Child custody investigations are often messy and complicated. They result when one parent, or sometimes other family member, either wants full custody of the child(ren) or to change a current custody arrangement in some way. Many times, these cases are justified. Other times, they are not. Child custody cases can become a battle ground of accusations, allegations and exaggerations with a child caught in the middle.

When there is an issue of child custody and visitation, many parents want to ensure the child is safe when they are on their visits with the other parent. For some it’s a legal issue. Maybe there is a drug or alcohol issue. Maybe it’s that there are people in the home that shouldn’t be. There could be concerns about proper supervision.

When it comes to child custody cases, Mission Possible Investigation is well-equipped to handle these cases and has 10 years of doing so as well as testifying in court. To be most effective on these investigations, an investigator should be experienced in interviews and mobile and stationary surveillance, well-versed in child welfare issues and local laws, and a good representative to testify in court.

Investigators must be very careful about assessing the information provided by the client and about the promises made. These are often cases where grand assumptions about what the subject of the investigation is doing, and then investigators are expected to prove it. Instead of this approach, investigators with Mission Possible Investigations follow the evidence. They look carefully into claims made and see where the case leads. The investigator’s job is always to find and document the facts.

Often clients are unsure if they need an investigator. The following is a list of common concerns Mission Possible Investigation has investigated:

  • The overall safety and welfare of the child is in question.
  • There is new person in the home that is questionable. These cases often require the investigator to confirm if in fact the subject is living with someone and what if any criminal background or allegations have been brought against this person.
  • The custodial parent may not be living with someone new but is leaving the child unattended with someone they shouldn’t or bringing the child into unsafe environments.
  • There are issues with drugs or alcohol. The custodial parent may be using drugs or alcohol around the child or leaving the child with babysitters while they go out to bars or parties. The occasional use of a babysitter is common and usually acceptable in most cases unless otherwise stipulated in the custody terms.
  • Also common is when a custodial parent is utilizing babysitters frequently and it has not been approved in the custody arrangement. Either the sitters are somehow inappropriate choices or the length of time the child is left brings into question why the custodial parent has primary custody in the first place.
  • Leaving the child unattended without a sitter is also a common concern when a client is calling regarding a child custody case. Most states do not stipulate how old a child must be before they are left alone. It is usually taken on a case per case basis and how mature the child is and their ability to meet their basic needs and general safety while alone.