Child custody cases are exceptionally brutal. While the rate of divorce cases in the US has declined, there are still a considerable amount of child custody battles being fought across the country. It is a trying time for both parents and the children.
Parents end up fighting for primary custody in court. GPS tracking can be a critical tool in child custody cases, offering concrete evidence one parent isn’t taking proper care of the children or is violating a custody agreement.
If you’re involved in a custody dispute, a Greenville private investigator can help you gather the proof you need and ensure GPS data is obtained legally.
What Is GPS Tracking and How Does It Work?
GPS is short for Global Positioning System. This system has a network of satellites positioned around the Earth and can pick up a device’s location if the supporting software is turned on for the said device. GPS tracking allows divorced parents to monitor a child’s whereabouts and help verify that the other parent is providing a safe and stable environment for the child.
Tracking devices can help you monitor your spouse’s whereabouts and how much time they spend at a location. This can help you establish a pattern of behavior as proof for the court during a custody case. For example, your spouse may be leaving your kids at home and spending time at a bar or a friend’s place on a regular basis. Or, they might forget to pick your kids up from school on time regularly.
All of this constitutes a pattern that can prove negligence on the part of your spouse and can help you win your kid’s custody during the trial.
GPS Tracking: Child Custody in South Carolina
One of the primary uses of GPS tracking in child custody cases is to protect the child’s safety and well-being. The custodial parent may worry that children will be exposed to dangerous situations during visitation time with the non-custodial parent. Location apps and GPS devices that track children can alleviate or confirm these concerns.
In some circumstances, GPS tracking technology can help show your ex isn’t meeting their parenting responsibilities or is even putting your children in dangerous situations. This can help you obtain a court order to secure primary custody or terminate visitation in extreme cases. Courts place the best interests of the child first when deciding custody arrangements.
Another main reason for using tracking devices is to ensure your ex is following the custody agreement. For instance, if the custody order places restrictions on where a parent can take the child, GPS can provide concrete evidence of any violations. This includes tracking visits to inappropriate places or ensuring your ex-spouse is present at designated locations, such as schools or medical appointments.
How Is GPS Limited?
GPS tracking can prove valuable in gathering evidence in a child custody case. But, the technology in itself has some limitations that you have to be wary of. You need to make sure that you hire a professional private investigator in Greenville, that has the equipment and the experience required to operate it properly. You also need to make sure that this person or firm knows the laws and regulations that govern the usage of evidence gathered through these techniques during a court case.
If the equipment is used incorrectly and gathered in the wrong way then the very same evidence can backfire and impact your case negatively. So, when you engage a private investigator and they suggest using GPS tracking for your case and don’t discuss the laws and regulations around using this equipment to gather evidence, they are probably not the right firm to work with.
For GPS tracking to be admissible in a South Carolina court, it must be obtained legally and must not violate any privacy rights.
GPS Tracking Laws in South Carolina
According to South Carolina State Law, the owner of the vehicle must be aware of the placement of the tracking device. This means it is illegal to place a GPS device on the other parent’s vehicle without their consent. If someone is giving you any advice to do tracking without the owner’s knowledge, this advice can ruin your case and lead to criminal charges.
Parents can use GPS devices for tracking children, as long as it is for the child’s safety. Parents do not need consent to track underage children’s whereabouts. You can install tracking apps on a child’s phone if the child is under 18 and you are the parent or legal guardian. Parents can install GPS tracking devices on a teen’s car without the teenager’s knowledge.
Navigating the issues of parental rights, privacy, and GPS can be complicated when it comes to co-parenting. It’s important to consult with a knowledgeable family law attorney and private investigator before using a tracking device in a custody case.
Is GPS in Child Custody Cases Cost-Effective and Reliable?
As far as cost-effectiveness is concerned, a tracking device is certainly cheaper than having a private investigator follow your ex-partner around to track their movements and your child’s whereabouts. If you need more details about what your ex is doing at these locations then you will need the private investigator to carry out some direct observations.
GPS data should be part of a broader investigation strategy into your ex’s poor parenting that includes other forms of evidence, such as video surveillance and witness testimonies.
We recommend the usage of only the most reliable GPS trackers that use cellular networks to relay data to high-end software, which have been tested for hours of usage with no failure before. This ensures that the method is reliable.
Hire Our Greenville, SC Private Investigators to Help
Child custody cases are a high priority for us because we know the sensitivity of the situation that surrounds these cases. There are kids involved and our goal is to get in and gather the evidence you need without involving the kids in the investigation in any way.
We have skilled private investigators who have been dealing with these cases for years in Greenville, SC. Our team will sit down with you, analyze the situation, and then suggest the best techniques to gather evidence for you. Hiring a skilled private investigation team should be your priority to ensure you stay within the realm of the law and gather the evidence needed to win your case.
Need help? Contact Upstate Private Investigators now.