When Custodial Visits Feel “Off”
A private investigator is called in to child custody cases for any number of reasons. The attorney for one parent may want additional information to establish primary custody when it is in dispute or one parent may hire a private investigator because something seems amiss during custodial visits. For example, the child may begin talking about “drinking beer” or “the new friend who sleeps over.” These are issues that can be addressed between the parents, but if communication stalls and the issues continue, it may be appropriate to hire a professional to verify and document the activities.
At a minimum, a trained investigator will surveil the subject to understand their patterns and habits during custodial visits. It is common for an investigator to determine things such as where the children are going, the presence of non-family visitors at odd hours, children left alone and unsupervised for lengths of time-these types of scenarios are documented for review by the custodial parent and their attorney. It is not the job of the private investigator to intervene; he/she is there to collect evidence and inform the appropriate parties. The investigator can and does call appropriate authorities if there is an identifiable threat or danger.
One example of a custodial case that required an investigator happened in Stafford County, Virginia. (Disclaimer: not my case but I do know one party personally.) The ex-husband was concerned that his daughters were not properly being cared for during custodial visits with their mother. He hired a private investigator who followed the woman, speeding with her children in the vehicle, all the way to her boyfriend’s house where he was hosting a party for other adults. The children were seen unsupervised playing outside while the adults drank and ‘partied’. The documentation of this event provided irrefutable evidence that terminated the mother’s unsupervised visits immediately.
It is not the goal of the private investigator to “punish” a particular party or take away visitation. It is his/her obligation to provide peace of mind for the parent who is concerned there may be something wrong or something amiss that could harm or endanger the children. In the case above, the father did not interfere until the children were safely home but took immediate action through his attorney and the courts to protect the young girls.
The safety of the minor children is the priority. It is appropriate to verify the truth when children point out that something is different or if the tenor of the relationship between the parents shifts abruptly. The motto of Azimuth Check Solutions is adapted from the words of former President Ronald Reagan. “Trust but verify.” When it comes to children, “verify” is the key component.
Written By: Kate
Photo by Tadeusz Lakota