When you and your spouse make the decision to get a divorce, the circumstances and the process can be difficult and have serious negative effects on your life and mental health. If there are children involved, the situation can be exponentially more stressful. Divorce mediation may be able to solve child custody issues including visitation and support payments, but it is not always effective. When this is the case, the courts will likely get involved.

At J.P. Investigative Group, our Charlotte, NC, private investigators understand how challenging these situations can be and specialize in child custody investigations. We can help you protect you and your children, especially if you believe your spouse may be unfit to care for your children or place your children at risk. Our child custody investigations will uncover the truth and the investigators will even testify in court on your behalf, if necessary. 

To help get you started and keep you informed about child custody issues, here are some of the most common factors that may influence your custody case based on the standard of the “best interest of the child”:

Child’s Preference

Children may have a favorite when it comes to their parents, and this preference can be a factor in a judge’s decision for custody. The child will be interviewed by the judge to get an idea of their opinion, and the preferences of children over the age of 14 or so may carry more weight than younger kids. A judge will always take into consideration the best interests of the child, and the child’s preference may play a part in that assessment. There are, of course, many other factors that also influence the verdict.

Parent-Child Relationship

A parent’s bond with their child can be a major influencing factor in a child custody case. If the child feels more comfortable confiding in one parent rather than the other or if there is fear or anxiety toward one parent, a judge may consider that in his or her decision. Likewise, if one parent refuses to take the child on certain days because of social events that take precedence over the child, that may be a red flag for a judge.

Caregiving Abilities of Parents

Children need to be in a stable home and know that their basic needs will be taken care of no matter what. Things like shelter, food, clean clothing, a bed, and other basic necessities are requirements, and adults who are unable to provide them are unlikely to win a custody case. Our Charlotte, NC, private investigators can watch your ex-spouse to find out if they are able to provide the proper necessities and provide a report to the court.

Health of the Parents

In addition to providing the basics for a child, the parent also needs to be physically and mentally fit to care for children. If there is a serious physical condition which leaves a parent bed-ridden or unable to attend the needs of the child, this can have a seriously negative effect on the case. Additionally, parents who have anger management problems or other detrimental issues may have problems securing custody.

Parents’ Wishes

Child custody issues can also involve the wishes of the parent. You may be filing for joint custody or sole custody depending on the situation. At J.P. Investigative Group, we can investigate your ex-spouse’s living circumstances and help you determine if these are child custody issues that should influence a judge’s decision concerning who the child should stay with in the long-term.

Work Schedules

Although one parent may be able to provide the basic necessities a child requires, time is also a major requirement. If your spouse’s work schedule disables him/her from seeing or attending to the child, that may be an influencing factor. Being on call 24/7 or needing to spend 16 hours at the office would likely result in a negative outcome for securing custody.

Co-Parenting Cooperation

Another factor that can influence a child custody verdict is the willingness of both parents to cooperate with each other in the best interests of the child. If there is serious anger, violence, or other circumstance that prohibits one party from feeling safe around the other, this may influence the court’s decision. The spouse’s hatred toward one another does not always have to play a part in the child’s life.

Contact Our Charlotte, NC, Private Investigators

At J.P. Investigative Group, we have over 25 years of experience conducting successful child custody investigations and helping parents get the best possible outcome for their cases. If you are in the midst of an intense divorce and need assistance investigating your spouse for the child custody portion of the proceedings, contact our Charlotte, NC, private investigators. We have staff available 24/7 to hear your case and pair you with one of our investigators as soon as possible.