Choose Your Expert Witnesses Carefully

Posted on November 5, 2007 by J. Benjamin Stevens
Bill Mitchell, Seven-Day Detective, recently stressed the importance of having the necessary proof to win your court case.  He emphasized the importance of being able to actually prove your case when you get to court.  In any contested case, "time is of the essence and how you deal with your suspicions is absolutely critical."  His article reminds everyone that the Court realizes that the testimony of a party and his/her family is biased and that friends may not know how to obtain the most helpful evidence.  He also advises that you choose your experts carefully and carefully check their credentials.  You should read Mr. Mitchell's article for more helpful information on this subject.

Source:  "Signs of Affair Never Win in Court! Get the Proof Instead!" by Bill Mitchell, posted at his Adultery, Infidelity, Affairs, Cheating Spouse, Divorce, Investigations blog.
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SC Family Lawyer Speaks at Legal Investigators' Conference

Posted on October 9, 2007 by J. Benjamin Stevens
The South Carolina Association of Legal Investigators (SCALI) asked me to speak yesterday at their Fall Conference, held this year in Greenville, SC.  Almost 100 investigators attended my presentation on the topic of "Effective Investigations in Child Custody Cases."

During my talk, I gave the investigators three tips to help their investigations in these types of cases:
  1. Let the clients know the following information:
    a.   What your investigative plan is for their case;
    b.   When you anticipate starting to work on their case;
    c.   When you will (and won't) be working their case; and
    d.   How much you anticipate charging for your services.
  2. Spend time with the client at the beginning to find out as much as you can about facts that existed at time child custody was last addressed by the Court.  This can be particularly helpful in custody modification cases.
  3. Review copies of the pleadings and Affidavits filed by both parties to help learn as much about each party's allegations so that you can help prove your client's allegations and disprove the opposing party's allegations.
The investigators present had great questions for me, and I appreciate their willingness to learn as much as they can to become the best investigators possible.  Thanks again to SCALI for inviting me to speak at their conference again this year.
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