Infidelity Investigations: What Are Your Rights? (2023)

Doubting your spouse’s fidelity is a painful and difficult experience. Nagging thoughts enter your headandthe only wayfor these tocease isfinding out the truth. Whether it turns out thatyour spouse is cheating or not,you will finally have the answers needed to make your next steps and move forward with your life.

Hiring a private investigator (PI) will provide you with the information you need fast. PIscangathervideo, photos, and other evidence that can determineif your spouse is cheating and they can testify about what they observed during theirInfidelity investigations. There are rules, however, in what types of evidence are considered admissible in the court of law.

What a Private Investigator Can’t Do

It is important to keep in mind that, although a private investigator can help you find out the truth in many ways, they are not magicians. They also must act within the law.

The following are whatprivate investigatorscan’t do:

Operate Without a License (Depending on State)

Some states have extensive licensing laws for private investigators. In some states, investigators have to complete a certain number of hours and pass a Private Investigator Examination before they can be employed as a licensed investigator.

Impersonate Law Enforcement

private investigators cannot carry a badge, wear a uniform, or use any logo or phrasing that implies that the investigator is associated with law enforcement.

Break the Law

private investigators are not above the law. Similarly, any information obtained illegally will not be admissible in the court of law. They cannot break the law on behalf of their client or for investigative purposes.

Trespass

private investigators cannot enter a property through illegal means. Though trespassing laws vary, in most jurisdictions the investigator must have permission from the owner before entering. That means that the investigator cannot trespass to obtain any information during surveillance.

Tamper with Mail

Tampering with another person’s mail is a federal offense, and private investigators are not above the law. Although intercepting mail would be an easy way to collect evidence, that is illegal.

Wiretap a Phone Without Consent

According to federal law, private investigators are prohibited from wiretapping or monitoring a phone without consent. Some states require consent from at least one party while others require consent from all parties being recorded.

You can find details about audio surveillance laws by State if you want to obtain evidence on your spouse in this way.

Hack Into Social Media or Email Accounts

Hacking of any kind is considered illegal. Some investigators may have specific software that allows them to scan and access information on the internet quickly and efficiently.

Obtain Protected Information

Although a private investigator can locate information, they cannot obtain federally or state protected information without the consent of the individual or without a subpoena.

These restrictions include:

Bank Accounts
Financial Records
Phone Records
Credit Scores

Advantages of Hiring a Licensed andExperienced Private Investigator:

So you may be wondering why you should even bother with hiring a private investigator at all if that person is essentially just a regular citizen.

Anonymity

One of the most important things that makes a private investigator valuable is anonymity. This is especially helpful when they are gathering evidence because they do not come across as suspicious.

Experience

private investigators are good at what they do. They have experience in particular skill sets that allow them to watch and listen without being obtrusive or noticeable.

Time

Surveillance and gathering information is a private investigator’s full-time job. They have the luxury of taking their time.

Freedom

Those involved in the legal system or in law enforcement are bound by more rules and requirements than normal people. However, since a private investigator generally has all of the freedoms of any other regular citizen, it allows them to do things and obtain information that may not be possible for those in the legal system.

When Is Evidence in Infidelity Investigations Legal?

Most evidence gathered by a private investigator is legal and usually admissible in court as long as no laws were broken when the evidence was obtained. This means that any photos, video, or conversations can be used against your spouse if you find out that they have been unfaithful.

However, as mentioned above, there are rules and stipulations to what is considered legal. For example, any conversations that the investigator overhears must take place in a public place and in a normal tone of voice. Any pictures that the investigator takes of individuals must be in a public place and cannot be on private property where he may have trespassed.

Infidelity investigations can be complicated and emotional. Hiring a professional that has experience in the field will ensure that the investigation goes your way.

Should You Hire a Private Investigator?

Divorce, the division of marital property, custody, and even payment of attorney fees often depend on proving who is more at fault in the breakup of the marriage. In order to prove that your spouse has been cheating, you will need solid proof that is admissible in court.

The evidence a private investigator gathers on your behalf can be used in court to verify your claims and help to ensure that you receive the best benefits and results in court.

Hiring an experienced and savvy investigator usually reflects back in the results. Experienced private investigators know how to gather sensitive information legally that will be effective and hold up in court when it comes to Infidelity investigations.

