Child custody investigations · Davidson County
Child custody detective in Nashville
When you are worried about what happens during the other parent’s time, a judge needs facts, not fears. We document what is actually happening, lawfully and calmly, so your attorney can act on it.
Confidential. Ask your first questions without giving your name.
- FocusSafety & parenting-plan compliance
- CourtsFourth Circuit & Juvenile Court
- You receiveReport + time-stamped video
- If it goes to courtDetective can testify
Custody cases are emotional, and courts know it. That is exactly why independent, documented observations carry weight that a parent’s account often cannot. A detective has no stake in who wins; our job is to record what happens in public view, accurately and in order.
In Davidson County, divorces and custody between married parents are heard in the Fourth Circuit Court, while custody and parentage disputes between unmarried parents usually go through Juvenile Court. Either way, judges decide on the child’s best interest, and our reports are written to speak to the facts that matter for that decision.
Concerns we are often asked to document
- Drinking or drug use before driving with the children
- Who is actually caring for the child during the other parent’s time
- Exchanges that run late, are missed or become confrontations
- A new partner or other adults around the children, where the parenting plan restricts it
- Leaving children unsupervised or with inappropriate caregivers
- Living arrangements that differ from what has been told to the court
If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first. Suspected child abuse or neglect in Tennessee can also be reported to the Department of Children’s Services. A detective is not a substitute for either.
How we investigate custody concerns
- A planning conversation, ideally with your attorney involved, about which parenting-plan provisions or best-interest factors the evidence needs to address
- Surveillance during the specific parenting time or exchanges that concern you, from public places only
- Time-stamped video of conduct that bears on safety: impaired driving, missed exchanges, unsupervised children in public areas
- Background and records research on new partners or household members where it is relevant and lawful
- Careful conduct around children: we never approach, photograph up close, follow or speak to a child
What you receive
- A factual, neutral report that a judge can follow
- Time-stamped video and photographs, organized by date
- Testimony from the detective who observed it, if your attorney needs it
- A candid assessment of whether what we saw helps your case, or doesn’t
Tennessee law that matters here
Tennessee courts decide custody on the child’s best interest using the factors in Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-106, including each parent’s ability to provide a stable, safe environment and their history of following court orders. Good evidence speaks directly to those factors.
You may not secretly record conversations between the other parent and anyone else (§ 39-13-601), and placing a GPS tracker on a vehicle without the consent of every owner is a crime (§ 39-13-606). Doing either can backfire badly in a custody case.
Your current parenting plan, temporary or permanent, is the rulebook we document against. Bring it to the first call; it tells us exactly what is and is not a violation.
How it usually goes
How a custody investigation is structured
We plan around the parenting schedule, so you pay for the hours that matter, not open-ended watching.
- 01
Review the order
We read the parenting plan and talk through the specific concerns, ideally with your attorney.
- 02
Target the time
We choose the parenting time, exchanges and locations most likely to show what is really happening.
- 03
Observe and record
Discreet, lawful surveillance with time-stamped video, never involving the children directly.
- 04
Court-ready report
A neutral written report and organized video your attorney can use in mediation or at a hearing.
Questions about this service
Child custody investigation questions
Is it legal to have the other parent watched?
Yes. A licensed detective may observe and record what happens in public places. What is not allowed is trespassing, recording private conversations, or tracking a vehicle without proper consent, none of which we do.
Will the evidence actually be used in court?
Admissibility is the judge’s call, but our evidence is built for it: time-stamped video, contemporaneous notes and a detective who can testify about what they saw. Involving your attorney early helps make sure we capture what the court needs.
Can you investigate the other parent’s new partner?
We can research public records, such as criminal history, protective orders and court filings, where it is relevant to the children’s safety and permitted by law. We report what records show, not rumors.
Will my child know?
No. We never approach, follow closely or interact with children, and we position ourselves so that they are not aware of us. Protecting the child is the point of the work.
What if the other parent lives outside Davidson County?
We regularly work across Williamson, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson and the rest of Middle Tennessee, and we can follow a subject across county lines where the law allows.
Read before you call
Guides on this topic
Plain-English answers to the questions people ask us most about child custody investigations.
Where we handle child custody investigations
Put facts in front of the judge.
Talk to a detective about the parenting time that worries you. We will tell you honestly what we can document.