It’s Over: Obtaining Evidence in a Divorce

Posted by Pamela S. on Friday, September 7th, 2012

Everyone knows that people hire private investigators to prove infidelity, but how many people use an investigator for divorce proceedings? Divorces are so easy to get that it may seem you don’t need to gather evidence. Think again.

If you have substantial assets to divide, are seeking support, or there is a custody issue, an investigator can work with your divorce attorney to obtain evidence for your case. In a no-fault divorce, you don’t need to prove wrongdoing, but what if there are real issues that need to be managed through the courts?

Divorces can get ugly. Sometimes couples even fight over custody of the dog. Most divorces are a “he said – she said” scenario. If the other party is disputing your claims, your lawyer can help you hire a private investigator to provide evidence to back up your statement.

The goal of a private investigator is not to dig up dirt on the other person. Our mission is to find the truth and provide evidence that will stand up in court. Divorce laws vary by state, your lawyer can advise you on the process.

Infidelity

You don’t need to prove that your partner has been unfaithful to get a divorce. Perhaps you have already hired a private investigator to see if your spouse was cheating , and that is what led you down the road to divorce court. Even with no-fault divorce, infidelity can be a fundamental aspect of your case. For example, if your ex is involved with someone else and there is reason to believe that person should not be around your children, this could be an issue regarding child custody.

Child Custody

When you separate, there may be a temporary custody agreement in place. It can be difficult to prove that a parent is unfit. Sometimes there are no witnesses to the alleged abuse. An investigator can track down witnesses, talk to neighbours, people at your children’s school and others who may have not wanted to become involved on a more personal level. If you are sharing custody, or the other party has custody on certain days, an investigator can conduct surveillance on the parent. This is highly effective if you suspect that your ex-spouse has a substance abuse problem.

Child Support

When you get a divorce the noncustodial parent is usually ordered to pay child support. The individual may try to avoid payments by quitting his or her job and obtaining other employment that is not reported. The ex may claim less income or no income. An investigator will be able to ascertain whether this individual is working and how much money he is making.

Hidden Assets

It is sad to say, but people have killed their spouses, rather than get a divorce and share the assets. Infidelity hurts emotionally, but greed can be a killer. Unless there is a prenuptial agreement, there will be fighting over assets.

Sometimes a spouse plans to leave, or senses that an impending divorce action is coming and starts to squirrel away money and conceal assets. Hiding assets is illegal, but that doesn’t stop some people. There are numerous articles online, usually directed at men, which provide tips on how to hide assets.

Some spouses have been hiding assets for years.

There are many ways to hide money and other assets. This is an area where it is well worth the money to hire a private investigator. We can track down hidden assets and help determine the true financial picture so that you can claim the share that you are entitled to.

It would be marvellous if we could all keep things civil, but that often isn’t the case. Work with your lawyer to determine what kind of evidence you need. An experienced private investigator can help you start off your new single life with all that you deserve.

Former FBI Assistant Director Tom Sheer has recruited the best from the FBI, DEA, IRS and Secret Service to build a formidable team at Sheer Investigations. Our private investigators have the sensitivity and experience to handle the most delicate investigations.