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As custody cases become more and more competitive, parents have begun seeking every available opportunity to gain an advantage on their competition. This can involve multiple strategies, with some being more secretive than others. Hiring a child custody investigator is one way to build evidence against the other parent without them knowing. Since custody hearings take a number of different factors into consideration before making a decision, an investigator can influence the perception of the court across many levels.

Contrary to popular belief, child custody investigators are not just private detectives hired by those who can afford their exorbitant fees. The court system also employs investigators to provide them with a better insight into the daily routines and behaviors of both parents. Since the judge is unlikely to witness either parent's activities outside of the court room, it has become more common for the court to assign an independent party to monitor these things. For that reason it is important for anyone facing a custody hearing to become aware of the role that an investigator plays, and how it may affect the outcome of the case.

The goal of an investigator is to measure the tendencies of each parent while interacting with their child. They look for how the parent relates with the child and what activities they participate in while together. Ideally, the parent would offer enriching activities that promote the social and educational growth of their youngster. It is also observed whether or not the child enjoys these activities. Beyond this, the custody investigator is also looking for any signs of physical or mental abuse that may be occurring. Thus, they are making sure the child has a safe and healthy environment in which they can thrive.

Because a child custody investigator is hired to provide evidence to the court system, their work is typically secretive and very thorough. They may utilize many of the same tools and tactics that are commonly found in detective work. Video surveillance, phone tapping, and constant observation are just some of the ways they collect evidence. In a perfect world, their strategies are unbiased and used only to paint an accurate picture of the parental interaction levels. However, in cases where the investigator is hired privately, there is more pressure on them to produce incriminating evidence against the other party. This can be a tough obstacle for the opposition to face, making it important that they identify when they are being watched.

Custody battles have continued to grow more aggressive over recent years. Not only have parents become more willing to experiment with unorthodox tactics to build their cases, but the court system has also grown more stringent in their approach. This combination has left parents on both sides very little room for error. Because of the pressure surrounding these cases, the use of child custody investigators has risen considerably. At one time they were only used by those who afford to hire them privately, but now the courts are beginning to utilize their services as well. Since the evidence provided by them is so heavily weighted by the custody judge, it is vital for parents to recognize the power that an investigator can have over their case.