Even if your existing child custody order made sense when you got divorced, situations change over time. The custody and visitation schedules of your court-approved parenting plan may require revisions if you suspect that your children are no longer receiving the best care from your ex-spouse. Before requesting a revision, you should make sure you can support your case with tangible and convincing evidence.
Requirements To Change a Child Custody Order
If you and your children’s other parent agree on changes to the existing custody order, you may simply present your request to the court. In most cases, however, it is difficult to get both parents to agree on modifications to a custody order. If you are the only one who wants the order to change, you must present a substantial argument to the court supporting your request.
If your claim is based on the idea that your children are no longer safe or supported by the other parent due to his or her lifestyle, you must provide evidence to prove your argument. Here are some examples of situations that may cause a court to modify a custody agreement:
- Mental illness
- Emotional abuse
- Active attempts to disrupt your children’s relationship with you
- Substance abuse
- Physical abuse
- Unsafe environment, such as leaving young children alone
- Financial instability or repeated employment changes
- Frequent changes of residence
- Inadequate support for the children’s academic needs
- Inappropriate influences, such as access to pornography, alcohol, or drugs
There could be other situations that cause a court to modify your existing child custody order. However, without any verifiable evidence to support your claim, it will probably be hard to get a court to modify your arrangement.
Benefits of Hiring a Private Investigator
If you are worried that your children’s other parent is engaging in harmful behaviors or placing your children in risky environments, you want to find out the truth as soon as possible. By hiring a private investigator, you can get the support of a professional who knows what to look for and how to document his or her findings appropriately.
There are several reasons to hire a PI instead of trying to gather evidence on your own:
- You don’t have to interrupt your schedule to follow and observe your ex
- You don’t have to worry about accidentally breaking the law and harming your case
- You don’t have to purchase expensive surveillance equipment
- You don’t have to worry about getting caught or risking your own relationship with your children
A trained private investigator can be one of your best assets in your quest to change your child custody order.
Contact Global Investigative Services for Expert Assistance
Even if you feel certain that your children would benefit from a change in the custody arrangement, you’ll need to get a court to modify the existing order. If your claim is based on suspicions that your children’s other parent is no longer providing a safe and healthy living environment, you need to present adequate evidence to a court.
At Global Investigative Services, we are passionate about protecting children and gathering the evidence that a court needs for custody modifications. We’ll provide you with professional, respectful support throughout the investigation and help you understand what we observe of your ex’s behavior.
Our GIS team is made up of highly trained professionals who have backgrounds in law enforcement. Our investigators utilize the latest surveillance technology and proven techniques when researching your case. We know the law and understand what to look for when conducting an investigation. You can trust us to make sure any evidence we gather is legally admissible and thoroughly documented. To learn more about how a Change of Circumstances Investigation works, fill out our contact form, or give us a call.
