A Quick Guide to Family Investigations
- September 20, 2016
- by Whitney Joy Smith
Private investigations involving family are often emotional. There are many different scenarios where a family member may need to be surveilled, all of them being important and sensitive. Family investigations can include checking up on a potentially troubled teen, making sure your elderly relatives are safe and not being taken advantage of, verifying ex-spouse behaviour when they are with your children, and monitoring a potentially cheating spouse. The purpose of family investigations is to have someone be your eyes when and where you are unable to. As a third-party observer, a private investigator uses advanced techniques and state-of-the-art equipment to monitor family members so you can make an informed decision.
Monitoring Teen Activity
Teenagers are at the peak of their rebellious stage and often put themselves in more danger than they can really fathom at the time. If you are going to be out of town and suspect that your teenager may get into some serious trouble in your absence, you may want to consider having them monitored. Having rebellious activity like underage drinking, substance abuse, or speeding observed by a private investigator gives you the information you need to set your teen on the right path before they end up in the hands of the law.
Monitoring Elder Activity
Although seniors are likely out of the rebellious stage, they are in another stage of life that can be equally dangerous. On the one hand, you want to ensure that your elderly loved ones are safe at home and able to take care of themselves. Our private investigators have observed seniors driving unlicensed despite protesting to the contrary to their adult children. On the other hand, you also want to ensure that your elderly family members are not being scammed or taken advantage of by others. We have observed private in-home caregivers leave their client unattended for hours on end when they were meant to be providing care (and being paid to provide care). Elder activity checks can give you the information you need to keep your elderly family member safe.
Monitoring Ex-Spouse When Children Are Involved
If your ex is dating someone new, or is giving you any cause for concern whatsoever when they are in the company of your children, then that is reason enough to have them monitored. People behave differently when they think they are alone. To get the full picture of how your ex behaves around your children, or how their appropriate their new partner is to have around your children, consider having them surveilled. We have investigated a range of serious issues with ex-spouses and new partners, from failing to take them to school to leaving the children unattended to purchase illicit substances. Family investigators can also uncover whether your ex-spouse is being truthful about their job or financial status to gather evidence for wage garnishment.
Monitoring a Cheating Spouse
There is no pleasant way to go about discovering a cheating spouse. However if there are times when you need to have your spouse’s location and activities verified, it’s best left up to the professionals to confirm infidelity. You deserve to know the facts so you can make an informed decision about staying in the relationship, working together to move past it, or initiating divorce procedures.
How to Grow Your Family Investigations Division
Growing a private investigation agency involves not only being good at your job but also having the right connections. Building relationships with family lawyers is a good way to start as family law is at the centre of many situations where family investigations may be necessary. Being a private investigator is a demanding position that involves sensitive material and long hours. In this industry your reputation is everything. Advertising will certainly get you recognized, but the relationships you foster along the way and your reputation are the best ways for you to ensure the longevity and prosperity of your business.
About the Author
The Smith Investigation Agency is owned by Whitney Joy Smith; Whitney founded her company when she noted a lack of Quality Investigation companies in Ontario. Whitney quickly learned that the most important part of any investigation was not only obtaining the best results possible but building relationships with clients and keeping the client's happiness of the utmost importance. While consulting with many Investigative Agencies Canada-wide Whitney learned that her company would not accept mediocre results, she wanted to outperform and go beyond the client's expectation every time. We don't believe in raising the bar; we stand on the bar!
