Child custody cases can be tough, even for a private investigator. Both parents want what they perceive to be best for their child, and are often unhappy with a court decision. Rick Roy of Rix Investigations, a full-service private investigation agency based in Phoenix, Arizona, talks in more detail about why people hire him in child custody cases.
Child custody is definitely a tough subject. That is because in a custody case you have two heroes and two villains. Mom can be a villain and a hero at the same time, and so can Dad. You are dealing with a lot of dynamics.
Now, realistically, in a case like child custody, I have to kind of let the client tell me what he wants. Usually he chooses to hire a private investigator because he is upset what the court has chosen and wants to modify things. Often he feels like if he can catch the other parent doing some deed or another, it will help him in his arguments to win back custody. Usually it’s either something relating to either drugs or infidelity.
Drug Problems
I have been working a custody case recently where the mother has had pharmaceutical problems. At the moment, she is taking care of her 3-year-old daughter, and taking drugs. The father has hired me because he believes the fact that she is doing those drugs is not a good situation for the little girl.
He told me that the mother is driving off to do drugs, as well as having people come to her home for that purpose. He thinks that her actions could be putting the child’s life in danger, and has hired me to provide evidence that this is indeed the case.
Hiring for Time
Sometimes in a custody case, a parent will come to us before the court has made a decision, and sometimes a parent will come after if he is dissatisfied with the outcome. Regardless of this, I am always adamant about the fact that the parent is hiring me for my time only, and that nothing can be based on results. I cannot guarantee to anyone that I will be able to find anything about the other parent that will be of help. I tell parents who come to me that they have to be prepared that at the end of that three to five days, that I might not find anything significant.
Many parents have concerns over whether the person who has been awarded custody of their child is really fit for the job. We try, if possible, to help them find evidence to back up their concerns, if indeed that is the case. As part of our remit, we can discreetly follow your spouse or ex-spouse while your child is in his care and investigate his daily activities, lifestyle and the people he associates with. We can also do background checks, carry out video surveillance, take photos and more.
We can also carry out child custody investigations in connection with other related issues, such as collecting child support payments, finding a deadbeat dad or mom, collecting evidence pertaining to abuse and/or neglect. We can be there with you every step of the way to make sure that you are doing the best for your child.
