Private investigators help with a myriad of corporate issues: from helping employers discover employee theft, to helping attorneys gather information for a case, there is very rarely a time where conflict arises in a professional situation when a private investigator would not be helpful, if not necessary. Once someone decides to hire a private investigator for their corporate needs, the next question becomes who to hire. A quick internet search will show that there are a lot of options when it comes to hiring an investigator, from different specialities to different geographic locations.
In this blog post we discuss why it’s important to consider geographic location specifically as one of the most important factors when choosing a private investigator, and why it is advised to find a local private investigator instead of going with a national firm.
Sensitive Information:
The vast majority of the time, private investigators deal with sensitive, confidential information that is relatively urgent in nature. Because of this, clients of a P.I. tend to take comfort in having an investigator that they can meet with in person and speak to concerning the sensitive details of a case. They also demand someone who delivers fast results after conducting an investigation. A lot of clients appreciate simply being able to call a local number or even stop by the investigator’s office if something is bothering them. A local P.I. is the obvious choice for anyone feeling insecure or vulnerable in a case requiring a P.I. because of the added comfort it brings.
Intricate Knowledge of Local Laws:
Oftentimes investigation cases deal with matters of the law, which is another reason why it is recommended to go with a local investigator. If you are dealing with a case that includes issues of local or state law, it will be far easier to work with someone who has experience strictly in the region you are dealing with and knows the laws inherently without having to charge you for research time. Especially in legal cases, a local P.I. is an asset that can also act as a resource for understanding local laws and practices for fraud and evasion situations.
Avoiding Middle Men:
Oftentimes, national or online private investigators will receive your case and then farm it out to a local P.I. anyway. By hiring locally, you are essentially just cutting out the middle-man and going directly to the local P.I., and this way you get to choose which P.I. will handle your situation instead of leaving it to the firm to assign it to someone, and you will save money by cutting out the larger firm that will take a percentage of the profits.
Knowledge of Local Logistics and Local Sources:
If you hire a local private investigator for a local case, you’re going to find someone who deals exclusively with the area you are in. This means that the P.I.’s network will be refined to this area and that he or she will have access to local logistics and sources that a national P.I. won’t have. P.I.’s often need to use numbers with local area codes to make phone calls, they need to set up meeting places in local areas, and they need to be on site for almost the entirety of the investigation. This all requires access to people, places, and information that local P.I.’s will have.
Familiarity With the Area:
Not only will a local investigator have better access to resources, but an investigator looking into a case in his or her own area will have the benefit of knowing the context in which the case is unfolding and being familiar with any important locations or cultural specificities relevant to the case. The simple fact that your P.I. will be familiar in working in your area will make the case easier to solve, make the process easier and faster, and help you to get things resolved sooner.
Supporting Local Businesses:
We are living in a time where going local is a good idea simply for the sake of going local. Supporting your local businesses is good for your city, good for the overall economy, and good for your peace of mind. Globalization opens doors for many people, but it closes doors to local businesses in the process, and this is leading to a lot of vulnerability for industries like private investigation. If you have a local private investigator who will get the job done effectively, don’t hesitate to give them business.
Large private investigative firms can give you the feeling of security, but in reality your case will simply be treated more slowly and in a less personal manner. Not only that, but you will end up paying for the extra travel and research expenses that will go into solving your case. For all of these reasons, going local for your investigation needs makes sense from a practical, emotional, and financial standpoint.
How can an Indianapolis private investigator help keep my child safe during divorce or child custody dispute?
All too common in today’s headlines are stories involving children who have been abused. While we worry about our children’s safety around strangers, we sometimes fail to take the proper precautions to keep children safe in their own environments. Private investigators specializing in child custody investigations work directly with an attorney to generate a formative case for impeachment. Child custody investigators are trained to investigate and detect child abuse, neglect, substance and alcohol abuse, and other behaviors that may endanger a child. The information gathered by a qualified child custody private investigator about a custodial or non-custodial parent during a legal custody investigation, can uncover behavior that places a child at risk of harm, while also documenting the incidents of concern. This is a critical step in ensuring the information gathered during the child custody investigation can be presented in court if necessary. During cases of separation and divorce, no corner should be cut when considering the safety of a child, and a qualified private investigator can literally save a child’s life.
