A private investigator, also known as a PI, can help with family law and child custody cases by gathering evidence to support claims that a parent or guardian is unfit to care for a child.
This evidence can include:
1. Witness statements
PIs can identify and interview witnesses, such as people at the parent’s work, friends, or neighbors. These interviews can be recorded and used as evidence.
2. Surveillance
PIs can observe a parent to see if they engage in illegal activities or behaviors that could endanger the child. Some examples of evidence gathered during surveillance would include recording instances of drinking alcohol, drug use, criminal activity, or violence.
3. Background checks
PIs can conduct background checks on individuals seen in the presence of the child to demonstrate a parent is bringing the child around people or into environments that aren’t suitable for children.
4. Publicly available evidence
PIs can collect evidence from public records to build and establish prior patterns of behavior, such as litigation histories or police interactions which may not otherwise be discovered.
The evidence gathered by a PI can be used in court to support claims of abuse, neglect, criminal activity, or other behaviors that negatively impact the child. However, not all evidence is admissible in court, and the admissibility depends on factors like how it was obtained and whether it meets legal standards. This is where Bearden’s attorney led investigations lead the way. Call today for a consultation.