Child custody cases can often be very contentious and involve many serious accusations from both sides. With emotions running high and so much on the line, it’s vitally important that the evidence presented is accurate and most importantly admissible in court. This is where the experience of professional private investigators becomes an important tool in securing the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Investigations for Child Custody
Investigations for child custody involves an examination of a child’s treatment and well-being objectively. The job of the private investigator is to assess how the parent in question is behaving both with the child and in general and present the information via reporting to the court.
Private investigators can do a lot of things during the course of a child custody investigation. There may be a need for surveillance to truly find out how the parent is conducting themselves with the child. The private investigator will note possible instances of neglect or abuse by taking pictures or videos and documenting everything. A private investigator’s surveillance report may include examples of negative parenting behaviour such as criminal activity, reckless driving, drug abuse, gambling, and a lot more. Other notable activities may be included, especially those that can give a picture of the parent not providing food, basic necessities, or a safe living environment for the child.
Child Custody: What It Is and What It Isn’t
There are different types of child custody. It is important that the party who hired the private investigator to understand this. Below are further information:
- Physical custody refers to with whom the child will live, this can either be joint custody or sole custody.
- Legal custody refers to which parent has a say for legal decisions for the child, this can also be joint custody or sole custody.
Private Investigators in Child Custody
Private investigators also utilize many other methods than surveillance for child custody investigations. They can interview witnesses such as counsellors, family friends, teachers, and neighbours to gather data about a child’s life. They can search for hidden assets more so if a parent is suspected of shirking financial responsibilities towards a child. In some cases, a private investigator can gather needed evidence to prove something or find out something. Evidence can be in the form of proof of neglect, alcohol abuse, or placing the child in a dangerous environment. Background checks is another task that a private investigator can help with for child custody. The private investigator can look into a parent’s background as well as the background of the people one parent may have around the child. Lastly, an investigator can utilize OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) to investigate all online profiles of the parent in question, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. and gather further evidence.
Why Hire a Private Investigator for Child Custody?
Child custody cases are one of the most important parts of many contentious divorces. The future safety and well-being of your child is not something to take lightly. A private investigator can gather the information you need in a legal manner, in a way that is admissible as objective evidence in court. On the other hand, if you’ve been falsely accused of abusing or harming your child, a private investigator can help you gather evidence to prove the falsity of such accusations and get your life back.
Need a private investigator to help you with a child custody case? Contact us at Haywood Hunt & Associates to avail of our private investigation services. Your initial consultation is on us!
