Could a Private Investigator Help with My Divorce Case?

 Posted on February 17, 2023 in Divorce

Before filing for divorce in Illinois, many people suspect for years that something might be “off” without having hard evidence to prove it. Maybe you find yourself wondering if your spouse is cheating on you; maybe your shared bank account seems to be missing money and your spouse is defensive about where it is going. Whatever the reason, if your spouse is hiding something from you that could be serious enough to make you consider a permanent solution like divorce, you will want to be sure. Read on to find out how a private investigator may be able to help you get the information you need to make an informed decision.

What Can a Private Investigator Do?

Private investigators are individuals who specialize in finding information, but they are not typically police officers or detectives (and when they are, they are not working in their capacity as a law enforcement officer when sidelining as a PI), and they cannot break the law. This often leads to the question - what exactly can a PI do?

Private investigators often work with organizations to do background checks, which can yield valuable information. They can interview people like friends and family, verify the information you provide to them, and conduct surveillance on public property. They can also do credit checks and spend time looking through years of documents, such as cell phone logs and credit card statements, that have been provided to them legally.

What Can Private Investigators Not Do?

Because they must follow the law, PIs cannot do things like open somebody else’s mail or access someone’s private cell phone records. They cannot hack into someone’s computer, access their bank records without permission, or trespass onto private property. They can follow someone in public but, unless a vehicle is also in a client’s name, they cannot place a GPS tracker on a car to get access to someone’s detailed whereabouts. They can take photos in public, but they cannot take photos through the windows of someone’s home or anywhere else where someone has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Even if a PI has a background in law enforcement, they cannot represent themselves as a police officer. They cannot wear police uniforms, badges, or anything else that might mislead someone into believing they are the police. The goal of hiring a PI is not to intimidate or frighten your spouse, but rather to get confirmation or evidence of activities you may have already suspected your spouse is engaged in.

Meet with a Wheaton, IL Divorce Attorney

Before you file for divorce, there are certain things you may need to know. If you are interested in learning more about whether a private investigator could help your divorce case, contact a DuPage County divorce attorney with Goostree Law Group. We work with the utmost confidentiality so you can be assured that your case will be handled with caution and discretion. Call 630-364-4046 today.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ChapterID=59&ActID=2086