Child Custody Investigation

Worried about your child's safety? Concerned that your ex-spouse might attempt to remove your children from the country, or that your partner is deceiving social workers by pretending to be the good parent? Don't let a contentious ex determine your child's fate while enduring lengthy custody proceedings. We get you court-admissible evidence of parental fitness — or unfitness.

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What Courts Look For: Factors That Define Parental Fitness

What Courts Look For: Factors That Define Parental Fitness

It is very difficult for a court to identify parents who threaten their children's well-being. Short trials and paper evidence simply do not provide the context needed to understand harmful behavior. There are, however, clear indicators of bad parenting that courts and social workers look for. Discreet Investigations are experts at getting the evidence you need for court — from surveillance to undercover operations to interviewing neighbours, we will get what you need to win.

  • History of violence or abuse towards spouse/partner and children
  • Financial instability and inability to provide for children's needs
  • Geographic stability and chances of fleeing the country
  • Neglecting and belittling children's needs
  • Behavior of other family members towards children
  • Involvement in criminal activity
  • Meeting children's religious and spiritual needs
  • History of driving offences
  • Physical health and history of mental illness
  • Communicable diseases and home hygiene
  • Drug and alcohol abuse, particularly in proximity of children
  • Any other factors that show the parent is unfit to take care of the children
Our Investigators Will Get the Answers You Need

Our Investigators Will Get the Answers You Need

Our investigators bring decades of experience in surveillance and investigations. As the leading private investigators in Ontario, we are licensed and equipped to perform round-the-clock surveillance as well as expose any dangerous habits or addictions that may threaten the wellbeing and safety of your children.

  • Character, background and employment checks
  • Audio, video and photographic evidence
  • GPS tracing
  • 24/7 surveillance
  • Written report on conduct and care
  • Witness statements
  • Evidence of substance abuse
  • Evidence to show insufficient financial means
  • Social conduct, promiscuity and multiple sexual partners
  • Behaviour of a new partner
  • Testimony on home environment and parent's conduct
  • Social media and internet activity investigation
  • Dangerous driving records

Custody Gives You the Power to Protect Your Child's Best Interests

When parents separate, the children suffer the most. Caustic divorces and separations can mean children get caught in an emotional tug-of-war. Custody helps parents isolate children from the worst of a separation dispute and provides stability. Our agency will work with you — and, if needed, your lawyer — to collect the evidence that allows the right decisions to be made regarding your children's primary residence.

Every custody file is handled by a licensed investigator and documented to court-admissible standard under Ontario's Private Security and Investigative Services Act.

Custody Gives You the Power to Protect Your Child's Best Interests

Why Discreet Investigations Gets the Answers

Our elite team includes former police officers with years of professional investigation experience. Our investigators know what evidence courts actually rely on — and how to collect it discreetly and legally. We use state-of-the-art video equipment and produce timestamped photo, video and GPS logs that have held up in Ontario family courts for over 35 years.

Child Custody Investigation FAQs

Is the evidence admissible in family court?
When collected by a licensed PI following provincial law, yes. Our investigators are licensed under the PSISA, use court-admissible equipment, and produce signed reports with timestamped video and photo evidence that has held up in Ontario family courts.

How long will my child custody case take?
Most investigations run one to three weeks. Some cases resolve in a single surveillance shift; others need multiple operations over a month to build a clear pattern. We'll give you an honest timeline at the consultation and stop the moment you have what you need.

Can my ex-spouse find out I hired an investigator?
No. Discretion is the core of what we do. Our investigators use unmarked vehicles, civilian clothing, and counter-surveillance training to remain undetected. All client communication is confidential, and reports are delivered through secure channels.

What does a private investigator look for in a child custody case?
Investigators document parental fitness factors that Ontario family courts weigh: supervision quality, substance use around children, exposure to unsafe people, living conditions, compliance with the existing parenting order, and the child's emotional and physical wellbeing during the other parent's time. Findings are recorded with timestamped photo, video, and observational logs.

Can a PI document substance abuse around my children?
Yes. Investigators can document observable substance use during a parent's parenting time — visits to dispensaries or liquor stores with the child present, intoxicated driving, impaired supervision, or paraphernalia visible in the residence from public view. This evidence is regularly used to support urgent motions and custody modifications.

Will the investigator interview my children?
Only if a lawyer or court-appointed assessor specifically requests it and consents are properly handled. We generally do not interview minors directly — the better practice is to document observable behaviour and let qualified family-law professionals (assessors, OCL counsel, child welfare workers) handle child interviews.

Can I use investigation evidence to modify an existing custody or parenting order?
Yes. Documented evidence of a material change in circumstances — neglect, exposure to unsafe environments, substance abuse, parenting-order violations, or relocation without consent — is the standard basis for a custody modification motion in Ontario. Our reports are formatted for your lawyer to file as exhibits.

What if my ex's new partner is dangerous to my children?
We can run a background check on the new partner and conduct surveillance to document how they interact with your children. Findings about a new partner's criminal record, substance use, or unsafe behaviour around your kids are admissible and frequently lead to restrictions on who can be present during parenting time.

Can a PI provide evidence to the Office of the Children's Lawyer or a Section 30 assessor?
Yes. When the OCL is appointed or a Section 30 parenting-capacity assessment is ordered, our investigation reports can be provided to the assessor through your lawyer. Independent surveillance evidence often informs the assessor's findings and recommendations — particularly when one parent disputes the other's account of events.

How quickly can you start a custody investigation?
We can usually begin within 24–72 hours of the consultation. For urgent situations — a hearing on the docket, an emergency motion, or an immediate safety concern — we mobilize same-day. Tell us your court date at intake and we'll work backward to a delivery timeline that meets it.
Contact

Contact Information

Investigation Hotline
+1 (888) 680-0036
CONFIDENTIALITY GUARANTEED
  • Licensed
  • Insured
  • Bonded

We respond to every enquiry the same day — usually within the hour during business hours. For urgent matters, call the hotline directly — someone is on-call 24/7.

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