DO YOU THINK LIKE A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR?
Every day, our private investigators are hired to uncover the truth, connect the dots, and find answers hiding in plain sight. But how sharp are your instincts?
In this quick challenge, you’ll face real-world situations inspired by cases our P.I.’s encounter every day. Your mission? Trust your gut, make your call, and see how your detective skills stack up.
Will you think like a licensed investigator… or fall for the same mistakes most people make?
Take the quiz below and find out.
Lead With Facts And Not Assumptions!
Question 1 A judge is deciding custody. Which factor carries the most weight in their decision?
A) Who makes more money
B) Who the child says they want to live with
C) The best interest of the child
D) Who filed for divorce first
Question 2 A parent misses visitation three times in two months but claims they had work conflicts. How does a court view this?
A) Understandable, work happens
B) As a minor issue unless it becomes a pattern
C) As a potential sign of disengagement that can affect custody
D) Courts do not track missed visitation
Question 3 Your co-parent is posting photos on social media of late night outings while the child is supposed to be in their care. Can this be used in court?
A) No, social media is not admissible
B) Yes, but only if a PI obtains it
C) Yes, publicly available social media posts can be used as evidence
D) Only if the posts are reported to the platform first
Question 4 The other parent has a new partner living in the home. Does that automatically affect custody?
A) Yes, any new partner is grounds for modification
B) No, a new partner alone is not enough
C) Only if the child objects
D) Yes, if the relationship started during the marriage
Question 5 You believe the other parent is using drugs. What is the strongest move you can make?
A) Tell your attorney what you suspect
B) Confront the other parent directly
C) Document observed behavior and request a court-ordered drug test
D) Call CPS immediately
Question 6 A custody order is already in place. The other parent relocates 45 minutes away without notifying you. What are your rights?
A) Nothing, they can live wherever they choose
B) You can request a custody modification based on material change of circumstances
C) Only the child can object
D) You must agree to the move within 30 days or lose your rights
Question 7 The other parent is consistently badmouthing you to your child. Can that affect their custody standing?
A) No, what they say at home is their business
B) Only if the child repeats it in front of a judge
C) Yes, parental alienation is taken seriously by Texas family courts
D) Only if you have it recorded
ANSWER KEY
Answer #1: C Every custody decision in Texas comes back to one standard: the best interest of the child. Income, preference, and who filed first are all secondary. Judges look at stability, safety, involvement, and the ability of each parent to support the child’s relationship with the other parent.
Answer#2: C Courts take parental involvement seriously. Repeated missed visitation, even with reasonable explanations, can signal to a judge that a parent is not prioritizing the child. Documenting these occurrences matters, and a licensed PI can help you build a timestamped, verifiable record.
Answer#3: C Publicly posted content is fair game. Screenshots with timestamps, profile names, and post dates preserved properly can be submitted as evidence. The key word is public. Accessing a private account without permission crosses a legal line.
Answer#4: B A new partner alone will not move a judge. What matters is whether that person’s presence creates a risk to the child’s safety, stability, or wellbeing. If there is a criminal history, substance abuse, or documented unsafe behavior, that changes the conversation. A PI can help establish what is actually happening in that household.
Answer#5: C Suspicion alone will not get you far in family court. Documented behavior, a pattern of evidence, and a formal request for testing through your attorney is the path that actually works. A licensed PI can observe, document, and report in a way that supports your attorney’s motion without contaminating the evidence.
Answer#6: B An unannounced relocation that materially affects the custody arrangement is grounds for a modification hearing in Texas. You do not have to accept it. Document the move, the date you discovered it, and any impact on your parenting time, then get to your attorney.
Answer#7: C Texas courts expect both parents to support the child’s relationship with the other parent. A pattern of badmouthing, manipulation, or alienating behavior can be viewed as acting against the child’s best interest. It will not happen overnight, but a documented pattern builds a case. Journal entries, witness accounts, and behavioral changes in the child all matter.
How Did You Score???
7 correct: You understand how family courts think. Now make sure your evidence does too.
5 to 6 correct: Solid foundation. A few blind spots that could cost you in a hearing.
3 to 4 correct: You know enough to be dangerous, but not enough to win alone.
0 to 2 correct: This is exactly why people lose custody cases they should have won. Call us.
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Get Answers. Get Results.
Contact Terrance Private Investigator & Associates
Your child deserves a parent who is prepared. At Terrance Private Investigator & Associates, we document what courts need to see, legally, thoroughly, and in a way that supports your attorney’s case from day one.
Call or visit piterrance.com to schedule a confidential consultation.
Website: https://piterrance.com/
Call or Text: (833) 495 0003
