Child Custody & Maintenance Investigation | Private Investigators
The well-being and financial support of a child are significant issues that usually involve the courts. However, the facts also matter at a personal level and are important not only for deciding on custody and maintenance, but also for any other parent or legal representative who is part of such decision process.
The use of a Private Investigator could be very useful as a method of checking facts especially when it comes to the child’s home life circumstances, the child’s parents circumstances and even details concerning the parents’ jobs and financial status or, of course other areas that one might think are relevant to the dispute.
What is a Child Custody and Maintenance Investigation?
In general terms, a child custody investigation usually is a collection of facts, evidence based on which a decision is made about where the child will live with, who is the legal guardian, whether the child can see the other parent etc.
The purpose of the latter can also include determining a person’s income, checking where a person is employed etc., provided they are lawful and proper.
It is the responsibility of the court or legal authority to decide who gets custody and maintenance. The role of a PI is not to take sides but to get facts.
When Can a Private Investigator Be Helpful ?
In some cases, parents can think it is in the child’s best interest to involve a professional investigative service if they are worried about:
Involving the child more frequently and understanding what the conditions are at home if there are problems like abuse or neglect is also important
Parental arrangements are one issue. The main concern of the PI is child welfare so if the child is being raised in such a way that it may not be beneficial for the child’s development, the PI will note this.
Rights of children have come a long way. It is very easy to get information on the internet as well. For example, a parent might be able to find out how many times his or her child attended school over a given time period just by going through the online school portal. In such cases, a PI might just want to confirm and make a report if there is something that needs to be done differently.
If either one of the parents is employed differently then the other one, a PI may find this out by checking the work and the income.
Pi may be able to find out a parent does have other businesses but does not share it openly by looking into documents, talking to acquaintances etc.
The Pi may be interested in financial records where there might a possibility of some hidden money being kept away so the other parent does not know about it.
Some parents might be worried because the financial situation has changed rapidly. They are wondering if it was intentional by one parent who has tried to manipulate the child.
If the child and parent see each other according to agreed visitation arrangement only, if a parent has some suspicions about the child and the visitations are happening properly a PI can be of help if they decide the situation warrants further investigation.
Investigation is necessary only when a case has a genuine issue (i.e., something that might affect the outcome of the case) and the evidence being collected has a good chance to make the court understand and possibly agree to a certain order or resolution.
The Services Offered by a Private Investigator when a Parent Child Custody Dispute is Involved
Ensuring Child’s Well-being and Happiness
One way of making a child happy and healthy is through providing her environment, daily activities that she will enjoy and the people who will support and love her. When necessary, a private investigator can be the person who helps make sure and report on any child-related issues such as the child’s living environment conditions and activities, child’s routine etc.
Assisting in the Process of Choosing the Best Place for the Child by the Parents
By means of lawful investigation and other related techniques private investigators can be of great assistance especially by giving evidence on the child’s immediate environment for the duration of one day i.e., how the child’s day at home is spent, or by checking on various aspects of the children’s parents such as their character and conduct that may be relevant for the children being under their care.
Checking School Attendance etc
In cases where the main issues are that the parent is concerned about the child not being taken to school regularly, or is the child’s daily schedule different when being at the father’s or mother’s house as well as the reason for that, the child has been missing from school for some days or there have been other unusual reasons etc, the private investigator can assist legally in finding out the whole story.
Confirming Visitations
In some family cases, it may become necessary for the Court to be presented with documentary or photographic evidence showing that the visitation arrangements agreed upon by the parents were actually being kept and/or complied with properly and to the satisfaction of all involved the parent who has had the child with him or her, the child, any relative or friend of the child or the child’s care givers.
Checking Background of Parents, Their Business & Employment etc.
Relevant details relating to work, residing arrangements, the conduct of a business, the nature of the background or similar matters can be checked via the legitimate sources.
Maintenance Investigation Services
Employment Verification
Relevant employment information can be checked by detectives and found through reliable channels.
Business Activity Verification
It may be possible to find out about someone’s business or professional activity by the use of legal research in order to provide the background of the person’s finances.
Asset & Property Verification
Through a legal investigation one may be able to find information regarding the person’s property and other assets.
