top of page

Child Custody

Investigations in Chicago

Provides end-to-end high-level investigative services for over 30 years.

John C. Frycek

LPD, PPS, Chief Investigator

Child Custody Investigations

​

We understand how much your children mean to you. There is nothing more important than securing their safety and ensuring they receive the financial support, proper care and loving attention they deserve.

Often in child custody and divorce matters, the one who hires a private investigator is the one who wins. The information you compile today could be the deciding factor in your case and in the quality and safety of your child’s life. Unfortunately, once the court’s decisions are made, the opportunity could be gone forever.

Equally, if you suspect your child is a victim of abuse or neglect, there is no time to wait. You need convincing evidence to mobilize law enforcement to intervene expeditiously your child’s behalf. Every moment of abuse can feel like a lifetime and a lifetime is how long it can take to heal if allowed to continue.

​

Child Custody and Visitation Investigations

 

Nothing could be more devastating than the thought of losing your child in a custody battle. Ideally, children would be blessed with two loving parents who provide safe, healthy, loving and stable homes, but this is not always the case. Under these circumstances, the child or children should remain in the custody of the more qualified parent.

If the parents are unable to reach an agreement as to whom that is, the court will decide custody matters based on what is in the “best Interest” of the child. However, with divorce proceedings on the rise, millions of children are trapped in legal battles the court system is ill-equipped to handle. As a result, children are being subjected to visitation or habitation with unfit parents at an equally alarming rate.

Child Custody/Visitation Investigations are undertaken to determine if the “Other” Parent is treating your child properly, ensuring their safety and protecting them from improper or dangerous environments or situations. In other words, are they fit and qualified for custody or visitation.

There are many factors the court will consider when making custodial decisions, they include:

​

  • Stability, health, lifestyle and schedules

  • Criminal Records and/or activity

  • Evidence of child abuse or neglect

  • Unfounded accusations of abuse or neglect by one parent about the other

  • History or complaints of violence against a parent

  • Evidence of Alcohol or drug abuse

  • Parenting skills

  • Means to provide food, shelter, and education for the child

  • Home environment

  • Morality of the parents

  • Emotional and physical health

  • Parents willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent

  • Abduction or abandonment of the child or other defiance of legal process

  • Care and affection shown to the child

  • Financial standing

  • Parents past and current conduct

  • Acceptability of parents associates


Often times, an unfit parent will present themselves as a competent person when appearing before the court, cleverly concealing their unsuitable lifestyle. Typically under these circumstances, parental testimony is not enough to ensure the placement of your child in your custody.


In a custody battle, it is your responsibility to provide proof of your allegations. For this reason, a qualified private investigator can be essential. A licensed private investigator’s findings, objective courtroom testimony and video documentation will always have more credence in court than a parent’s accusations.

We Can Help You Help Your Child. Special Solutions Ltd. can discover and document undesirable behavior like reckless driving, criminal activity, alcoholism, drugs, gambling, physical abuse, neglect, parental alienation, or other conduct that may affect a child’s welfare.

Unfortunately, parents may fight for the custody of their child simply to hurt the other parent. In many cases, the parent seeking full custody doesn't have the time or the desire to take care of the child full time. A Child Custody Investigation can document the lack of time being spent with the child and that evidence can be presented in court to prove your case.

Our Services include:

​

  • Surveillance – Mobile, Fixed Camera and GPS

  • Witness Interviews

  • Background Checks


Surveillance


Surveillance is an effective technique to gather evidence of your child’s living conditions and treatment, and to identify any third party persons with whom they are coming in contact. Our Child Custody Investigations include surveillance of the activities of the parent, the parent’s love interests and friends, the baby sitter or nanny, and all other’s whom have access to your child while in their care.

Any mistreatment or neglect a Child Custody Investigator witnesses can be documented or videotaped. This, along with other evidence they may gather, can suggest whether or not your child is being treated well and provide convincing evidence of abuse or neglect that can be presented to support your legal case. If necessary, our Private Investigator can testify in court.

