Divorce Information

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Private Investigator

In many legal battles - whether it's divorce, custody, civil suits, etc. - compelling evidence is key. Proof of behavior can be a determining factor in sensitive custody battles. For example, evidence of income can make a difference in child support or alimony decisions. These concerns are normal in most cases, but problems arise when people are being less than truthful. To get to the truth, people may do some digging themselves. When things get tough, however, many people hire a private investigator to uncover the details their "opponent" is trying to keep hidden. Hiring a PI is most often an attempt to find something the other person isn't keen on sharing, likely something they know will be damaging to their case. It could be to confirm suspicions or simply to discover if anything isn't being properly reported. If you gain something that will swing a case in your favor, hiring a private investigator seems like a great idea, but hiring a private investigator does not guarantee a winning case. Therefore, you need to decide whether hiring a PI is right for you by carefully considering the pros and cons.

PROS

The upsides of hiring a private investigator:

1. Field Experience

A private investigator is likely no stranger to hunting for details. Their experiences in the field mean they know how to find what you're searching for - or at least where to look. They'll have the knowledge to legally uncover hidden assets, infidelity, income discrepancies, and so much more. PIs have to be licensed, which means they aren't likely to undertake any action that will hurt your case or wander into illegal territory. This experience maximizes your results and minimizes your risk.

2. Emotional Distance

For many cases, especially those involving divorce or children, emotions can run high. There's far more than money on the line, and being emotionally close to the situation can cloud your judgment. A private investigator is doing a job, and won't have the same emotional connection as you. They will be able to objectively gather information without anger or bias, which means you get the facts - not your potentially clouded version of them. Similarly, using a PI to gather sensitive information (especially as it relates to infidelity) can save you from embarrassment and heartache. Discovering such personally hurtful information on your own could help your case, but do emotional harm in the process. A private investigator will have the benefit of emotional distance, and simply report the facts without the damage.

3. Simplify The Process

A private investigator can communicate directly with your attorney. This simplifies the process and can protect you from dealing with painful details. Your PI can provide your attorney with documents, photographs, and the like without you playing middle man. Your attorney may also have guidance for the PI that you don't consider. Again, these people are both professionals and are likely more familiar with the legal proceedings than you.

4. Credibility

A private investigator may also be able to testify as a witness in your case. If you and your spouse are the only two witnesses in your case, and your spouse is telling a completely different story, a PI's testimony may be able to provide some concrete evidence of what actually occurred. When the court has to guess who to believe, the professionalism of a PI can add credibility to your case.

CONS

Potential downsides of hiring a private investigator:

1. Cost

A good private investigator won't be cheap. Rates will vary, of course, but this is still a service you'll be expected to pay for. If you're already paying legal fees, and potentially facing other court-ordered financial burdens, the cost of a PI can be an additional burden. It's important to think about pricing before deciding to hire a PI, and carefully weigh how much you can afford to spend in pursuit of buried information, dishonesty, or other secrets your investigator may uncover.

2. Lack of Results

A private investigators' job is to search for facts and evidence, not to create it. If something is illegal to obtain, they won't obtain it. If there's nothing to uncover, there won't be anything to show for their efforts. This is an inherent risk of investigation - it doesn't always yield results. Unfortunately, you'll still have to pay for the work they do, regardless of whether it results in information that sways a case in your favor.

3. Not All PIs Are Worth It

The ugly truth is that not all private investigators are created equal. Like any other industry, there are trustworthy, reputable providers - and the opposite. "Bad" investigators are notorious for sleeping on the job, claiming no results when they didn't put in the effort, only gathering partial information, or not pursuing leads. There are plenty of other ways a bad PI can disappoint, but these are the most common. Now, you can diligently check reviews, ask for recommendations, and the like to make sure you're choosing the best possible PI, but there are no real guarantees that things will go as expected. In many cases, hiring a private investigator is a powerful way to gain information and turn a case in your favor. Still, it's important to weigh your options, know the risks, and carefully consider whether you'll be helping your case or wasting your money. If you think a private investigator might be right for your case, you can discuss it with our office.