Why is it important to utilize a private investigator specializing in child custody investigations?
Any separation or divorce is an emotional time during one’s life. At times, the situation can become volatile. While a parent’s first priority should be the child’s safety and emotional stability, it is not uncommon for parents to make false allegations to restrict the other parent’s access to the child. Unfortunately, children commonly become the pawns during a divorce and child custody case. Utilizing a private investigator specializing in custodial investigations can reduce incidents of false accusations, substantiate legitimate allegations, and ensure the child’s well-being is first priority.
Ideally, a qualified and licensed private investigator is hired to conduct the child custody investigation and work directly with an attorney during the pre-filing phase. The private investigator and the attorney handling the case work together to ensure all concerns are addressed prior to filing the case in court. This also ensures as much information as possible is presented to the court during the initial phase of the child custody case.
What happens during a child custody investigation?
A child custody investigator can document critical information during exchanges and visitations to chronicle how the child is treated while in the care of the other parent. Gathering evidence supporting mistreatment or neglect of a child during a legal custody investigation can entail interviewing the other parent, questioning witnesses, and conducting background checks on all parties involved in the child’s care. In addition, an experienced private investigator will conduct an on-site assessment of the child’s home can determine if the child is being cared for in a suitable environment by evaluating the cleanliness of the home and those who reside in, or frequently visit the home.
Also very common is utilizing video surveillance to document the parent’s behavior while the child is in their care, documenting those the parent associates with and who the parent may be exposing the child to, if the parent is participating in an illegal of reckless behavior, and any incidents of abuse such as keeping record of any bruises or injuries. Hiring a licensed child custody investigator ensures the investigation is conducted legally and the quality of evidence gathered can be used in a court of law. If required, the investigator will also provide expert court testimony.
Should I hire a child custody private investigator and what should I be doing?
In court, judges commonly hear accusations from both sides. At times it becomes very difficult to determine who may be telling the truth and if concerns are warranted. Evidence presented in court by a licensed private investigator provides documented proof of allegations the court must take into consideration when making a ruling in a child custody case. It is especially important to present an accurate representation of a person’s character during any court case and even more important when children’s lives are impacted.
If you suspect the other parent may be abusing your child emotionally or physically while in their care, it is important to substantiate those concerns. While hiring an investigator can guide and assist you, keeping a journal of any negative events, comments your child makes that are of concern, comments or threats the other parent makes to you, are helpful. Especially important, document any injuries the child has sustained in the care of the other parent by keeping written record and photographs of the injuries. Also, record any medical treatment received by a medical professional.
If you suspect the other parent may be drinking excessively or involved in substance abuse while caring for the child, a private investigator can document the other parent’s actions by observing their daily activities, document those who come and go at the residence, and detect drug and alcohol abuse.
If you suspect the other parent is neglectful, participating in any kind of criminal behavior, or associating with individuals who may have a criminal background, it is best to have a private investigator perform a comprehensive background check on the other parent, anyone that resides with the parent or has interaction with your child. It is important to keep in mind, most incidents of child abuse and child death, occur within the home of a child and injuries inflicted by those trusted to care for the child.
If you are not certain who the other parent is associating with, a private investigator can conduct surveillance to document who is coming and going at the home, even documenting license plates to determine the identity of individuals permitted to be in close proximity or care for your child.
If you are concerned about how a child custody investigation may affect your child, it is important to know professional private investigators are highly trained in child custody investigations to utilize investigative methods that minimize exposure of the child to the investigation. In fact, most investigations can be conducted without the child ever knowing, as the investigator is there to protect the child and serve in their best interest.
When children’s safety is in question, it is always best to be safe than sorry. If no questionable behavior is uncovered, everyone can feel secure knowing the child is in safe hands with two loving and responsible parents.
