The idea of hiring a private investigator during a child custody case may sound extreme – but it shouldn’t. Hiring a PI could be one of the best decisions you can make to protect your child, protect yourself and have documented evidence to present to the court.
Protect your child
We know that your child means everything to you. In a child custody case, a private investigator will gather evidence about all aspects he can about your child’s daily life with the other parent. He will be watching for any signs of neglect or abuse – physical, emotional/mental or verbal. He will collect evidence that speaks to the stability of the home, lifestyle and consistent routine or schedule.
Your PI will document all of the other parent’s associates and perform background checks to ensure your child is not being exposed to individuals with questionable history such as criminal activity, drug convictions, sex offense convictions and other activities that indicate he or she is a risk to your child’s wellbeing. Your PI will also gather evidence on the behaviors of the other parent such as engaging in risky behavior that could impact the child like dangerous driving, driving under the influence, drinking or drug use and leaving the child alone for long periods of time.
Protect yourself
Having a private investigator for your child custody case can protect you as well. Ensure your PI will be providing surveillance of the exchange of the child between parents for visitations. The evidence provided by a private investigator can eliminate false accusations and “he said/she said” situations. The PI may also uncover sources of income not reported to the court that would impact child support payments or additional people living in the home that have not been disclosed to the court. The private investigator may also testify in court based on the evidence he has collected throughout the case.
In the best scenario, the private investigator will find no evidence of wrong-doing on the part of the other parent, giving you peace of mind that your child is being cared for properly when they are not with you. In other scenarios, the evidence collected by the PI can make a big difference in the outcome of your case. If you decide to hire a private investigator for your child custody investigation, make sure you choose an investigator that is licensed in the state or states involved and has a proven track record working on child custody cases.