Our company conducts our surveillance operations in a private and noninvasive manner. We do this by employing covert mobile Surveillance techniques (more about our Surveillance), fixed hidden surveillance Cameras and GPS surveillance tracking, as allowed by law.

GPS tracking of your child can reveal such reckless behavior as speeding and frequenting unsuitable locations and businesses. This information can also provide excellent details to increase the effectiveness of any future mobile surveillance operations.

Although brief investigations can illuminate mistreatment, extensive surveillance is often required to establish a pattern of abuse, neglect or unwarranted behavior on a consistent basis.

Witness Statements


A Special Solutions Ltd., Private Investigator can also collect witness statements and obtain additional information from an activity check conducted for the court. These interviews are designed to expose facts that can strengthen your position in your legal battle.

During the course of a Child Custody or Visitation Investigation we may Interview:

​

  • Friends

  • Relatives

  • Doctors

  • Nannies/Baby Sitters

  • School Personnel

  • Day Care Workers

  • Neighbors


Background Checks


A thorough background investigation into any persons of interest interacting with your child and into the past of the “Other” Custodial Parent and is highly recommended. Unearthing pre-marriage or relationship history of your ex and the undesirable or illegal activities of their acquaintances can often reveal previously unknown disturbing facts that could be used to further build your case.

Although the purpose of our Background Investigation is to reveal the truth and we do not make recommendations to the court, our evidence speaks volumes and we can present it in court in a professional, easy to understand manner when appropriate. Our reports are court admissible and applicable to dispute the claims of court ordered evaluations.

Our Child Custody Investigators understand the need to treat these situations with the gravity and compassion they deserve. We can work with attorneys, courts, law enforcement investigators and custodial parents to ensure the welfare of your child’s safety and well being.

Special Solutions Ltd., believes the most qualified parent or caregiver is the “right” parent and supports the rights of fathers, mothers and grand parents.

All investigative services are conducted in strict confidence by trained licensed private investigators.

 

Child Support Investigations and Child Support Disputes

​

Children have the right to be supported by both parents. The responsibility for parents to continue to provide for their child does not end when the marriage or relationship does. Equally, the financial support your child requires does not change simply because one parent decides to quit paying.

Too often in divorce battles, emotions run high and a child is unfairly used as a bargaining chip. The happiness and best interests of the child are lost to parental selfishness and the desire for either parent to hurt the other.

Give your child the life they deserve. A Special Solutions Ltd., Child Support Investigator understands that your child’s future well being can depend on whether or not your family receives the money it is entitled to. We will use every means accessible to us by law to assist you in the recovery of unpaid Court ordered child support or to establish the legitimate level of their ability to pay.

Past due and Current Child Support Enforcement. 


Collecting money from delinquent parents can be exhausting, emotional, and in some circumstances dangerous. Special Solutions Ltd., Child Support Investigator can gather the evidence the court needs to force payment.

When the Courts Fail, We can help.


Those who depend on the government alone for collection assistance, oftentimes, wait years to see progress on their case. Government agencies are overworked, understaffed and under trained. Frighteningly, the government fails to collect an astounding $106 BILLION (2006) annually in passed due child support.

A Special Solutions Ltd., Child Support Investigator is infinitely better equipped than the government to gather the evidence needed build a case and compel immediate collection of past due and current support payments. Our Child Support Investigator can help locate these absentee parents, find out where and how they live, if and where they work and determine what, if any, assets they may have.

Establishing a Child and/or Medical Support Order.


Unfortunately more often than not, one spouse will make secret preparations before a divorce. This can include hiding assets, lying about employment and other disingenuous moves to preclude you and your child from getting the support you need. Our Child Support Investigators can search for hidden assets, verify their current job situation and document their current level of lifestyle to determine the non-custodial parent’s ability to pay support.

Conversely, the Custodial Parent may try to present themselves as being financially weaker than they actually are to falsely inflate the payments they receive. These Child Support Investigations are conducted using identical techniques and the evidence can be presented in court to illuminate their untruths and minimization's.

It is always easier to establish the accurate and deserved level of support during the settlement portion of the divorce than to modify after.

Child and/or Medical Support Modification.


