Going through a divorce is a tough experience for any couple. Difficulties are compounded when children or other dependent relatives are involved. Regardless of fault, it is common that there are disagreements over what caused or contributed to the divorce. The procedure for obtaining the divorce, and the practicalities of separating assets and liabilities.
While these occurrences present difficulties for a divorcing couple, they can be made worse by not having accurate information. The truth can mean a party has to pay considerable sums of money or surrender access to children. It is unsurprising that divorce proceedings are wrought with fabrications and misrepresentations.
How a Private Investigator can Help your Divorce Case
Fortunately, there are ways of addressing these challenges head-on. This means an equitable and appropriate settlement is within reach for divorcing couples no matter how bitter the initial proceedings. Private investigators (PIs) – also known as private detectives or inquiry agents in some jurisdictions – can be hired to set the record straight.
What do PIs do?
PIs are highly-trained individuals who seek out, verify, and analyze information on practically any topic. They use a range of specialist techniques, including surveillance, interrogation, fact-finding, and public records searches. Many PIs are contracted by law firms, newspapers, and other groups with investigative needs. Individuals are also able to hire PIs for personal or business matters. Divorce is a common domain for PIs. Their confidential nature is often one of the main attractions of hiring them.
For the most part, divorce involves personal matters. This includes topics such as infidelity, domestic violence, and deceit. PIs are usually such well-rounded and skilled individuals that they can be instructed to investigate a whole range of matters. This includes complex financial and business issues that might be relevant to a divorce.
Some of their core activities in relation to divorces include:
Gathering Evidence of Allegations
When filing for divorce, one or both spouses must specify whether there is a fault at issue. Fault divorce is one whereby blame for the divorce is assigned owing to the actions or inactions of the parties. Traditional fault grounds, the allegation of cruelty (inflicting physical or emotional pain) is the most common. Adultery, desertion, imprisonment, and sexual dysfunction not disclosed prior to marriage are other causes. In each of these cases, a judge will require evidence of the alleged fault. This is where PIs come in.
Gathering evidence of fault without the assistance of a PI is rarely recommended. It could put one or both of the spouses in a dangerous position. And, techniques employed could affect the outcome of the legal case in unpredictable ways. PIs are used to managing the risks associated with investigating the fault. They carry out their investigations in such a way as to comply with applicable evidence laws.
Ascertaining Means for Child Support
Divorce brings out a side to many spouses that the other has never seen. Nowhere is this tendency more common than in relation to the making available financial information for child support.
Deep distrust of the other spouse means that one will seek to hide or obscure the true value of assets. Often, delays salary or bonus payments, and misrepresent income so as to lower any legally-mandated child support payment. Through surveillance or complex financial analysis, PIs expertly locate the true figures involved in these situations. Their work can better ensure that reporting is fair and accurate. Undue financial burdens are avoided when it comes to supporting a child.
Investigating Suitability for Child Custody
It is not only the financial aspects of a child’s care that are at issue during divorce proceedings. More often than not, the events that lead up to the divorce indicate to one or both spouses that the other presents an issue for the child’s welfare. Alcohol/drug use may leave a parent unavailable to care properly for the child.
These are very serious concerns that have implications not only for the divorce but also for criminality. This includes things such as child neglect or abuse. Again, PIs are able to find and, importantly, verify information about any such activities. Information relayed, give teams the means to place protective measures for the child. Those measures may be a complete denial or a restriction of custody, or a form of supervised parenting time.
Conducting Searches into Assets
Whether there are debates over mortgage contributions, car payments, business values, or inheritances, PIs are able to uncover financial information from a range of sources. Using this information, lawyers are able to put together more accurate and fairer plans for the divorce. This ultimately means a more amicable settlement and lower legal fees.
Private Investigator can Help your Divorce Case
With divorce rates on the increase in countries all over the globe, couples will continue to face a whole host of difficulties when choosing to end their marriage. The good news is that hiring a Private Investigator is one way of reducing the stress and turmoil caused by divorce. It means that all parties – spouses and their legal teams – can enter into the proceedings with more accurate information. From the discovery of hidden assets to gathering evidence of infidelity, PIs bring to light difficult or unknown issues in a way that few other professionals can.
