Whether you are going through a divorce or a child custody fight, there are many challenges to handling the stress and emotional turmoil involved in these types of cases. For starters, you not only have to stand before a judge and prove that you are fit to act as the legal guardian of your child, but you also have to be mindful of how to communicate and cooperate with the other parent. At the end of the day, with the best interests of your child in mind, navigating your way through a child custody case can be extremely difficult. 

A Brentwood child custody private investigator from Stonewall Investigative Group can be of great assistance during a difficult time. In this brief article, our talented team of surveillance experts will discuss three of the main reasons why you should consider hiring a private investigator when involved in a child custody case. 

1) Exposing the Truth

Many of our clients hire us to provide proof that their child is better suited to be parented by them. Moreover, they are concerned about the behavior of the other parent and want to prove that they are unfit to raise a child. Our investigators have conducted investigations that have exposed that a parent was abusing drugs in front of their child, was secretly living in an unlisted or bad neighborhood, was dating a convicted felon, or the parent was simply neglecting the child. When you hire a Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases, they will obtain evidence that can act as proof in a court of law that the other parent is not fit to raise the child.   

2) Enjoying Peace of Mind

In addition to confirming your worst fears, an investigator can provide you with clarity and peace of mind. If you have concerns about how the other parent is raising the child when you’re not around, an investigator can obtain evidence and determine if all is well. If there is no evidence of abuse, the good news is that you have gathered the facts and you can take comfort knowing that the other parent is not exposing your child to a harmful home environment. Many of our clients just want to be reassured that their child is being treated well when they aren’t around.  

3) Validation from False Claims

As child custody cases can become extremely contentious, emotions can run high and one parent may falsely accuse the other parent of horrible allegations, hoping to gain favor with the judge. Obviously, this scenario can not only jeopardize your case and potential guardianship, but false accusations can also impact your career and hurt your reputation in the community. If you have been wrongfully accused of abuse, hiring a private investigator can help you clear your name.       

As child custody cases are a trying time for parents, partner with Stonewall Investigative Group, a private investigation company located in Brentwood . Our team of licensed investigators have the knowledge and experience to represent your best interests in child custody cases.    

To schedule a consultation with a Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases at Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit to our contact request form.

If you are involved in a child custody case, you require a private investigator to help bolster your case. Private investigators are commonly hired for this type of dispute as they can perform several important and discrete tasks that are admissible in a court of law. In this brief article, a Brentwood child custody private investigator with Stonewall Investigative Group will discuss how a surveillance professional can help strengthen your case through the discovery process.  

Surveillance and Background Checks

Child custody cases commonly have conflicting reports. These unsubstantiated accounts require an experienced professional to gather accurate, case-relevant information to determine whether or not accounts are fact or fiction. A private investigator can assist a client in a child custody case in the following ways:

• Private investigators can gather the evidence you need to strengthen your side of a case. Whether it’s surveillance strategies or speaking to interested parties, a private investigator is a resourceful ally that can obtain information an individual personally connected to the case cannot. 
• A private investigator knows how to perform background checks of subjects and collect relevant documents. Whether it’s researching the person’s work history, criminal background, credit information, or social media profiles, a private investigator can shed light on topics related to a subject with thorough research. 

Licensed and Ready to Help

A private investigator is not only skilled and experienced in collecting evidence through different mediums, but they are also licensed and understand the laws related to surveillance work. A private investigator has professional training and is aware of their legal restrictions, including whether they can legally enter private property or access confidential records. If a person elects to hire an unlicensed investigator or a friend, they could be held liable if the person investigating commits a crime. 

If you are involved in a child custody battle, it’s important to act in the best interests of your child. If you have a former spouse that is abusing drugs, living with a convicted felon, or providing an unstable home environment for your child, it’s critical that you consult a licensed and experienced private investigator. Never leave your child’s future in the hands of a judge. Consult the private investigation specialists at Stonewall Investigative Group to bolster your case. 

To learn more about hiring a Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases or to schedule a consultation with the licensed experts at Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.

