marked or unmarked graves. We also decline any search that is unsafe, unlawful, unauthorized or likely to damage property or sensitive resources.
What happens if a location may be an ancient site?
We stop and do not disturb it. A possible ancient or archaeological site requires evaluation and any further work by a qualified archaeologist, with the appropriate permissions.
Do you perform underwater recovery?
Yes. Derik is a certified diver. Search depth and whether a dive can be conducted are determined case by case based on access, visibility, current, entanglement risks, other hazards and safe operating conditions.
Will digging damage my yard?
When digging is needed, we use small, precise plugs and careful recovery methods. Soil and turf are replaced neatly so the ground appears undisturbed when the work is complete.
What happens to trash and debris found during a search?
We remove recovered trash and debris from the search area instead of returning it to the ground. Our goal is to leave the property better than we found it, with any necessary plugs restored neatly.
How do you protect privacy and sensitive locations?
Discretion is essential. We do not publicly share the locations of recovered items, private search areas or sensitive historical sites. In the rare case that a recovery warrants broader documentation, information may be shared with a local historical society or museum only with the property owner's consent and with appropriate location details protected.
How are historical findings documented?
Historical projects are maintained in organized casebooks. Sources, maps, permissions, search areas, field observations, photographs, coordinates and findings are logged when appropriate. GIS tools may combine historic maps, aerial imagery, LiDAR, GPS data and modern mapping layers so the evidence remains traceable.
What can you search for?
Common projects include rings, jewelry, phones, keys and other misplaced valuables on land, in shallow water or in difficult areas such as crawlspaces. Historical projects may involve old homesteads, vanished communities, family stories and evidence-based field recovery.
Does historical research guarantee a recovery?
No. Research helps identify what is plausible and where fieldwork may be worthwhile, but records can be incomplete and not every promising location produces a recoverable item.