Child custody cases involve disputes concerning children between divorced/separated parents.

Private investigations in these types of cases examine the child’s well-being and treatment in an objective manner. This is documented by evidence and reports which can be presented in court where needed.

Child Custody Cases | Typical investigations include:

• Concerns over conduct and activities during scheduled visits
• Violation of instructions from authorities
• Suspicion of neglecting a child
• Reckless driving
• Drug abuse
• Criminal activities
• Gambling

In some instances, our investigations show that the other parent is not unfit and takes good care of the child, which is important in giving our client peace of mind.

In other cases, our investigations show and document neglect of the child, which is often used for legal purposes and for obtaining full custody of the child.

In other situations, a parent may be falsely accused of abuse or neglect. Our private investigators assist in providing evidence of the falsity of the allegations, typically through interviews and careful research.

How often is surveillance used?

Surveillance is often a necessary method of investigation and evidence collection in custody cases. This is to obtain evidence of how the parent treats the child when he or she is not aware that any monitoring is taking place. As private investigators, we document any instances of abuse or neglect by taking pictures, video, and/or audio recordings of the parent interacting with the child in public places.

What other methods are used in child custody cases?

General methods of investigation in custody cases may include:

• Interviewing witnesses – including people involved in the child’s life such as neighbours, teachers, friends, and their parents
• Asset searches – typically focused on locating assets that the other parent may try to hide.
• Social media searches – obtaining and documenting various content of relevance and interest to the case.