DOMESTIC INVESTIGATIONS STILL
MAJOR MAINSTAY FOR MODERN DAY PI
By Ralph D. Thomas
In the 1950's and 1960's, divorce investigation
was the major mainstay of most private investigative agencies in the United
States. Although the focus of these investigations has changed, they still
account for a major division of private investigative assignments today
and many private investigative agencies specialize in them. Many modern
day private investigators have developed other areas of private investigative
practice and turn down domestic investigative assignments. However, there
are many agencies who tend to specialize in this area, have become quite
succesful at it and it's worth considering for several reasons.
Understanding The Demand For Divorce Investigations
Although the percentage of divorce investigation conducted for every divorce
filed in the United States has gone down based on the newer no-fault divorce
laws, the number of divorces has swelled for the same reason. No-fault divorce
laws, now on the books in almost every state in the United States; simply
means that grounds for a divorce are no longer needed. Before no-fault divorce
laws, private investigators had been used to develop evidence for grounds
for the divorce. This is how the actual focus of the investigation has changed.
Although the same type of evidence is often collected, the way in which
the evidence is used has voided the need for "grounds evidence"
but that type of evidence is often still in demand. As the number of investigations
per every divorce filed in the United States has gone down, the number of
divorced filed has swelled to almost alarming rates. It has been estimated
that in today's world, four out of every five marriages in the United States
end in divorce.
Although in many instances the private investigation is simply providing
the client with information to know for peace of mind, the evidence collection
can often and is often used in a court of law. As stated, grounds for a
divorce are no longer needed; the evidence can be used in other issues such
as child custody and division of assets. Many private investigators look
upon divorce investigation as simply another form of physical surveillance
as most clients will make an appointment with an investigator based on the
adultery issue. However, there are often other issued involved that relate
to the investigation. Major issues directly effecting a divorce can include:
Spouse Abuse
Adultery
Child Negligence
Abandonment
Bigamy
Alcohol Abuse
Drug Abuse
Spouse physcial abuse needs to, of course, be documented. Photographs of
the injury needs to be obtained. If the client does not or has not retained
an attorney in a physical abuse situtation, they should be advised to contact
the distrct attorney's office and police department for obvious reasons.
Evidence of verbal abuse can easily be obtained under one
party consent states with a hidden
tape recorder. Adultery can usually be documented
with a physical surveillance of the subject. Child Negligence, abandonment
and child abuse
also need to be documented by investigation and instruction to the client.
Alcohol abuse and drug abuse can usually be documented through physical
surveillance and trash monitoring. Bigamy can be documented by checking
marriage records. The client can usually be prompted through skillful questioning
to see which issues apply. Divorce investigations today can involve surveillance
and activities checks, child custody and child abuse issues, physical abuse
and verbal abuse as well as hidden assets location. These are all important
issues that need to be determined. The point I am trying to make is that
most circumstances call for profesional services above and beyond conducting
a physical surveillance. There are many things that the client can do for
themselves and the modern day investigator can work with the subject's attorney
to help document needed evidence regarding these issues.
Other References From The Divorce Soure Site
Harrassment
And Domestic Abuse
What
You Need To Know About Divorce Law
Seven
Myths Of Divorce
The
Process Of Divorce
Other Areas Of Domestic Investigation
Aside from divorce investigations, there has emerged other major trends
in private investigative assignments centering around domestic types of
assignments. One of the newer areas of domestic investigation that has been
booming in the last ten years is the need and demand for background checks
in the areas of pre-relationship and pre-martial investigations. The demand
has been high in this area. Also emerging and continuing to go up is the
number of investigations and background checks dealing with domestic help.
Since both the father and mother are now in the work force, children are
left in the care of third parities. What has emerged is investigations centering
around the third parties who are in charge of the care of the children.
Aside from background checks of these third parties, there is a demand for
the rental of covert video camera equipment. In every major city in the
United States, you'll find many successful private investigative agencies
that specialize in these types of cases.
Focus On Children
Children are one of America's most important asset as it's America's
future. Children in America today are of special concern as modern circumstances
hand them problems that once were not there. The number of divorces is extremely
alarming--only one in five marriages are a success. Mothers have entered
the work force leaving child care to third parties. A number of booming
investigative specializations are emerging as long range trends. Background
checks of third party caretakers are an enormous market. Many investigative
agencies are reporting brisk business for the rental of hidden video cameras
to check out nannies and baby setters. Child abuse investigation is up--way
up. The trend towards a special focus in children in the private investigative
profession then, is centered in the following areas:
Trash monitoring can also be used to develop
other evidence such as drug and alcohol abuse. Background
investigations are sometimes called for to establish other activities of
the subject in a divorce issue.
Tape Recording Issues
It is often requested from a client that an automatic
telephone tape recorder be used to catch the other
spouse talking on the telephone to a covert girlfriend of boyfriend. However,
no party consent is illegal is almost every state. The client should be
advised of this. In states that allow one party consent (one party to the
conversation needs to provide consent) it is sometimes useful to record
the client's own coversations with their consent. Click
here to review the state-by-state one/two party tape recording consent laws.
Conducting The Background Check
On other types of domestic investigations such as pre-date or pre-martial
investigations, the client wants to know about the subject. This usually
involves a criminal records check and other background checks. For information
on conducting criminal records checks, click
here. There are several very comperhensive books
and manuals on the market today that show you how to conduct various forms
of background investigations. To review them, click
here.
Related Books
Checkmate: The Domestic Investigation Training
Manual By Jody Ball
Child Abuse Investigations: By Jody Ball
When In Doubt, Check Him Out By Joseph Culligan
The Art Of Surveillance (Book And Video Training)
By Kelly Riddle
Pre-Martial Investigations By Ralph Thomas
Related Equipment
Nanny Cam Covert Video Camera In VCR
Other Covert Video Cameras
Long Play Telephone Tape Recorders
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