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Tom L. Ware, M.Ed., CCCJS-MACe    Licensed Private Investigator, Lic. # A14972

TLW GUARDIAN INVESTIGATIONS in the news KEYE TV (Click Image)

Divorces are Awful!

On the Homes and Rahe Stress Scale divorce is rated the second most stressful event with death of a spouse taking first place and imprisonment taking fourth place. The expense, the loss of friends and family, changes in lifestyle and living accommodations, and the potential for losing your children can be devastating. Compound that with allegations of domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse of a child (either falsely accused or misidentified) or adultery can make a bad divorce unbearable. When the average person hears someone talking about having a “bad divorce” this is what they are talking about! Only persons who have gone through such an experience can truly understand what's involved. It can consume your life and in long protracted cases it can actually make you ill. Statistically, about 50% of all marriages in America end up in divorce.

Private Investigator Tip

Persons who generally do better during a bad divorce or child custody battle are those who are proactive not reactive. Gathering evidence can be critical for your case either pre-divorce or during a divorce, or modification of divorce. A private investigator in the long run can save you a great deal of money not to mention your children. For example, in the case of adultery, having photographic or videotape evidence of the offending party can have devastating effects and can be profoundly influential (and I don't have to prove this by putting a video camera in their bedroom).

In a divorce modification, showing that your spouse continues to drink despite a Court Order prohibiting it and then driving drunk with the kids in the car (which is a felony in Texas if children are present) can put you in the right direction for asking the Judge for custody. It is not uncommon for Judges to award unequal property settlements during a divorce. That might mean the house, attorney fees, as well as the children to the unoffending party. Waiting too long or to the last minute to move your case along is another critical mistake. In complex child custody cases, evidence is gathered from a variety of sources that takes time and expertise to obtain and gather. If you believe a private investigator is needed the earlier he or she begins the better. Once evidence is lost it is usually lost forever.

Evidence, What Evidence?

As a private investigator it is our job to provide the kind of service to you that you ask for. All you might need is that picture of that cheating girlfriend or husband who is staying just a little too late at work. For many people they might just want to know for sure and use the information for closure or to make different decisions. Other times, it may be more complex if the information found may lead to divorce or other child custody action; or, if you are in litigation, providing evidence so it is admissible and has the highest degree of impact possible may be your need. Every situation is different and takes its own course with the personalities involved. Interaction with other agencies, such as Child Protective Services (CPS), or when a Guardian ad Litem is involved are also important variables to consider. Truly, a specialist in divorce and child custody issues is needed to put together all the complex issues and arrange them in a mosaic that makes sense in Court and to you and/or your attorney.

Ok, so what is the difference between a Private Investigator who specializes and one who is a Jack of all Trades?

In Texas there is no educational requirement to be a private investigator. A 2 hour test and three years of legal Investigative experience with essentially no criminal history would qualify a person as a Licensed Private Investigator. Many private investigators attain their experience from police work, or through the military, or perhaps, if they were an insurance investigator. Some I know of are ex-FBI agents. Other potential private investigators gain their 3 years of experience by working under another private investigator until that investigator gets his license to practice and he hires others to work under his private investigator's license, and so on. When it comes to child custody and complex divorces, you really want a private investigator who knows how to handle a problematic or difficult cases - not the retired FBI agent now practicing as a private investigator. For example, a child abuse case associated with drug and alcohol abuse and domestic violence requires a certain expertise, not only how to assess and treat, but how a given piece of evidence will play out in Court or have some other cause and effect, i.e.; How will this evidence impact the decision-making of an agency such as Child Protective Services (CPS) or how say, a Guardian ad Litem might consider an issue? Through my years of education and experience, I have had the unique opportunity to gain expertise in the divorce and domestic relations arena with a strong foundation in forensic mental health and in the Texas criminal justice system.

Austin Travis County Courthouse

1000 Guadalupe St.
Austin, Texas 78701.

Family law Courts are held on the 1st through 5th floors

Williamson County Justice Center

405 M L K
Georgetown, Texas 78626.

Family law Courts are mostly held on the 1st floor