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Domestic & Family

Domestic & Family Investigation

Discreet investigation work for the most personal cases — suspected infidelity, child custody concerns, cohabitation review for alimony, and pre-marital due diligence. Handled with the sensitivity these situations require and the evidence standards your attorney needs.

Discretion Absolute
Court-Admissible Yes
Response Time 24–48 hrs
Languages English / Spanish
Service Overview

When the question is personal, the work has to be careful.

100%
Cases Held in Strict Confidence

Domestic investigations are the most emotionally weighted cases we handle. A spouse who suspects infidelity, a parent worried about a child's safety in the other home, an alimony payor whose ex-spouse has quietly moved in with a new partner — these aren't case files, they're people whose lives are about to change based on what we find.

Our domestic and family practice is built around two non-negotiables: complete discretion and evidence that holds up. The subject of the investigation never knows we're there. The evidence we produce — timestamped video, dated photographs, contemporaneous investigator notes, written reports — is built from day one to be admissible in family court, used in mediation, or simply provide the clarity our client needs to move forward.

We work directly with individuals and with family law attorneys across South Florida. Every domestic case is assigned to investigators experienced with the specific dynamics of these matters — surveillance specialists who know how to follow a subject through Miami traffic without being made, female investigators where the situation calls for it, and bilingual investigators when language or culture matters.

What's Included

The full domestic investigation toolkit.

Our domestic and family investigations draw from the following capabilities, scoped to the specific situation and the evidentiary standard required.

Infidelity Surveillance

Covert observation documenting a spouse's movements, meetings, overnight stays, and contacts. Multi-investigator teams, long-lens video, and unmarked vehicles — no chance of detection.

Child Custody Investigation

Documentation of parental fitness concerns — supervision, household occupants, substance use, exposure to unsafe individuals, and adherence to court-ordered parenting plans.

Cohabitation / Alimony Review

Surveillance and records work establishing whether an alimony recipient is cohabiting with a new partner — grounds for alimony modification or termination under Florida statute.

Pre-Marital Due Diligence

Discreet background and lifestyle investigation before a marriage or engagement — prior marriages, undisclosed children, criminal history, financial misrepresentation, and existing relationships.

Domestic Violence Documentation

Evidence gathering for protective order proceedings, including witness location, photo documentation of property damage, and timeline reconstruction.

Locate & Service of Process

Locating estranged spouses for service of divorce papers, support enforcement, or property settlement — particularly when the other party is actively avoiding contact.

Our Process

How we work.

A clear four-stage process from intake through final report. Updates throughout — no black-box investigations.

Step 01
Confidential Consultation

A private intake by phone, video, or at our Miami office. We listen to the full situation, ask the questions a court will eventually ask, and give you an honest read on what surveillance or investigation can — and cannot — produce.

Step 02
Surveillance Planning

We profile the subject's routines, identify high-probability surveillance windows, and assemble the right team. For domestic surveillance, this typically means two to three investigators, multiple unmarked vehicles, and rotating positions.

Step 03
Field Operations

Surveillance is run in shifts to maintain coverage without exposure. Video and photo evidence is captured at distance with timestamps. Investigators document every observation contemporaneously — locations, times, vehicles, individuals, and interactions.

Step 04
Evidence Report & Testimony

Final reports include a narrative timeline, dated photo and video exhibits, vehicle and address verification, and investigator declarations. Our investigators testify in family court when cases proceed to litigation.

Why Valdes

The investigators South Florida family law attorneys recommend.

Domestic cases are won and lost on two things: whether the surveillance produces evidence, and whether the investigator who collected it can survive cross-examination. We do both.

  • 01
    Never been detected on a domestic case
    Across thousands of domestic surveillance hours, our investigators have not been identified by a subject during an active case. Counter-surveillance technique is part of every assignment.
  • 02
    Court-tested in Florida family courts
    Our investigators have testified in contested divorce and custody matters across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach. Reports are written to evidentiary standards from the first hour.
  • 03
    Discretion as a discipline, not a promise
    We do not discuss cases. We do not identify clients. Our intake process is structured so even our own administrative staff do not know the identity of subjects on active surveillance.
  • 04
    Bilingual investigators, sensitive matters
    Many of our domestic cases involve Spanish-speaking households, cultural dynamics, or international family members. Our entire team works fluently in both languages in-house.

