Many couples who are on the brink of divorce, or already enduring in the harsh current of proceedings, default to the advice of lawyers, the court system, and child services when it comes to issues of legal custody or physical custody. There is a myriad of reasons for this, including a parent’s financial means, work schedule, health issues, and ignorance. What’s problematic about leaving issues of child custody in the hands of lawyers and the courts is families in turmoil become files in a drawer. The decisions made on behalf of the legal system in a divorce or custody matter often rest on the review of a mountain of paperwork; courts relying on police reports, financial/asset summaries, psychological evaluations, et cetera. What’s on paper becomes the load bearing beam for any decision made regarding legal custody or physical custody, because caregivers in conflict are both subject to scrutiny in their statements against the other.

Matters of child custody, by their very nature, demand an independent, objective eye in order to make a sound legal decision regarding that child’s life. The court is the principal objective viewpoint that holds decision power when determining physical custody, but they must rely on the evidence in front of them. In a divorce or acrimonious co-parenting situation, if a parent seeking legal or physical custody presents evidence to the court that they have gathered themselves (i.e. text messages, photos, or audio recordings), that evidence will always be subjected to a level of scrutiny by the court. This leaves many parents and caregivers ill-equipped to argue their child custody case before a court of law, and that’s where private investigators come in.

Discretion and due-diligence

When it comes to determining legal custody, evidence is key. The number one advantage of hiring a private investigator to document a questionable parent’s behavior in a child custody case is their ability to move through any environment undetected. Despite the fact a study determined there was an excess of 78,000 private investigators employed in the United States alone in 2017, you’ll never see a good one in the field. Private investigators are trained to blend into the crowd and surveil inconspicuously in order to ensure the subject does not modify their behavior for the benefit of being watched. In addition to hiding in plain sight, part of maintaining success in their profession means staying up to date on the best available surveillance technology on the market in order to gather evidence for their cases. For instance, in a divorce, if your estranged spouse is allowing questionable individuals to be around your child, a private investigator could secure evidence that the spouse is putting that child in danger, which could tip the scales in terms of getting physical custody of the child.

Parents are on their very best behavior when in mediation or appearing before a judge, but private investigators can completely upset the current state of a child custody case with evidence they uncover in the field. Private investigators can document the behavior unseen by the courts. In matters of child custody, private investigators can document things like abuse and neglect through photographs, video, audio recordings, witness testimony, and the same examination of vital documents that would be performed by the courts. A private investigator’s training has equipped them to be on the lookout for things like substance dependency, such as alcoholism, drug addiction, or gambling problems. Private investigators can also document the opposing caregiver’s living conditions, whether or not the child is clean and well-fed, and the child’s emotional wellness in the course of a child custody investigation. Through their discretion and integrity, a private investigator will never leave a stone unturned in a child custody investigation due to personal bias.

Private investigators can take on child custody cases at many different levels, all of which can be beneficial to the parent who wishes to establish a case against another parent or caregiver who they perceive to have questionable integrity. As with any investigation, the sooner the process of documenting and gathering evidence starts, the stronger a foundation the parent will have when they present their child custody case before a judge. Parents who are considering divorcing a co-parent or caregiver and intend to establish a pattern of unfitness should consult a private investigator right away. The subject is more likely to proceed as they would normally prior to news that their partner is taking them to court. While the subject may not suspect they are being legally surveilled during a divorce proceeding, they are aware of the fact that—at a minimum—their behavior and actions during that time will be taken under consideration by the courts. The time to start collecting evidence is before divorce papers are drawn up and served.

Child support investigations

In cases where parents have retained sole custody of their children, but have a court order in place for child support can sometimes have difficulty getting the other party to comply with the order. Perhaps the other parent claims they do not have the funds to meet the court’s requirement, or they claim to be protesting the court’s requirements on some sort of legal grounds. In sole custody situations like this, the custodial parent needs an independent party who can represent the interest of the children. Private investigators can use their surveillance skillset to document certain behaviors of the non-custodial parent and determine their ability to make child support payments. Private investigators can photograph exteriors of a parent’s property to document expensive vehicles and home improvements. They can document a parent’s moves in order to get an idea of their spending habits. Credit and asset searches can also be conducted by private investigators to give a more comprehensive picture of a parent’s financial situation and how realistic it is for them to comply with a child support order.

If you have need of a child custody investigation, consider Lauth Investigations International for your intelligence needs. Our private investigators are comprised of former military and law enforcement personnel who are ready to represent the safety and interest of your child. We provide detailed reports and expert recommendations. Call 317-951-1100 or contact us on our website at www.lauthinveststg.wpengine.com

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