Being cheated on is a terrible thing. The least you can do is make sure you are protected in the best way possible when it comes to compensation.

Check us out for more information on how we can help with your investigation.

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FAQs

How do private investigators investigate infidelity? ›

PIs can gather video, photos, and other evidence that can determine if your spouse is cheating and they can testify about what they observed during their Infidelity investigations. There are rules, however, in what types of evidence are considered admissible in the court of law.

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What proof do you need for cheating? ›

How Do You Prove It. The person alleging adultery must prove that their spouse committed an adulterous act via direct evidence (e.g., eyewitness accounts; admissions by the guilty spouse and/or the paramour) or, more often, via circumstantial evidence.

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Can a private investigator get text messages? ›

Like wiretapping a phone to listen in on conversations, a private investigator can't read text messages without the individual's consent.

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How much does it cost to investigate a cheating spouse? ›

According to the website Thumbtack, private detectives cost between $99 and $150 per hour, with the national average cost of private investigator services coming in around $105 per hour.

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Can private investigators see Facebook messages? ›

If they have consent, they can view relevant information in phone records that include data from social networking sites' posts, photos, Google, and other search engines that might be relevant to their case. But they cannot see the records without consent.

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How discreet are private investigators? ›

The private investigator has their own set of working schedules that makes them quite discreet. They silently keep an eye on the said person and gather all the relevant information. Sometimes this private investigator gets caught as their covers blow off. People sometimes notice them in thin air.

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Can text messages be used in court to prove adultery? ›

The admissibility of text messages

Some legal experts say using personal texting as evidence is an invasion of privacy and therefore should not be admissible in court. However, if your wife's cell phone is part of a family account, you have the legal right to review her messages.

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Is it hard to prove infidelity? ›

Infidelity is hard to prove in court. In order to win, you need to prove that your spouse had every intention of committing adultery, that they were afforded a window of opportunity in which to commit the adulterous act, and that they knowingly and willfully engaged in sexual relations with someone else.

What lie detector questions are for cheaters? ›

Since (SPECIFIC DATE), besides (SPECIFIC NAME), have you engaged in oral sex with anyone else? Since (SPECIFIC DATE), besides (SPECIFIC NAME), have you engaged in French kissing with anyone else? Have you ever engaged in any type of sexual activity with (SPECIFIC NAME)?

Can a private investigator listen to your conversations? ›

Despite the prohibition on recording telephone conversations, in most jurisdictions, private investigators are legally able to eavesdrop on, and record, conversations that occur in public.

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How far back can investigators get text messages? ›

The police may obtain your opened and unopened messages that are 180 days old or older with a subpoena. But they have to let you know once they've requested this access from the provider. Law enforcement are allowed to access older, unread emails without telling you if they obtain a court order.

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Is it wrong to track a cheating spouse? ›

It is wrong and a violation of their privacy. If you find yourself searching 'track husband's phone' or 'How can I track my wife without her knowing? ' on the internet, you are likely dealing with trust issues in your relationship.

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Can you sue the person your husband cheated with? ›

No, adultery is not currently a civil tort in California. In the past, there were laws that allowed people to sue for infidelity. Many states also used to criminalize adultery.

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How can I legally catch my cheating husband? ›

Hiring a private detective is one of the most common and successful methods for catching a cheating spouse. Private investigators typically offer a variety of services, from surveillance to background checks, to help you uncover evidence that your partner may be unfaithful.

Should I hire a private investigator to follow my boyfriend? ›

Yes! Private investigators are able to uncover information most private citizens cannot. Not only do they have access to additional resources, but they also have a skill set most people don't.

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Can I hire a private investigator to follow my girlfriend? ›

Hiring a private investigator might be a good idea if you think your girlfriend is cheating but don't have any evidence. A private investigator can help you gather evidence via surveillance. HOW MUCH DOES A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR COST? The cost of a private investigator varies depending on the services you require.

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Do private investigators spy on people? ›

A private investigator might need surveillance on someone and gather evidence through - sometimes - questionable but not illegal ways, like following someone, doing a stakeout, looking through the trash, or interviewing friends and family of the person they're surveilling.

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