If you suspect that the award of the court ordered child support did not accurately reflect the other parent’s ability to pay, or that the financial circumstances of that parent have changed for the better, a Special Solutions Ltd., Child Support Investigator can gather evidence of lifestyle, income, and assets that you can present to the court as evidence to substantiate your claim.

Spousal Support Order in Conjunction with a Child Support Order.


Our Child Support Investigations and techniques can prove equally valuable for establishing and collecting past due Spousal Support.

Our Services include:


Each situation requires a different plan of action, however, whether you need to secure evidence for enforcement and/or prosecution, prove the level of ability to provide, or require proof of increased ability to pay, our expert Child Support Investigators can help you decide the most effective use of services to collect the evidence you need. Courtroom testimony can also be provided when appropriate.

​

  • Trace and Locate whereabouts

  • Hidden Asset Search

  • Surveillance

  • Undercover/Covert Operation

 

Child Abuse Surveillance, Child Neglect Surveillance and Child Molestation Surveillance

​

Child abuse is an insidious crime. The abuse can be physical, sexual, economic, emotional, or mental.

Child Protection Agencies are mandated to investigate all legitimate allegations of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, but their resources and investigative techniques are limited, and due to the unfortunate proliferation of these cases, their staffs are often inundated and overwhelmed. Determinations of “No findings of abuse” can be common where abuse most definitely exists.

Often times, the burden of proof falls on the shoulders of the distraught parent. We can help. Surveillance is an effective technique to gather evidence of your child’s living conditions and treatment and record any inappropriate interactions between your child and the suspected perpetrator.

Our Child Abuse Investigations are confidential and discreet. We must catch the perpetrator in the act before they become suspicious and attempt to hide or modify their behavior making the abuse harder to detect or prove.

Taking the word of your child is not enough. Often times, perpetrators of abuse and sexual predators will use threats to ensure vehement denials. It is far more important to give credence to the behavior of your child and the behavior and actions of those around them then to their words.

Negative behaviors associated with child abusers:

​

  • Intimidation using size, authority

  • Instilling fear through menacing looks and property destruction

  • Screaming

  • Displays of Violence against others, pets

  • Threatening Punishment by God, Police, Foster home

  • Threats of abandonment, physical harm or confinement

  • Brain washing and manipulation

  • Emotional Abuse

  • Name calling

  • Shaming

  • Inconsistent parenting

  • Economic Abuse

  • Withholding money or basic needs to control behavior

  • Withholding child support

  • Treating child as a servant

  • Isolation from friends, siblings, grandparents

  • Bossing or constantly interrupting

  • Sexual inappropriateness


Abuse or Neglect


Sadly, a child is most likely to be abused or neglected by the people closest to them, including parents. Like in any case of mistreatment, the sooner you can eradicate the behavior, the sooner the healing can begin. Equally, the longer the duration of the abuse, the greater the long term damage. All suspicions of abuse need to be investigated and swift action needs to be taken to protect your child.

Signs of Abuse: If your child…

​

  • Shows sudden changes in behavior

  • Begins to under-perform at School

  • Becomes unusually pessimistic

  • Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes

  • Has faded bruises or other marks

  • Protests or cries when it is time to be alone with certain people

  • Shrinks in the presence of adults; or is overly obedient

  • Cowers at sudden movements or loud noises


Signs of Neglect: If your child…

​

  • Begs for food or money

  • Steals necessities

  • Appears hungry or malnourished

  • Is in need of medical or dental care

  • Is repeated unwashed and has body odor

  • Is improperly dressed for the weather


Child Molestation


Molesters prey upon our powerless and vulnerable children, and then guarantee their silence with threats. Any suspicions you have should be acted on immediately. If you believe that a child you love is being abused, neglected, or sexually exploited, their present and future quality of life and maybe even their very survival may depend upon your quick and strategic action.

Signs of Sexual abuse or Molestation: If your child…

​

  • Has difficulty walking or sitting

  • Starts to wet the bed

  • Suddenly refuses to remove clothing or take a bath

  • Exhibits inappropriate sexual knowledge or behavior

  • Has bleeding from the rectum or vagina


Whether you have suspicions, specifics, or just want peace of mind. Just like every child is different, every Abuse investigation we conduct is as well. We will customize our approach to protect you, your child and the integrity of the investigation to achieve the maximum results in the minimum amount of time. There is no time to waste in situations like these.

