Across the United States, approximately 50% of all marriages end in divorce and, unfortunately, many of those marriages have children involved. As a result, couples are forced to determine who will receive primary custody of the children and which spouse will be responsible for paying child support. Although child custody cases look different in every state, many cases are long, drawn-out battles between spouses that require an attorney and other supporting staff to settle.
For couples going through child custody cases and the attorneys assisting them, Private Investigators are essential to success. Here, we’re going to take a look at the different roles Private Investigators play in child custody cases and why they’re so important.
Conduct Background Checks on Involved Parties
Many child custody cases involve parents who made negligent decisions regarding the care of their child. A primary role of Private Investigators in these situations is to help uncover evidence of parental negligence so an unfit parent does not receive custody. Some examples of evidence a Private Investigator would look for in a background check of a parent (or guardian) include:
- Reckless driving
- Child endangerment
- Child abuse
- Child neglect
- Drug abuse
- Gambling
- Other criminal activity
A parent who is proven to have engaged in this kind of activity in their past is less likely to receive full custody than a parent who doesn’t. Furthermore, if a Private Investigator or the court finds that a parent is unable to or does not provide proper living arrangements for a child, the other parent is able to build a stronger case against them.
Perform Witness Interviews
Part of finding evidence to support a child custody case is talking to individuals who know the children and parents best. Private Investigators who work on child custody cases often perform witness interviews with key members of a child’s life, including:
- Grandparents
- Aunts & Uncles
- Close family friends
- Daycare providers
- Teachers
- Neighbors
- … and more
It’s very difficult to conduct witness interviews for child custody cases because whoever is conducting them must be able to flush out any biased responses.
Uncover Financial Assets for Child Support
Determining which parent pays child support and how much child support they must pay is one of the most difficult aspects of a child custody case. Commonly, the amount of child support a parent must pay is directly related to their income and assets. Some parents will attempt to hide assets or income in order to pay a lower amount in child support. Private Investigators often work to uncover financial activity that may show hidden funds. Financial assets discovered by Private Investigators can include:
- Property
- Stocks
- Mutual Funds
- Second-jobs
- Bonuses
- Gambling winnings
- … and more
Uncovering hidden assets requires exemplary research skills and knowledge of databases that can provide supporting evidence.
Every Child Custody Case is Different
For Private Investigators working on child custody cases, every case is different. Before getting to work, they must meet with the parties involved to determine what type of surveillance and research they need to conduct to help the client win their case. Participating in child custody cases is not easy work - but it is very rewarding for Private Investigators who want to make a difference in a child’s life.
Become a Leading Child Custody Private Investigator With Online Courses
If you’re a Private Investigator who wants to make a difference with your career, participating in child custody cases might be the field for you. The National Investigative Training Academy (NITA) is a top source for online continuing education, pre-licensing, and professional development courses for Private Investigators. All of the courses offered by NITA are authored by industry professionals and designed with participant satisfaction in mind.
Get started on making a difference and advancing your career today! You can enroll in online courses at any time. Once enrolled, you’ll have access to your course materials 24/7 from anywhere in the world! Call (800) 730-6482 or fill out our online contact form to get started!
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