Parents in a child custody case try to present themselves in a flattering and sometimes distorted light. When in front of a judge, many parents check all the boxes of a responsible caregiver. However, this is all too often a facade that crumbles under close scrutiny. If you are in a custody battle with a spouse that you know to be incapable of providing a safe, consistent, and loving home, it is in your best interest to hire a Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases. 

What’s on the Line

In the State of Missouri, it’s extremely rare for a parent to be awarded sole custody of a child. More realistically, parenting time is split by a time-sharing plan. The percentage of parenting time that you are rewarded directly determines how much time you can spend with your child, whom your child lives with, who makes decisions for your child, and how much child support you will have to pay. The more parenting time you are rewarded, the less child support you have to pay. 

As the better parent, you must fight for every bit of ground in a child custody case. If your spouse has a history of drug use, has a criminal record, or lives in questionable living conditions, and you can prove it, you may be awarded a larger custody agreement.

Proving a Parent is Unfit 

In order to gain the majority of parental responsibility, you will need to present compelling and factual evidence that the other parent cannot provide your child with food, shelter, clothing, a proper education, consistency, a safe environment, or access to family, child care, or medical care. 

Because this information is often kept out of sight and behind closed doors, the most reliable way to gain this evidence is to hire a private investigator. A private investigator is able to perform background checks, employ advanced surveillance techniques, interview witnesses, and discover hidden bank accounts and assets. Most importantly a private investigator can build a comprehensive report, provide video evidence, and testify as an expert witness on your behalf.

Hire a Private Investigator 

If you are in the midst of a child custody battle, you owe it to yourself and to your family to hire a Brentwood child custody private investigator. Failure to do so could result in you paying exorbitant child support payments and spending the least amount of time possible with your child. If you lack the evidence and resources to prove a parent unfit, turn to the team of private investigators at Stonewall Investigative Group. 

To schedule a consultation with a Brentwood child custody private investigator at Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.

If you are undergoing a stressful legal battle for custody of your child or you are simply concerned about your child’s safety, a Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases can help you. There are several ways for a private investigator to obtain valuable evidence that can support your case. Moreover, a private investigator can provide testimony in court in conjunction with the evidence they collected during their investigation. Having indisputable evidence that confirms your allegations can significantly strengthen your case.

In this brief article, a private investigator in Brentwood, MO, will explain many of the valuable services that an investigator provides in a child custody case.

Collecting Evidence

A parent or guardian may showcase excellent behavior and “check off all of the boxes” in the courtroom, but a private investigator can expose their true nature with discreet surveillance tactics. For example, the parent or guardian may be doing the following:

• Cohabitating with a person that has a criminal record
• Paying an unfit babysitter to watch the child
• Secretly living in an undesirable neighborhood
• Have a substance abuse problem
• Involved in criminal activity
• Abusing or neglecting the child

An investigator can obtain evidence and testify to the quality of the child’s home life and the parent’s conduct.    

Background Checks

Your ex-spouse may have secrets from their past that they have kept from you. They may have a criminal record or they could be dating someone with a questionable past. Regardless, a private investigator can conduct a background investigation that provides you with accurate information that can help significantly during a trial. Avoid the temptation of relying on the internet for a background check. A licensed investigator can dig deeper and obtain accurate evidence that is surefire proof in court.  

Financial Investigations

Whether you are dividing assets during a divorce settlement or you want to make certain that the other parent is upholding their financial obligations in raising your child, a financial investigation can be conducted. In many of these cases, a private investigator can prove that the other parent is attempting to hide assets, learn more about their stream of income, and determine whether or not they have the ability to pay for the child.

Building a Case

A private investigator can interview several witnesses relevant to your case. For example, neighbors, friends, coaches, and teachers all play an important role in your child’s life and they all have a unique perspective on your child’s physical and emotional well-being. These interviews can potentially become a valuable testimony in a case.

When you work with an experienced Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases, they can provide you with an array of services to help you confirm your suspicions, support your claim, and give you peace of mind.    

To schedule a consultation with a private investigator in Brentwood, MO, from Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.

Losing custody of your child can be a traumatic experience, especially if you feel that the judge made a potentially dangerous error by awarding custody to your former spouse. Maybe your ex has a drinking problem, violent tendencies that only you are aware of, or maybe they lack simple parenting skills. Whatever the case, when you lose custody of your child, you need to remain calm and decide whether you want to make your situation better or worse.