Our Services include:

​

  • Surveillance – Mobile, Fixed Camera and GPS

  • Witness Interviews

  • Background Checks

 

False Allegations of Abuse

​

Making an accusation of child abuse has been described as the “perfect weapon” in family court.

Child Custody cases are often muddied up with accusations leveled by one party against another. Allegations can be made maliciously to punish and gain leverage over the other parent or to limit access to their child out of a genuine concern for their welfare.

Many parents begin throwing false accusations around the courtroom simply in order to win their case. These false allegations have lead to gross miscarriages of justice, convicted innocent people, destroyed families and ruined childhoods.

As private investigators, we are often faced with the task of “catching people in the act.” When someone has been falsely accused of something, our mission becomes more subjective. We must prove a negative, prove what didn’t happen.

A Special Solutions Ltd., Private Investigator can help gather evidence of proper conduct to refute the allegations. We want to help you make sure you have adequate time with your child and we will work with you to document your true relationship with your child both in action and emotion.

Although the burden of proof should fall on the shoulders of the accusers, we can take some of the weight of this daunting task that lies ahead.

Our Consultations are 100% Confidential. Please contact us today to discuss your case.

 

Prove Cohabitation Investigations

​

Proof of Cohabitation is usually needed in family court to assist in child custody matters, compensation claims for child support, spousal maintenance, alimony matters, and other disputes.

Our Cohabitation Investigation can reveal the periods of time that people are living together, the intensity of the relationship, and other valuable unknown facts.

All of our evidence is court admissible. You will be given a detailed, easy to understand Report of Findings, all photo or video evidence collected and our professional well spoken investigators can supply testimony if needed.

We work with mothers, fathers, spouses, Attorneys, Courts, Mediators and Arbitrators.

Although Surveillance is the most common investigation technique used in these types of investigations (more on our Surveillance Investigations), we offer a range of services which can provide compelling evidence and be exceptionally valuable when building a case to present in court.

Our Cohabitation Investigation Services include:

​

  • Asset Investigation

  • Cohabitation Reports

  • Background Investigations

  • Surveillance

  • Video/Photos of Unknown Subjects

  • Identity Verification

  • Covert and Undercover Operations

  • Interviews and statement

  • Professional Testimony

 

Hidden “Nanny Cams,” Nanny Screening and Caregiver Background Check

​

Before you trust them with your children, trust us to get the information you need.


We are all too familiar with the video footage of concerned parents who place hidden cameras in their home to view how the Nanny they hired is caring for their children. The images of helpless babies being violently shaken or of toddlers being slapped and berated are indelibly etched in our minds.

Less reported but equally as disturbing is the video footage of the physical and emotional abuse of elders placed in the hands of “Senior Caregivers.”

Prevent abuse before it starts. Although we think Nanny Cams are wonderful monitoring tools, just one violent incident could cause irreparable damage or even death. Doesn't it make sense to know everything you could about this person before they enter your home?

Contact us today to initiate a Background Investigation on your Prospective Caretaker. A frightening number of resumes and employment applications contain falsified information.

A Special Solutions Ltd., Private Investigator can verify their Social Security Number, check their Driving Record and search Criminal and Civil court Records. We can uncover a history of fraud, violence, reckless driving, frivolous lawsuits and other criminal behavior.

The agency that employs your Nanny can also be investigated and their credentials checked. If desired, we can even help you with setting up “Nanny Cams” in hidden places in your home.

Make an informed decision about the person you are entrusting with the safety and well-being of your loved ones.

 

Child Custody Surveillance and Child Visitation Surveillance

​

Child Custody/Visitation Investigations are undertaken to determine if the “Other” Parent is treating your child properly, ensuring their safety and protecting them from improper or dangerous environments, people or situations. In other words, are they fit and qualified for custody or visitation.