Financial Lifestyle Verification
When an investigation is based on a proper cause, visible and publicly accessible facts can be used to indicate contradictions from what is declared and what appears to be financial activity.
Address & Identity Verification
Through legal means one can cross check the address and the identity details of the person.
How the Investigation Process Works
1. Confidential Consultation
A custodial or maintenance disagreement is explained by you, your concerns and worries, the documents you have, and the investigation plan.
2. Case Assessment
An experienced detective looks through what kind of information may be significant and selects what lines of investigation are legal according to the situation.
3. Investigation Planning
Secret but suitable methods and means of investigation are worked out.
4. Fact Verification
To check facts, one may use lawful surveillance, background checking, public-source research, interviews or any other methods suitable for the case.
5. Report
Relevant discoveries are systematically noted with dates, the detective’s observations, the materials supporting that and wherever needed.
6. Reporting
A well-structured investigation report could be made for the client and their lawyer if they agree to that on the condition.
When Should Someone Go for a Private Investigator?
In family cases, the parties are usually presenting different versions and there is not much known. Getting a professional investigation done will benefit you in a number of ways, including:
- Clarify the issues by checking the facts
- Detect discrepancies
- Work out a timeline
- Confirm or disprove your suspicions regarding your ex’s job or business
- Make notes about what you’ve seen to show them to your solicitor
- Prepare your evidence so that you can speak up in court without any trouble
- Reach decisions based on the best possible knowledge
Will Courts Accept Evidence Collected by the Private Investigator?
Maybe. The discovery of evidence made while gathering it may be relevant for some domestic disagreements. Nevertheless, it is not a universal fact that court will accept all the evidence gathered from detective’s investigation as proof.
The lawfulness of the manner of collection, the relevance of the information, the genuineness of the document, the dependability or trustworthiness of the testimony, the protection of personal information, and, lastly, the evidence law that governs each type in every case are the various things which may influence that.
Contact a professional family-law lawyer if you want to use the results of a private investigation in court.
Law-abiding & Responsible Investigations
Cases concerning children’s custody demand a high level of sensitivity. One primary objective of private investigators is to ensure a child’s well-being while at the same time being cautious so not to invade their privacy.
The activities we categorically disapprove are as follows:
- Unauthorized phone tracking
- Cyber-espionage (hacking of devices or accounts, stealing passwords)
- Covert recording
- Unlawful entry of premises
- Cyber intimidation or harassment
- Acquisition of confidential data through illegal means
All investigations need to be for legitimate purposes and must not break privacy, child custody, or family court rules.
Seek a Child Custody or Maintenance Investigation Help?
If you are going through a custody issue, maintenance matter, visitation question or similar family court concerns, hiring a certified investigator can greatly help you gather the relevant facts with more clarity.
Contact your PI via the form below, request a confidential assessment of your case and ask about the Child Custody & Maintenance Investigation service today.
FAQs
1. What is a child custody investigation?
It is an expert method of getting facts regarding a particular situation that can potentially be brought to court to determine the best arrangement for the children involved.
3. Can I get a child’s living environment checked?
The situation is checked if there’s a justifiable reason for it and it is lawful.
2. Do private investigators help with custody issues?
A qualified and experienced investigator can offer you a range of support including verification of information and providing you with a well documented report.
4. Visitations arrangement check can this be done?
The answer is: “Depends on the circumstances” However, it is quite feasible to perform lawful observation or checking of visitation arrangements if it is done by the right professionals.
5. Is it possible to find information regarding maintenance?
Without doubt! You would probably need to look up their employer, financial, property, and other business records.
6. Is verification of someone’s work record possible?
We can do so by employing legal and reliable job verification methods.
8. Will a custody investigation stay a secret?
In short, private and professional investigations usually maintain the confidentiality of the matter under investigation, subject to law and necessary safeguards.
7. Do you know how to find secret assets?
A private investigator can do a legal investigation to check an individual’s or a company’s assets that can be obtained lawfully.
9. Can family court consider investigation reports?
Probably yes, but whether a particular report is admissible or not would depend on the nature of the case and the law that applies in the particular place.
10. Steps involved in starting an investigation
Approach a private investigator who is professionally certified and ask for his expertise in a private setting. Describe your child custody or spousal support problems to get a sense of what they can do.