About the Author: Kym L. Pasqualini is founder of the Nation’s Missing Children Organization in 1994 and the National Center for Missing Adults in 2000. Kym is an expert in the field of missing persons and continues to advocate for crime victims utilizing 20 years’ experience working with government officials, law enforcement, advocates, private investigators, and national media.
Common reasons for utilizing a private investigator for background checks and asset searches:
Hidden Asset Investigations in Divorce, Child Support, and Spousal Maintenance Cases
Commonly, when facing divorce or child support obligations, an individual will claim fewer assets in an effort to pay lower payments. In addition, many claim they have no assets or income in order to collect more. This is why a comprehensive hidden asset search conducted by a licensed private investigator can help individuals provide proof so the court may make an informed decision in your case. A private investigation can uncover assets that people can go to great measures to hide.
For example, an entrepreneur husband who owns a business and several properties, but when faced with paying child support for three children claims his income is near the stated poverty level for the Department of Labor statistics. In this case, responses to interrogatories and or court testimony can also be challenged by a licensed private investigator that can search for inconsistencies in either.
A comprehensive Asset Search can produce such things as:
Moved assets to relatives, friends, or business partners
Bank Accounts balances
Concealed corporations
List of creditors to include overpayments
Residential and commercial property
Equity in real estate
Vehicles, both personal and commercial
Tangible property
Lifestyle Intelligence
Stocks, bonds, and annuities
Life insurance
Employment and wage approximation
Additionally, when an individual claims they are not employed and unable to pay child support or spousal maintenance, an asset investigation can determine the individual’s employment eligibility. A hidden asset search can include interviewing friends, business partners, and associates to determine if the individual is being truthful in an asset disclosure. Court can be a very lengthy process, and appeals can take years. This is why we recommend hiring a private investigator to work alongside your attorney to ensure proper disclosure the first time around.
Background Investigations
Background checks can be requested for various reasons such as employment screening, commercial and consumer credit, tenant screening, and during divorce or child custody disputes. Background checks can be used to determine resident address, recover police reports and criminal records to uncover court documents such as charging information, probable cause affidavits, and case histories and as well civil records such as protective orders, tax liens, judgments, divorce and other civil filings, also including, place of employment, motor vehicle records, judgments, tax liens, and other critical information.
During child custody and divorce dispute, private investigators play an important role in keeping children safe. Conducting a background check on anyone that will be in the in a caretaker role or in the company of the child on a regular basis, a background check can identify who may be a danger to the child. Background checks performed by a licensed private investigator specializing in child custody investigations can determine subjects who are with the child or children of the mutual parties in litigation, such as roommates, new girlfriends, and boyfriends. Background Investigations are an affordable way to determine if additional investigative service may be required.
Due Diligence and Corporate Asset Searches
When judgments are served on a corporation, debtors can go to great lengths to attempt to conceal assets. You will find companies changing their names, investments moved, hidden bank and savings accounts, real estate transferred, trusts established to mask assets, and more. The same can occur when an individual or corporation is ordered to repay a loan.
Private investigators use the latest technology and resources to conduct bank searches, discovery of investments and identify liquid assets.
Lauth Investigations Due diligence and corporate asset investigations can uncover:
Bank Accounts
Financial Profiles
Public Records
Investments
Hidden Cash
Vehicle ownership
Identify business and associate relationships
Other public records
Ability to repay loans
Misuse of funds
For more information on corporate asset searchers for your company please review Lauth Investigations site at liixact.com
Pre-litigation investigations
Before investing an enormous amount of time and financial resources into taking legal action, it isadvisable that a clear understanding of whether pursuing a judgment will be worth the time, effort, and resources.
Post litigation investigations
Asset investigations can confirm or refute claims made whether there are assets available as well as determine the period allowed by the state to pursue the assets. This saves a tremendous amount of time and resources after a judgment has been issued in an effort to determine what if any assets can be attached for payment.
Thomas Lauth, owner of Lauth Investigations International has been in the private investigation business for twenty years working with law enforcement and authorities in the legal system. “As private investigators, it is our job to validate information or uncover inconsistencies that can save everyone time and money, not to mention, lessening the emotional strain for our clients.”