Surveillance is an effective technique to gather evidence of your child’s living conditions and treatment, and to identify any third party persons with whom they are coming in contact. Our Child Custody Investigations include surveillance of the activities of the parent, the parent’s love interests and friends, the baby sitter or nanny, and all other’s whom have access to your child while in their care.

Any mistreatment or neglect a Special Solutions Ltd., Private Investigator witnesses can be documented or recorded. This, along with other evidence they may gather, can suggest whether or not your child is being treated well and provide convincing evidence of abuse or neglect that can be presented to support your legal case. If necessary, our Child Custody Investigator can testify in court.

Contact Us to discuss your situation and to see how our Investigation Services can help.


Our company conducts our private investigator surveillance in a private and noninvasive manner. We do this by employing covert mobile Surveillance techniques, fixed hidden surveillance Cameras and GPS surveillance tracking, as allowed by law.

GPS tracking of your child can reveal such reckless behavior as speeding and frequenting unsuitable locations and businesses. This information can also provide excellent details to increase the effectiveness of any future mobile surveillance operations.

Although brief investigations can illuminate mistreatment, extensive surveillance is often required to establish a pattern of abuse, neglect or unwarranted behavior on a consistent basis.

We Can Help You Help Your Child.


A Special Solutions Ltd., Private Investigator can also collect witness statements and obtain additional information from an activity check conducted for the court. These interviews are designed to expose facts that can strengthen your position in your legal battle.

A thorough background investigation into any persons of interest interacting with your child and into the past of the “Other” Custodial Parent and is highly recommended. Unearthing pre-marriage or relationship history of your ex and the undesirable or illegal activities of their acquaintances can often reveal previously unknown disturbing facts that could be used to further build your case.

 

Child Support Surveillance

​

For the absentee parents who have successfully absconded with little or no paper trail of their current employment or for those who are claiming no employment, working under the table, using someone else’s identity or a false social security number, surveillance can sometimes be the only option to collect convincing evidence to present to a judge to enforce a collection order.

While they’re working for themselves, We work for you. The good news is that most delinquent parents don’t usually expect to be the target of surveillance. They may assume the precautions they have taken, to hide income, are bullet proof. This usually allows a Child Support Investigator to document their daily activity and unearth their place or places of employment (if any) in short order.

Lengths of surveillance may vary, but in general the courts like to see at least three partial days of consistent behavior or vocational activity to establish lifestyle and/or employment.

We are Surveillance Specialists. Special Solutions Ltd., Child Support Investigator employs covert mobile Surveillance techniques, fixed hidden surveillance Cameras and GPS Surveillance Tracking, as allowed by law.

GPS Tracking of your child can provide leads to the hard assets, like real estate, they may be hiding in someone else’s name, potential sources of income, and can supply excellent details to increase the effectiveness of any future mobile surveillance operations conducted to record lifestyle and verify employment.

 

Child Abuse Surveillance/Child Neglect Surveillance/Child Molestation Surveillance

 

Child abuse is an insidious crime. The abuse can be physical, sexual, economic, emotional, or mental.

Child Protection Agencies are mandated to investigate all legitimate allegations of child abuse, neglect, or dependency, but their resources and investigative techniques are limited, and due to the unfortunate proliferation of these cases, their staffs are often inundated and overwhelmed. Determinations of “No findings of abuse” can be common where abuse most definitely exists.

Often times, the burden of proof falls on the shoulders of the distraught parent. We can help. Surveillance is an effective technique to gather evidence of your child’s living conditions and treatment and record any inappropriate interactions between your child and the suspected perpetrator.


 

CALL 1 (847) 803-6922 OR CONTACT US BELOW! 

Success! Message received.

Check out our brochure below

Chicago Private Investigators

SPECIAL SOLUTIONS, LTD.

Professional Investigators & Protection Specialists

1 - (847) 803-6922

  • Facebook Social Icon
  • LinkedIn Social Icon
  • Twitter Social Icon
  • Instagram Social Icon
  • Google+ Social Icon
  • YouTube Social  Icon

 Private Investigator | Chicago | Special Solutions, Ltd.

bottom of page