South Florida Child Custody Investigator

When a parenting-time concern becomes a question of safety, supervision, consistency or compliance, families and attorneys need facts that can be reviewed—not assumptions. JRS Investigations provides discreet child custody investigations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Our work is designed to document observable conduct lawfully, preserve relevant information and deliver organized reporting that an attorney can evaluate.

South Florida custody matters can involve complicated schedules, long drives between counties, gated communities, high-rise residences, schools, after-school activities and frequent changes in routine. An effective investigation accounts for those realities while staying focused on a clearly defined objective. We work with parents and counsel to establish the concern, identify lawful methods and document only what is relevant.

Free Confidential South Florida Child Custody Investigation Consultation

What a child custody investigator can document

A private investigator does not decide custody, determine a parenting plan or replace the work of an attorney, the court or the Florida Department of Children and Families. Our role is narrower: to gather and organize facts. Depending on the circumstances and legal scope of the assignment, that may include:

Documenting compliance with scheduled exchanges and time-sharing arrangements
Observing patterns involving supervision, transportation or caregiving
Recording publicly observable conduct at lawful locations
Confirming addresses, employment or other relevant background information through lawful research
Locating a parent or witness when current contact information is unknown
Preserving dates, times, locations and supporting photographs or video when lawfully obtained
Preparing a chronological report for the client and legal counsel

Each case is different. We begin by separating what is known from what is suspected, then develop a proportionate plan. That helps direct time and resources toward facts that may actually matter.

Time-sharing and exchange documentation

Disputes often center on repeated behavior rather than one isolated event. A parent may be concerned about late or missed exchanges, unapproved caregivers, unsafe transportation, extended absences or a routine that differs materially from what has been represented. Clear documentation can help establish whether a pattern exists.

For exchange-related work, investigators may record arrival and departure times, the people present, observable conditions and subsequent travel. We do not interfere with an exchange, provoke contact or place a child in the middle of the investigation. When an assignment involves a school, activity center or private community, investigators also observe access restrictions and privacy boundaries.

Lawful surveillance in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

Surveillance in South Florida requires local planning. Downtown Miami and Fort Lauderdale high-rises may have controlled garages and multiple exits. Gated communities in western Broward or Palm Beach County can limit lawful viewing locations. School traffic, toll roads, drawbridges, construction and long cross-county routes can affect continuity. A plan that ignores those conditions can create gaps or unnecessary expense.

JRS uses experienced investigators and lawful methods to observe activity visible from places where the investigator is permitted to be. We do not trespass, hack accounts, intercept private communications or install unauthorized tracking devices. We also do not promise that surveillance will produce a particular result. The value of the work comes from accurate, impartial documentation—including when the observed activity does not confirm the original concern.

Background research and locating relevant people

Some custody matters require more than field observation. A concern may involve an unfamiliar adult regularly present around the child, an undisclosed residence, a parent whose location is uncertain or a witness with information about a recurring situation. Lawful database research and public-record review may help clarify identities, addresses, associations and other relevant facts.

When a person must be found, our missing persons and skip-tracing services can support a custody investigation. Access to data is governed by law and permissible-purpose requirements. We do not obtain protected records through deception or access accounts without authorization.

How the investigation process works

1. Confidential case review

We discuss the immediate concern, the existing parenting schedule, relevant locations and any upcoming dates that may affect the assignment. If an attorney is involved, coordination through counsel can help define the most useful scope.

2. Focused investigative plan

We identify the conduct to be documented, the lawful methods available and the likely time requirements. A focused plan is especially important when activity may cross Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

3. Fieldwork and research

Investigators carry out the approved assignment without unnecessary contact or disruption. Notes, timestamps and supporting media are maintained as the work progresses.

4. Clear reporting

Results are organized in a factual chronology. Reports distinguish direct observation from information obtained through records or other sources. When appropriate, supporting photographs or video are referenced and preserved.

5. Attorney coordination

With client authorization, JRS can communicate with legal counsel about scheduling, scope and reporting. Counsel determines how any information should be used in a legal proceeding.

Safety concerns and suspected abuse or neglect

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. Suspected abuse, neglect or abandonment in Florida should be reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 or through the state’s official reporting channels.

A private investigation is not a substitute for an emergency response or a report to the appropriate authorities. Investigators do not diagnose abuse, interview a child as a therapist would or coach a minor about what to say. Where a lawful investigation is appropriate, we can document observable conditions and provide the resulting information to the client or attorney.

What clients should bring to the initial consultation

A productive consultation starts with a concise timeline. Helpful information may include the current parenting schedule, exchange locations, vehicle descriptions, known addresses, relevant court dates and specific examples of the conduct causing concern. Copies of orders or agreements may help an attorney define what is relevant, but JRS does not interpret those documents as legal counsel.

Avoid attempting to investigate the matter by accessing another person’s accounts, placing a tracker, recording communications without understanding the law or confronting people during an exchange. Those actions can create safety, privacy and evidentiary problems. Speak with your attorney about legal strategy and let trained professionals handle authorized investigative work.

Why regional experience matters

South Florida is not a single operating environment. A plan suited to suburban Palm Beach County may not work in Brickell, Miami Beach or downtown Fort Lauderdale. Traffic patterns, controlled access, parking restrictions, public-event congestion and the distance between residences can all affect staffing and timing. Regional familiarity helps build a realistic plan and explains why uninterrupted observation may not always be possible.

JRS serves clients throughout South Florida while maintaining a broader statewide capability. For information about custody-related services elsewhere in the state, see our Florida child custody investigations page.

Three counties, three family courts

South Florida custody cases are often split across county lines. Each county has its own circuit: Miami-Dade cases go to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Family Division, Broward cases to the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach County cases to the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit’s Unified Family Court in West Palm Beach. When one parent lives in Miami and the other in Boca Raton or Wellington, exchanges often happen at a halfway point along I-95 or the Turnpike, and an investigator may need to follow travel across two or three counties in a single day.

Since 2023, Florida Statute 61.13 starts from a presumption that equal time-sharing is in the child’s best interest. A parent asking for a different schedule needs specific, dated facts, which is what our chronology is built to give your attorney.

Local pages: Miami-Dade child custody investigations, Fort Lauderdale and Broward County private investigator, West Palm Beach child custody investigations, Delray Beach child custody investigations and Boca Raton private investigator.

Who handles your case

JRS Investigations is owned and run by Jody Stacy, a private investigator and former police officer at both the state and federal level, with more than 25 years of experience. Florida agency license A 2400330. You receive confidential written updates after each phase of work.

South Florida child custody investigation FAQs

How much does a child custody investigation cost?

Florida investigations are billed at $125 per hour under a 25-hour or 40-hour retainer, agreed after a free phone consultation and before any fieldwork begins. Cross-county travel is planned in advance so the hours go to the exchange dates that matter.

Can you follow travel from Miami-Dade into Broward or Palm Beach County?

Yes. Assignments can continue across county lines as long as the observation stays lawful and safe. The report records each location, time and county.

Confidential, fact-based support

Custody disputes are emotionally difficult, but the investigation must remain objective. We do not take sides in family conflict or guarantee a court outcome. We document what can be lawfully observed and report it accurately. That disciplined approach gives clients and attorneys a clearer factual record from which to make decisions.

To discuss a South Florida child custody investigation in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County, contact JRS Investigations, call (888) 737-7690, or for Palm Beach County call (561) 322-0056. We will review the concern, explain the available options and determine whether an investigation is appropriate.