When emotions get the best of you, it’s hard to think clearly and act logically. Fortunately, by partnering with a Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases, you can plan your next course of action with an informed professional who is well-versed in the sensitive nature of child custody cases. Once the judge’s gavel sounds, your fight for the right to protect your child doesn’t have to be over. It might feel like you’ve run out of options, but you can still win custody of your child.

Learn From Your Mistakes

When the judge awarded custody to your former spouse, you probably felt a strong wave of resentment for the legal professional who made, what you believed to be, the wrong decision. However, as an impartial third party, the judge is not to blame. You might have been in distress during legal proceedings when your ex claimed that you were less fit to parent. Or perhaps you violated a court order. Either way, you must come to grips with the decision and learn from your mistakes.

Seek Professional Help

If you plan to win back custody of your children, you’ll likely end up entrenched in another courtroom battle at some point. Therefore, you should partner with an attorney who has experience with family law cases. Additionally, you can hire a Brentwood child custody private investigator to help collect evidence to support your case. 

Consider Your Options

Having your child custody arrangement re-evaluated doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be awarded primary custody of your child. The strength of your argument will be largely predicated on your behavior since the original hearing, the strength of any evidence you have collected to prove that you are better suited for full custody, and your ex’s conduct in court. It’s absolutely imperative that you don’t take any actions to aggravate the situation and compromise your ability to care for your children permanently. If your former spouse has full custody of your child, you might want to consider an alternative custody arrangement to make both parties happy. Shared custody is almost always the preferred option if full custody if off the table.

To schedule a consultation with an experienced Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases from Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.

Fighting for your children after a divorce can be an exhausting experience. Not only must you ensure that you are the model parent, you must make time to meet in court while juggling all of the other important aspects of your daily life. In other words, winning your child custody case is not easy. Fortunately, in this article a Brentwood child custody private investigator will discuss all of the actions you should avoid if you want to improve your chances of winning your child custody case.

Avoid Speaking Negatively About Your Ex to Your Kids

Your frustrations with your former spouse are warranted, but your kids aren’t your therapists and you shouldn’t divulge personal information to them as if they are. Save your negative feelings for someone qualified to listen, like a therapist, a trusted friend, or a loving family member.

Stay on Schedule

When you’re locked in a child custody battle, it’s important to remember that appearances are an important part of proving that you are the superior parent. The time you’ve scheduled with your kids is important, and you should treat it as your first priority. Eschewing this responsibility in favor of other experiences is a surefire way to lose your child custody case. If you reschedule time with your kids often, and your ex documents this pattern, it could be used against you in court.

Stay Away from Drugs and Alcohol

Nothing raises red flags faster than a parent who abuses drugs and alcohol. No judge is going to award custody to a parent who exhibits a pattern of drug and alcohol abuse, so it’s imperative that you stay clean. If you are an addict, it’s best to seek help before you try to get custody of your kids. You know that you can’t be the best version of yourself for your kids if you’re hitting the bottle every day.

Comply with the Judge’s Orders

It’s important to comply with all requests from the court. Whether it’s taking parenting classes, seeking counseling, or something else entirely, you must ably demonstrate how dedicated you are to your children by going out of your way to appease the court’s requests.

Keep Your Children on a “Need to Know” Basis

When it comes to your court case, your children are better off knowing as little as possible. As a responsible parent, you aren’t trying to make your kids choose sides or overburden them with stress and anxiety about the future of your family. Childhood is a precious time; let your kids enjoy it while you figure out what is best for them.

Be Truthful

If you try to downplay your ex’s competency with invented stories, there’s a good chance you’ll be caught. When this happens, your lies can be used against you in court to portray you in a negative light. Keep unfounded allegations out of the courtroom and don’t let your suspicions or any feelings of malice distort your testimonies.

To schedule a consultation with an experienced Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases from Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.

Your family means everything to you. You want to keep them safe and out of trouble. As teens test boundaries they start telling their parents or guardians less about their daily activities. If you suspect something serious is going on without your knowledge, you should consider hiring a private investigator.