Credentials & Standards

Florida Agency LicenseA1700169
Insurance Coverage$5,000,000
Family Court TestimonyState & Federal
Investigator LicensingClass C — All Field Staff
ConfidentialityWritten NDA Available
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
Typical Engagements

When clients call us.

Suspected Infidelity
Documenting a Suspicious Pattern

Late nights at the office, sudden gym memberships, a new phone, unexplained travel. We document the pattern with surveillance video and timeline reports — providing either evidence or peace of mind.

Child Custody
Parental Fitness Concerns

Documenting concerns about supervision, household occupants, substance use, or violation of a parenting plan — evidence used in modification petitions and protective proceedings.

Alimony Modification
Cohabitation Surveillance

Establishing that an alimony recipient is living with a new partner — grounds for modification or termination of alimony under Florida statute § 61.14.

Pre-Marital Vetting
Quiet Due Diligence

Background, lifestyle, and financial review before a marriage or engagement — undisclosed prior marriages, hidden children, criminal history, and existing relationships.

Divorce Litigation
Hidden Assets & Lifestyle Spending

Asset tracing and lifestyle surveillance establishing undisclosed income or property — used in equitable distribution disputes and support proceedings.

Estranged Spouses
Locate & Serve

Locating spouses or partners who have left the state, gone off-grid, or actively avoided service for divorce, support enforcement, or property action.

Frequently Asked

Answers to common questions.

Is it legal to follow my spouse in Florida?
When the surveillance is conducted by a licensed Florida investigator in public spaces or from public vantage points, yes. Florida law permits private investigation work by licensed agencies, and there is no statute prohibiting observation of a person in public. What is not legal — for anyone, including us — is trespass onto private property, planting a GPS tracker on a vehicle you do not own, recording private conversations without consent under Florida's two-party consent law, or hacking into electronic accounts. We do not do any of these. The evidence we produce is collected lawfully and is admissible in family court.
Will my spouse find out I hired an investigator?
No. Our investigators are not identifiable as investigators. We use unmarked vehicles, multi-person rotating teams, long-lens equipment from distance, and counter-detection technique on every assignment. Across thousands of domestic surveillance hours we have not been identified by a subject during an active case. Our intake process is also structured to protect you — calls and emails come from numbers and addresses that do not identify the agency in shared records.
How much does a domestic investigation cost?
Domestic surveillance is typically billed hourly with a defined case minimum, and pricing depends on the number of investigators required, the surveillance window, and case complexity. Most infidelity surveillance engagements range from $2,500 to $7,500, with simpler cohabitation verification at the lower end and multi-week custody documentation at the higher end. After a confidential consultation we quote firm pricing in writing — we do not run open-ended retainers.
How long does it take to get evidence?
It depends on the pattern. If a spouse is meeting someone weekly, we typically have actionable evidence within one to two surveillance sessions. If contact is sporadic or carefully concealed, it can take longer. We give you an honest read after the first session — if the pattern isn't producing, we tell you, and we don't burn your budget chasing something that isn't there.
Can your evidence be used in family court?
Yes. Our domestic surveillance evidence is collected with admissibility in mind from day one — timestamped video, dated photographs, contemporaneous investigator notes, and signed declarations. Our investigators have testified in contested divorce and custody matters across South Florida. When you engage us through your family law attorney, the work product is also protected under attorney-client privilege.
What if my spouse is just having dinner with a friend?
Then that is what we report. We do not characterize relationships or draw conclusions in our reports — we document what we observed, where, when, and with whom. Whether that observation amounts to infidelity, cohabitation, or innocent friendship is a determination for you, your attorney, or the court. We have closed many cases with a clean result that gave the client peace of mind.
Can you investigate without my spouse signing anything?
Yes. You are our client, not your spouse. The engagement is between you and us, and your spouse is the subject of the investigation — no signature or notice to the subject is required. The only exception is in some custody cases where a court has already ordered specific evaluation procedures; in that case we coordinate with your attorney.
Do you handle same-sex and non-traditional family cases?
Yes — every case. Our practice covers all family configurations, including same-sex couples, cohabiting partners, blended families, and international family situations. The work is the same: discreet, careful, evidence-driven.

A confidential conversation, no obligation.

If you're considering domestic surveillance, the first step is a private consultation. We'll listen, give you an honest read on what's achievable, and quote firm pricing — with absolute discretion.