You are already fighting a battle with your spouse. But when it comes to child custody, things become somewhat complicated. Once you suspect the other person is violating the custody agreement, exposing the child to unsafe living conditions, or trying to alienate your child, it means you must act. However, waiting for the court to raise these concerns without credible evidence to back them up will never work. The judge will always ask for documented, verifiable evidence. The best thing to do is bring in a licensed private investigator.
Of course, there will be moments that will trigger you to seek professional help. So, in this blog, we will discuss how and when to identify the moment you need to seek professional help. More importantly, we will also shed light on the role the investigator plays once you hire them.
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Why Courts in Oklahoma Ask for Well-Documented Evidence
If you believe family courts in Oklahoma City will listen to your words, well, you’re wrong. Instead, judges decide custody by focusing on which parent is better suited to care for the child. Under Title 43 of the Oklahoma Statutes, judges base their decisions on which parent can offer frequent, regular contact with the other parent. The same parent must be in a position to provide the child’s best mental and emotional well-being. If the other parent has a history of abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, or harassment, all of this will go against the other parent.
The judges involved in the child custody case will hear both parents’ arguments. However, your accusation alone will not culminate in something that will sway the decision in your Favor. A private investigator often fills this information gap. Rather than asking the court to trust your emotional appeal, you hand over the properly documented evidence to the court.
For better coordination, ask your family attorney whether your case would benefit from hiring a private investigator. The attorneys will always ask you to hire a private investigator to help you with the case. An extra hand and additional support will indeed benefit you in the long run.
5 Signs to Hire a Private Investigator in Oklahoma for a Child Custody Case
Sign 1: When the Other Parent Violates the Custody Agreement
The custody order clearly spells out the visitation schedule, including pick-up times and drop-off locations. So, if one parent repeatedly ignores these specific terms, there is room for reasonable doubt.
This is where a private investigator steps in to document this particular pattern. The document will include details on late pickups, deliberately missed drop-offs, unauthorized schedule changes, and so forth. Of course, the courts will not take action based on a single missed pickup. However, if the same pattern continues, this tells a story. When the violation continues from one parent, it will compel the judge to modify the custody order.
When you suspect ongoing violations, you can connect with the professionals. At Keefe Private Investigations, we conduct child custody investigations across Oklahoma. Our professional investigators will work to document this kind of behavior for your benefit.
Sign 2: If You Suspect Undisclosed Cohabitation
Your custody agreement also includes clear terms related to cohabitation. If you believe the other parent is living with someone they haven’t disclosed, the situation can become complicated. Cohabitation can significantly affect the custody arrangement and support payments. However, providing adequate proof that the other parent is living with someone unknown is not that simple. The courts will also require documented proof of overnight stays, a vehicle parked overnight repeatedly, or lease records carrying both names. Herein, a licensed investigator records all these patterns methodically, using lawful surveillance and publicly available databases.
Sign 3: When You’re Worried about Neglect or Abuse
If you have doubts related to systematic abuse or neglect from one parent, make sure to take prompt action. Child abuse or neglect by one parent is a matter of great concern. Instead of waiting for your next scheduled hearing to raise the issue, you must demand prompt action.
As such, the private investigator you hire will ensure that they document the unsafe living conditions and collect evidence related to drug or alcohol abuse. Remember, any unsupervised access to dangerous individuals or abuse at home puts you, the child, at risk. On your behalf, the investigator will collect documentation including photos, videos, and witness statements. This is what gives your attorney something to build a strong case to present before the judge.
If you are really concerned about your child’s safety, reach out to law enforcement first. The private investigator you hire can only assist in supporting your legal case. They are not authorized to intervene during an emergency.
Sign 4: When You Notice Signs of Parental Alienation
Parental alienation is one of the key signs that most parents ignore. Moreover, it can be tough to prove in court. Parental alienation usually happens when one parent deliberately turns your child against you—for instance, scheduling activities during your visitation time, not sharing messages or birthday gifts you sent. There are also situations where one parent asks the child to relay information between the two of you.
By and large, alienation plays out subtly and is difficult to document. Here, an investigator documents scheduling conflicts, missed communications, and behavioral patterns. All of this will support your claim of parental alienation. Your attorney will then use the same information to raise the issue in court.
Sign 5: When a Complete Stranger Enters the Picture
What if the other parent is in a relationship with a person who has a history of criminal activity, violence, and documented substance abuse? This, of course, is a legitimate concern, since it involves the safety of your child. Courts in Oklahoma place a high priority on a child’s well-being. They take seriously which parent has access to the child and whether they are making a sincere effort to provide the best living conditions. Any evidence that points out that a dangerous individual is living in proximity to the child will directly affect the custody decision.
A private investigator will run background checks on any new partner the other parent is seeing. Pairing the evidence with surveillance footage showing how often the other person is present will help the judge make an informed decision.
