| As custody cases become more and more | | | | abuse that may be occurring. Thus, they are |
| competitive, parents have begun seeking every | | | | making sure the child has a safe and healthy |
| available opportunity to gain an advantage on their | | | | environment in which they can thrive. |
| competition. This can involve multiple strategies, | | | | Because a child custody investigator is hired to |
| with some being more secretive than others. | | | | provide evidence to the court system, their work |
| Hiring a child custody investigator is one way to | | | | is typically secretive and very thorough. They |
| build evidence against the other parent without | | | | may utilize many of the same tools and tactics |
| them knowing. Since custody hearings take a | | | | that are commonly found in detective work. |
| number of different factors into consideration | | | | Video surveillance, phone tapping, and constant |
| before making a decision, an investigator can | | | | observation are just some of the ways they |
| influence the perception of the court across many | | | | collect evidence. In a perfect world, their |
| levels. | | | | strategies are unbiased and used only to paint an |
| Contrary to popular belief, child custody | | | | accurate picture of the parental interaction levels. |
| investigators are not just private detectives hired | | | | However, in cases where the investigator is hired |
| by those who can afford their exorbitant fees. | | | | privately, there is more pressure on them to |
| The court system also employs investigators to | | | | produce incriminating evidence against the other |
| provide them with a better insight into the daily | | | | party. This can be a tough obstacle for the |
| routines and behaviors of both parents. Since the | | | | opposition to face, making it important that they |
| judge is unlikely to witness either parent's | | | | identify when they are being watched. |
| activities outside of the court room, it has | | | | Custody battles have continued to grow more |
| become more common for the court to assign an | | | | aggressive over recent years. Not only have |
| independent party to monitor these things. For | | | | parents become more willing to experiment with |
| that reason it is important for anyone facing a | | | | unorthodox tactics to build their cases, but the |
| custody hearing to become aware of the role | | | | court system has also grown more stringent in |
| that an investigator plays, and how it may affect | | | | their approach. This combination has left parents |
| the outcome of the case. | | | | on both sides very little room for error. Because |
| The goal of an investigator is to measure the | | | | of the pressure surrounding these cases, the use |
| tendencies of each parent while interacting with | | | | of child custody investigators has risen |
| their child. They look for how the parent relates | | | | considerably. At one time they were only used by |
| with the child and what activities they participate | | | | those who afford to hire them privately, but now |
| in while together. Ideally, the parent would offer | | | | the courts are beginning to utilize their services as |
| enriching activities that promote the social and | | | | well. Since the evidence provided by them is so |
| educational growth of their youngster. It is also | | | | heavily weighted by the custody judge, it is vital |
| observed whether or not the child enjoys these | | | | for parents to recognize the power that an |
| activities. Beyond this, the custody investigator is | | | | investigator can have over their case. |
| also looking for any signs of physical or mental | | | | |