Should I hire a private detective?
Posted on 24. Apr, 2009 by Alabama Divorce Lawyer, Jim Jeffries in Initial Considerations
There are three reasons people generally consider utilizing the services of a detective in their divorce case: to discover assets, to do a background check and to conduct surveillance. The first two reasons listed can now often be done utilizing online databases instead of the services of a P.I. which can potentially save money. With regard to surveillance, a good private investigator can be invaluable in the case, particularly if fault (e.g. adultery, addition to drugs or alcohol, etc.) is an issue.
I won’t get into the distinction of fault grounds vs. no fault grounds in this post (that’s a subject I’ll deal with more extensively in a post of its own), but Alabama does consider fault in making determinations related to the property settlement and to alimony. Of course, in a contested custody case, a parent’s conduct is also important. So, there are reasons that this evidence can be extremely valuable. For example, having evidence of adultery from the p.i. can give you a great deal of leverage in negotiating a settlement.