Private investigators can provide surveillance, background checks, and documentation to help you get peace of mind. In this article, one of our Brentwood private investigators gives you three ways Stonewall Investigative Group can help if you have a teen.

Child Custody

Divorce is stressful at best and an utter nightmare at worst. Our Brentwood private investigators can mean the difference between winning your court case or your ex getting custody of your teen. If you lose custody of your teen, it can have profound consequences on the formative years of their life.

Your ex might be putting your teen in harm’s way by exposing them to drug use or to unsavory people, reckless driving, or an unsafe home. Our private investigators are experts at providing helpful documentation on unsuitable living conditions. Do not try to do the investigation yourself as this can lead to legal complications. In any case, remember that the court looks favorably on parents who try to work with the other side to reach an amicable resolution.

Suspected Abuse

If your teen is coming home with bruises, cuts, or other signs of physical or emotional abuse, it might be time to hire a private investigator to find out what’s really going on. Whether it’s a family member, a bully, or school staff, a private investigator can help you keep your teen from being hurt further.

Private investigators are not mandatory reporters, but they do understand how to provide documentation in abuse cases. Surveillance and photographic evidence may be necessary to prove the guilt of the abuser.

Suspected Crime or Drug Use

If your teen is acting abnormally, you might suspect they are using drugs or involved in crime. You may know your son or daughter is hanging out with other teens who are troublemakers. Your teen may have even stolen jewelry or money from your family. A private investigator can help you determine if your child is perpetrating crimes or using drugs, so you can get the help they need.

Getting your teen help before law enforcement gets involved may prove critical to their bright future. Caught early enough, teens can be rehabilitated and set on the right path. If you suspect your teen is in a bad situation but you need proof, our staff can help you put together a comprehensive plan for your unique circumstances.

To schedule a consultation with an experienced Brentwood private investigator from Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.

 

If you are going through a divorce and have small children, you are presumably hoping that the custody dispute (if there is one) turns out favorably for you. As established Brentwood child custody private investigators, we have been a part of countless custody cases. Here are a few things that any parent vying for custody should know.

Courts Favor What’s Best for the Child

Laws that govern marriage, divorce, and family vary from state to state. Missouri courts tend to encourage joint custody or shared responsibility. (Technically, the term “custody” is no longer used in Missouri, as the state changed the official terminology in 2011. However, many people still use the term “custody” and we will do so for the sake of clarity.)

Reasons a Parent Could Gain Sole Custody

Since the court encourages joint custody, sole custody is typically only awarded in more extreme cases. Parents can lose custody if there is evidence of:

• Domestic violence
• Sexual violence
• Child abuse
• Abandonment
• Neglect
• Vermin or mold in the home
• Illegal activities
• Drug use
• Unsafe neighborhood

Also, parents should know that false accusations of any of the above (or accusations of a different crime/incompetence) can result in the accusing parent losing custody. Falsely accusing your spouse or partner of something is traumatizing for the child and illegal. On a somewhat less severe note, talking badly about the other parent can also backfire. A parent may lose some or all of their rights if they repeatedly try to alienate their child from the other parent when the court has ordered co-parenting. This includes saying negative things about the other parent and trying to make your child angry at them.

What If My Partner is Lying?

Perhaps your soon-to-be ex is unfit to raise your child. Maybe they are abusive, on drugs, or emotionally damaging. Maybe they are making false accusations against you and you feel helpless.

When it’s your word against theirs, you need proof. This is where hiring a private investigator comes into play. When you work with a Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases, they can uncover dishonesty on the part of the other parent and give you evidence to unveil the lie in court. A private investigator will also document important information, interview witnesses, and perform background checks.

There is nothing more powerful than the truth, whether it means knowing your child is okay at the other parent’s house or it confirms (and provides evidence of!) your worst suspicions. If the latter is the case, having documentation can make a night and day difference in a custody case. More importantly, if something drastic is occurring, you will be able to immediately remove your child from harm’s way.

To schedule a consultation with an experienced Brentwood child custody private investigator from Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.

