From GD Investigations in Woodbridge serving Fairfax County, Prince William & Richmond
Divorce is rarely easy and never when children are involved. As a parent, you want the best for your child, and if your soon-to-be ex isn’t trustworthy, has substance abuse problems, is abusive, or has proven they do not put your child’s welfare above their own, this can be an immensely difficult situation.
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Hiring an experienced private investigator can help. At Global Defense Investigation, we understand how critical it is to your child’s physical, mental, and emotional health, physical safety, and future well-being to be in the custody of the right parent.
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If you know that your ex-spouse is not fit for full custody or worry that even shared custody may put your child in harm’s way, contact us immediately. We’re based in Woodbridge and serve Fairfax County, Prince William, and Richmond.
The Challenge of Child Custody
Child custody is one of the most important aspects of a divorce proceeding or a separation. It takes into account both the safety and welfare of a child, as well as what is in the best interest of each parent when determining who will be awarded primary physical custody.
It’s incredibly disheartening, but many parents are simply not fit to have custody. In fact, parents are the primary sources of maltreatment when it comes to abused and neglected children in the US.
According to the American Society for the Positive Care of Children:
Women are awarded child custody in 83% of divorce cases.
Only 22% of fathers see their children more than once per week after a divorce.
Only 4% of custody cases go to trial. Most are settled out of court.
Only 20 US states grant 50/50 child custody in most instances and several states almost always award custody to the mother.
89% of child maltreatment victims are maltreated (abused, neglected, etc.) by one or both parents.
7.5 million children in the US are involved in child abuse reports.
Over 400,000 children are neglected, over 95,000 are physically abused, over 59,000 are sexually abused, and over 38,000 are psychologically abused.
Protecting Children from Unsafe Environments
As a loving, caring parent, you want the best for your child, and that means ensuring they’re raised in a safe, protected environment away from potential abuse and neglect. That means taking steps if you feel your ex could be a source of danger.
When it comes to dangerous or unsafe environments, courts are likely to take extra precautions to protect any children involved. In such cases, visitation may only be granted if certain conditions are met, and supervised visits may be ordered so that someone else can monitor to make sure it is safe for all parties involved. Ultimately, the court will decide what type of contact and visitation schedule each parent should receive after carefully considering all evidence presented before them.
Why Hire a Private Investigator for Child Custody?
Suspecting that your ex is a danger to your child is not enough to sway the court’s decision. The US legal system operates based on proof or reasonable doubt. Unfortunately, that often means excluding the statements of one parent or the other without something to back up those claims. A private investigator can help provide the proof required.
Working with an experienced child custody investigator can help document situations and actions, create a proven pattern of behavior, and more. A PI can document things such as:
Drinking and drug use in the household
Schedules being kept that don’t support a child’s well-being and health
Instances of abuse and neglect
Unsanitary living conditions
Lifestyles that could be damaging to the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health
How Do You Spot Signs of Abuse, Neglect, or Other Harm?
If you are a non-custodial parent or even if you still live with your ex while your divorce moves forward, it can be difficult to spot signs of potential harm to your child. You might suspect that it’s occurring, but if you have no documented instances, it can be impossible to prove in court.
Some signs that your child might be in danger include:
Unbathed, unkempt, unwashed clothing, etc.
Bruises or other signs of physical abuse
Changes in behavior toward one parent or the other
Changes in lifestyle, such as smoking, drinking, or drug use
Changes in friends
Of course, some of these signs also manifest when parents divorce, even if there is no underlying neglect or abuse. That’s why it’s crucial to obtain documented evidence of the situation.
