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Article written by Axis Geffen
Most people draw their opinion of private investigators from what they grew up watching on TV or in movies. That isn't much of a surprise since most people don't believe that a PI is watching them. Sometimes people think that a private investigator isn't allowed to watch them on a family matter. Other times they think that because of a remote location or tricky circumstance, a PI isn't able to watch them. The better the PI, the more surprised those people become when they learn that they've been wrong.
HOW a Private Investigator is Watching You:
PIs are hired for many reasons. But while traditional surveillance is the most common, the reason(s) that a PI is looking at you will determine the method of surveillance they choose to use. PIs can legally watch you in a number of ways. This includes: traditionally (on foot or using a vehicle), electronically (using a remote device or drone), digitally (over the internet, dark web, social media, etc.), or through another party (people you know, a group you belong to, a club you're a part of, people you work with, people that work at places you frequent, etc.).
The most common reasons for hiring a PI in a Family Law matter are discussed below. Please note, however, that they are far from the only reasons people hire a PI. Of course, not every method of surveillance is legal in every situation or location, just like not every PI has the same skillset for implementing those options. The best way to avoid being watched is to conduct yourself truthfully and fairly at all times. In the event that you you discover a PI is watching you, the best way to handle it is to maintain your regular routine and do what you normally would. We're not there to ruin your fun, we're there to document it.
WHY a Private Investigator is Watching You:
As mentioned previously, there are many reasons someone may hire a PI. The most common when it comes to Family Law are listed below:
- #10. To confirm something that the client "thinks" might be true.
- #9. To confirm something the client already knows but needs to document to prove it.
- #8. To interview and collect a statement from a witness for use in court or court proceedings.
- #7. To "locate" or "find" someone that is missing, lost, estranged, or intentionally hiding for the purposes of serving court documents on them.
- #6. To prove or determine if someone is lying, altering facts, or hiding something from the judge or court.
- #5. To determine if someone has a double life, business, or a job that is not disclosed.
- #4. To "locate" or "find" hidden assets, properties, vehicles, finances, etc.
- #3. To do a background check or verify if someone has "secrets" in their past.
- #2. To find evidence to support an order, motion, or request being made to the courts.
- #1. To answer questions that their current or former partner isn't willing to.
The Takeaway:
Most people think that PIs are most commonly hired to follow cheating spouses, but as you can see there are many other more common reasons for hiring a PI to assist in a Family Law matter. Legally speaking, proof of cheating often plays a very small part in the process of separation or divorce. This tends to be requested to satisfy an emotional aspect of the process.
Likewise, most people are surprised to learn that the majority of investigations are actually based on a developed lack of trust, which usually stems from a lack of conversation between partners. In an increasingly digital world, many of us retreat from our "real" lives into our phones or computers. This alters our perception of reality and also causes us to perceive others differently. In many situations, spouses relate their electronic devices to their privacy and begin to believe false personas that they meet online. It could be said that #0 on our list of reasons that PIs watch you, is because people tend to favour this approach over regular, honest, and sincere conversations.