Child custody disputes are often long, drawn-out affairs that create friction between parents and polarize children. If you believe your child will benefit from being placed in your care, you need to prepare yourself for a child custody battle. A Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases can be of immense help when you are forced to take your case before a judge.

In this article, the experts at Stonewall Investigative Group will explore different actions you can take to win a child custody battle. Fighting for your child is stressful and traumatic, but if you follow these steps, you will have an improved chance of winning your case.

Exhibit Willingness to Work Together

Naturally, a child custody battle pits you against the other parent, but if you show willingness to work with your former partner, you have a better chance of winning custody of your child. Family courts like to see cooperation between parents during divisive times. If your ex-spouse is unwilling to compromise with you, you should showcase a willingness to hear them out before you become overly defensive. However, don’t be too lenient. Remain firm in your initial stance and communicate your conditions clearly with your ex and the judge.

Hire a Private Investigator

Child custody battles can be cutthroat and malicious. Parents have been known to make false accusations to prevent their former partner from gaining custody. Hiring a Brentwood child custody private investigator can help protect you from false allegations and reinforce your reputation before the judge. Your child’s safety and well-being is paramount in a child custody battle, so having someone on your side to protect your from periphery threats allows you to focus on strengthening your case. A private investigator can also investigate your former spouse to produce evidence against them that bolsters your case.

Tune-Up Your Parenting

If you’re locked in a child custody battle, it’s time to reinvent your parenting persona. Teach yourself about family law, prepare documentation outlining any interactions with your ex that showcase a pattern of abuse, and refrain from talking negatively about the other parent around your children. Also, you should avoid arriving late for visits or pickups, and don’t reschedule time with your kids. Stay away from drugs and alcohol and don’t falsify stories to strengthen your case. It’s important to be the model parent during a child custody battle, especially during a messy dispute.

Winning a child custody battle isn’t easy. It is difficult to conduct yourself with grace when the well-being of your child is on the line, but there are many steps you can take to improve your chances of winning a child custody battle.

To schedule a consultation with an experienced Brentwood child custody private investigator from Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.

When a couple decides to part ways, they soon find that working out a custody plan for their child (or children) is more complicated than originally expected. Child custody cases are tough for all parties involved, but the best interests of your child should be your first priority. If you are concerned about the safety and welfare of your child, rely on the expertise of a Brentwood child custody private investigator to gather the appropriate information to substantiate your claims.

The Best Interests of Your Child

If you and your former partner can’t come to an amicable solution for custody, you’ll have to rely on the court to intervene and make a decision based on your child’s best interest. Every state has statutes that serve to ensure that a child’s best interests are considered when decisions such as custody, placement, or other critical life issues are made on that child’s behalf. Missouri’s statute can be found online at ChildWelfare.gov.

If you feel that your former partner is unfit to parent, a Brentwood private investigator for child custody cases can conduct a child custody investigation on your behalf to ensure that your child is safe and present evidence which validates your claims against the unfit parent. It’s important to ascertain what “unfit” means when handling these types of cases. When determining the best interests of your child, courts will consider factors such as:

• Criminal records
• Evidence of child abuse or neglect
• A history of complaints of violence
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Financial and lifestyle stability of each parent
• Physical and emotional health of each parent

How an Investigator Will Assist You

A private investigator will collect evidence regarding your former partner’s behavior and activities which can be used against them during a legal proceeding. An investigator may use the following methods and techniques to gather evidence against your former partner:

• Surveillance
• Documenting unlawful activities
• Background checks
• Investigations of third parties
• Witness interviews and statements

The investigator will provide you with a detailed report of the findings. This evidence can be used against your former partner in a court of law to influence the outcome of your custody case. On the other hand, if your former partner makes allegations against you, you have the right to disprove their claims with the help of a Brentwood child custody private investigator.

Contact Stonewall Investigative Group Today

At Stonewall Investigative Group, our private investigators have the skills and experience to help you win your custody battle. We are licensed and trained in surveillance and know how to conduct investigations in an impartial and discreet manner.

To schedule a consultation with an experienced Brentwood child custody private investigator from Stonewall Investigative Group, please submit our contact request form.