Father's Rights: Using A Private Investigator Effectively
Private investigators are not only for the wealthy or high-profile divorce and custody cases. Private investigators are relatively inexpensive (compared to the attorneys, custody evaluators, guardians ad litem, therapists, counselors, and other cottage industries that attach themselves to custody litigation). However, they can be a tremendous waste of money, and an emotional drain, if they are not used effectively.
A private investigator is only as good as what he or she can testify to in court. The best PIs can testify as to what they saw. So the most efective use of a PI is ot put him in a place where he can see something. If you know - or suspect - that the mother goes to a particular bar, have your PI start hanging out there. Have him get to know the bartenders, wait staff, regulars. When the mother comes in, your PI should strike up conversations with her friends, before he zeros in on her. The goal here is to get her to trust him, so that she will tell him information that will be useful in court.
Another service your PI can provide is to observe the mother committing crimes. For example, the PI, instead of hanging out in the bar, can be in the parking lot. When the mother comes out, he can follow her and observe her driving. If he thinks she is intoxicated, he can call it in. Not only is he possibly saving the lives of people on the streets that night, he has established a crucial fact for your case.
If a PI is hired to estabalish that your ex is "co-habitating" with someone else, the first and most important thing you must do is set up a meeting between your PI and your attorney, so the attorney can explain clearly what type of evidence is needed. Most cases to establish co-habitation require that the couple are co-mingling assets and debts, presenting themselves as a couple, and doing activities that a married couple would do - in addition to showing that they are living together. So your PI should try to get as close to the couple as possible. Maybe hang out with the boyfriend and get him to talk about how she writes too many checks on the joint bank account, or how she uses the credit card too much. Or get a seat behind the couple at a ball game or play and listen to their conversation.
A private investigator can provide invaluable information if used correctly. Spend a lot of time with your PI, letting him or her know what legal factors you are litigating and what facts are necessary to establish your case.
Also, don't forget the following resources for FATHERS:
---I have created a group at Yahoo! called "Dads In Court."
---I have also written a manual: "Aggressive Pleadings For The Non-Custodial Father," which is on special sale.
---I want to write a library of 5 or 6 such books, focusing on how fathers can USE the legal system, instead of being ABUSED by it. I am asking for your suggestions as to what the next book should be:
-Aggressive Discovery For The Non-Custodial Father
-Aggressive Parenting Time For The Non-Custodial Father
-Aggressive Custody Litigation For The Non-Custodial Father
-your suggestion
A private investigator is only as good as what he or she can testify to in court. The best PIs can testify as to what they saw. So the most efective use of a PI is ot put him in a place where he can see something. If you know - or suspect - that the mother goes to a particular bar, have your PI start hanging out there. Have him get to know the bartenders, wait staff, regulars. When the mother comes in, your PI should strike up conversations with her friends, before he zeros in on her. The goal here is to get her to trust him, so that she will tell him information that will be useful in court.
Another service your PI can provide is to observe the mother committing crimes. For example, the PI, instead of hanging out in the bar, can be in the parking lot. When the mother comes out, he can follow her and observe her driving. If he thinks she is intoxicated, he can call it in. Not only is he possibly saving the lives of people on the streets that night, he has established a crucial fact for your case.
If a PI is hired to estabalish that your ex is "co-habitating" with someone else, the first and most important thing you must do is set up a meeting between your PI and your attorney, so the attorney can explain clearly what type of evidence is needed. Most cases to establish co-habitation require that the couple are co-mingling assets and debts, presenting themselves as a couple, and doing activities that a married couple would do - in addition to showing that they are living together. So your PI should try to get as close to the couple as possible. Maybe hang out with the boyfriend and get him to talk about how she writes too many checks on the joint bank account, or how she uses the credit card too much. Or get a seat behind the couple at a ball game or play and listen to their conversation.
A private investigator can provide invaluable information if used correctly. Spend a lot of time with your PI, letting him or her know what legal factors you are litigating and what facts are necessary to establish your case.
Also, don't forget the following resources for FATHERS:
---I have created a group at Yahoo! called "Dads In Court."
---I have also written a manual: "Aggressive Pleadings For The Non-Custodial Father," which is on special sale.
---I want to write a library of 5 or 6 such books, focusing on how fathers can USE the legal system, instead of being ABUSED by it. I am asking for your suggestions as to what the next book should be:
-Aggressive Discovery For The Non-Custodial Father
-Aggressive Parenting Time For The Non-Custodial Father
-Aggressive Custody Litigation For The Non-Custodial Father
-your suggestion
Also, feel free to use the COMMENTS section to suggest helpful links and websites, and law firms or lawyers you may have had a POSITIVE experience with (no NEGATIVE comments, please. We want to ADVANCE the cause, not just vent and bash people).