How Long Will Your Custody Investigation Take?
Depending on the specifics of your case, the timeline will vary. No one in particular can guarantee that your investigation will be over in a matter of a few days or weeks. For instance, confirming someone’s address for a cohabitation claim can take a few days of continued surveillance. As for documents related to ongoing patterns like repeated custody violations or suspected parental alienation, these take a long time. This is crucial because the judge will ask for a behavioral pattern that spans over weeks, and not just a single day.
Before you start, ask the investigator what they think of the case and whether they can give a realistic time frame. If you are hiring a reputed and trusted private investigative agency, they won’t promise you anything. Rather, they will inform you about what to expect, and they will accordingly plan the investigation to gather the right evidence that can change a judge’s mind.
What is the Primary Role of a Private Investigator in a Custody Case?
So, you have decided to move forward by bringing in a private investigator. Well, here’s what licensed private investigators in Oklahoma City will do in the context of the custody case.
- Complete Surveillance: The investigator will observe and document the other parent’s behavior while having custody of the child. The PIs will conduct surveillance by staying within legal parameters. Evidence gathered includes time-stamped photos, videos, and detailed activity logs.
- Carry out Background Checks: Should the need arise, the investigators will also pull past criminal records and civil judgments on the other parent or on new people in your child’s life. This gives your attorney a documented history, not speculation and rumors, to build the case.
- Scanning Social Media Accounts: A great deal of information can be found online. By and large, scanning social media accounts can reveal posts, photos, and check-ins that contradict claims made in court. The same scans can go a long way to confirm a pattern that you already suspect.
- Skip Tracing: In some cases, one parent relocates without prior notice. So, the only way to confirm the other parent’s present-day residence for a cohabitation claim is for investigators to use skip tracing services.
- Interviewing Witnesses: Investigators will speak with neighbors, teachers, and others to get a sense of the child’s life. They will collect and compile statements that add context to what the investigator finds.
- Complete and Detailed Report: Once the investigation ends, the investigators will share a detailed report. The attorney then shares this report with the court. The document is structured to withstand the rigors of the court.
How is the Evidence used in the Child Custody Case?
Submitting the evidence alone will not mean you have won the custody case. The same evidence then has to reach your attorney in a form that the court will accept. More importantly, the evidence must also connect in a way that links all the key elements on which the judge can make the decision.
For this reason, it is crucial to work with a licensed investigator and a qualified expert witness. While an investigator collects the facts, an expert witness can shed more light on those findings for the court, essentially tying them to the legal proceedings. Together, this information can turn a few surveillance photos into something more meaningful.
The timing is also crucial. Given the nature of the case, it makes sense to document the pattern of behavior as early as possible. This is how you will be in a position to make the case stronger before it reaches the actual hearing. Waiting until the last minute before the court date to start collecting evidence doesn’t necessarily give you enough time to document the pattern that can actually persuade the judge.
What Should You Look for in a Private Investigator?
Don’t make the mistake of hiring any investigator to handle the child custody case. So, before you make the move, consider a few things.
First, check whether they are properly licensed in Oklahoma. Hiring an unlicensed investigator to gather the evidence will only make things difficult. The findings can be challenged or thrown out entirely. Beyond wasting time and money, your case can also lose credibility.
Always make a conscious effort to hire investigators with prior experience in family law and custody matters. For instance, an investigator known for handling insurance fraud might struggle to gather evidence documenting a custody violation. So, confirm that they understand the legal boundaries around surveillance. If the evidence is obtained through illegal means, such as trespassing or unauthorized recording, it will likely backfire.
You must ask for every detail about how the investigators will present the findings. You will need reports designed to be endorsed by the court.
Consult Your Attorney Before Starting
Before hiring an investigator, consult your family attorney. Because they’re familiar with the case, they can tell you what specific evidence they need. They can also coordinate with the investigators to develop a strategy for how the evidence will be collected and organized. This way, your attorney and the private investigator can build a strong case that a judge can weigh in on. The best part is it saves time and effort, which eventually helps in the long run.
If you are really concerned about child custody, your attorney and the investigator need to work together. This is how you can build a strong case for your claim.
Secure the Evidence Your Custody Case Needs
If you’ve noticed the 5 warning signs discussed above, you need to act fast. Don’t waste time waiting for the situation to get worse. When it comes to custody-related decisions, you must ensure you put together all the necessary documents and facts in a single report. This takes time, and the sooner you start, the better. One way or the other, your prime objective should be to strengthen your position of claim.
This is precisely where we come in. At Keefe Private Investigations, we work closely with parents and family law attorneys across Oklahoma. Our task is to collect evidence related to custody cases through proper surveillance, background checks, social media scans, and skip tracing. Get in touch with our team here to discuss the situation and the next step.
