Ohio Private Investigator

Ohio Private Investigator

In Ohio, all private investigators must be licensed through the Department of Public Safety (OPDS), Ohio Investigative Unit. Licensing used to be handled by the Division of Homeland Security PI/SG Unit, but as of February 2011, these responsibilities have been passed on to the ODPS. In order to obtain their license, private investigators must pass Ohio’s rigorous licensing requirements, including an in-depth background check, including fingerprinting. Applicants need to complete 2 years of continuous, paid investigative or security work prior to qualifying for licensure. Ohio applicants must also pass a written exam and pay $375 in licensing fees. Many private investigators in Ohio come from military or police backgrounds, though there are alternate forms of experience that are equally desirable.

Private Investigations in Ohio

In the state of Ohio, like most other states, it is illegal to act as a private investigator without an Ohio Private Investigator License from the ODPS. ICS strictly adheres to all federal, state, and local laws, so rest assured that any ICS private investigator assigned to your case will be an authorized subcontractor who is fully licensed, insured, and up to date with all continuing education requirements. At ICS, our Ohio private investigators meet or exceed all industry standards, providing you with effective and discreet investigative services.

Adultery, Infidelity or Cheating Spouse Investigations

Being the victim of infidelity is never easy, but if you suspect your partner is cheating, you deserve to know the truth. ICS can obtain the proof you need to move forward with your case and protect yourself and your interests from an unfaithful lover. Some common suspicious behaviors amongst cheaters are excessive or secretive computer use, hiding of cell phone and personal finances, working uncharacteristically late or going on business trips at the last minute, lack of, or a sudden increase in sexual appetite, being diagnosed with an STD (even STDs with long incubation periods should be considered suspicious), abnormal activity on the home phone like hang ups when you answer or hang-ups after a specific number of rings, or claiming that a wedding ring has been lost or stolen. If your partner is engaging in these or other suspect activities, contact ICS to begin an investigation today.

Historically, adultery was illegal in Ohio under the “alienation of affection” law, but legislation has been passed that abolishes this form of litigation. The state of Ohio grants both fault and no fault divorces, and it is the responsibility of the filing partner to prove fault if they decide to file under the at fault terms. If the non-filing spouse contests the petition for divorce, the court will consider all relevant information, including the circumstances that gave rise to the filing, which is why it is especially important to come prepared to a divorce hearing. A private investigator from ICS can help you obtain the information you need to prove that your marriage is irretrievable broken, especially in the wake of an affair. The state of Ohio has reported a decline in the number of marriages in the last 30 years and a steady increase in the number of divorces. Currently the divorce rate in Ohio is about 8 divorces per 1,000 residents, which is one of the highest divorce rates in the country and is nearly twice the national average. It is difficult to know how many of these divorces were the result of adultery, but divorce rates do seem to be strongly linked to income and education levels.

Ohio is an equitable distribution state, means that Ohio divorce judges divide all assets and debts fairly-not equally. In cases involving egregious acts of infidelity or marital misconduct, distribution of assets may be skewed towards the faithful partner to compensate for monies lost during the marriage. If a Private Investigator finds out that your cheating spouse was buying elaborate gifts for their lover, paying their rent, or giving them spending money, you might be entitled to reimbursement of those funds under Ohio law. If your spouse was spending money on someone else, ICS can provide the necessary proof to ensure you get back the money you rightfully deserve. Nationally, 53% of marriages end in divorce, 57% of men and 54% of women admit to cheating in past or current relationships, and the average affair lasts for 2 years. Proof of an affair can also be a critical piece of information in child custody and support cases after a divorce.

Even if you aren’t married, a private investigator can reveal invaluable information about the affair, such as the number of additional partners being seen and the amount of money being spent on the affair(s). An investigation with ICS will answer all these questions and more, helping to empower you in this difficult time.

Child Custody, Visitation and Support Investigations

In child custody cases, the primary concern for all parties involved is to protect the welfare of the child. In the state of Ohio, Family Court Services handles these cases. When a judge from Family Court Services determines who will receive custody of a child in Ohio they take several factors into account, including a parent’s ability to provide a loving, clean, safe, and stable environment for the child. If a custody battle ensues in Ohio, a judge will determine custody after both parents have met with a mediator from Family Court Services. Both parents are considered equally in custody cases, but currently the majority of mothers win full custody in Ohio. Every year 50% of parents entitled to child support money never receive the full amount owed to them, with 25% getting no money at all, even though a court has required the other parent to pay. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for the Family Court Services to accurately assess a child’s living situation due to limited state and federal funding, and it is impossible for them to follow through on every case.

If you feel your child’s best interests are not being met by your current custody arrangements, or if child support payments aren’t being made, ICS can help provide the proof you need to take your case in front of a judge. In the course of the child custody investigation, ICS might need to speak to friends, family, childcare workers, co-workers and the court to get the clearest picture of your child’s welfare. At ICS, we will focus solely on your case, and have access to be the best tools and resources available to provide a thorough, discreet and professional investigation. We can solve your case using surveillance, skip tracing, hidden asset checks, public record searches, undercover investigations, and much more.

Missing Person and Locate Person Investigations

Traditionally, missing persons cases are handled by local law enforcement and the FBI, in collaboration with the AMBER Alert system. In Ohio, the Missing Children Clearinghouse collaborates with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and local and state police to bring missing children home as quickly as possible. Ohio police advise you to report a missing person immediately; waiting 24 hours could be detrimental to their investigation. But these institutions can't always help, and often are bound by laws and regulations that may prevent them from even recognizing an individual as a Missing Person, especially when dealing with missing adults. In the state of Ohio it is not illegal for children to runaway, so police will not be able to help find runaways. This can be extremely frustrating for parents looking for lost children, but private investigators can pick up where police left off, locating runaways before it is too late. Many lost person cases simply fall outside the scope of criminal investigations, for instance, if you’re searching for a friend or family member with whom you have lost contact. ICS can help you find someone whether a crime has been committed or not, even if the police have already attempted to solve the case. If you have an unsolved missing person case, or need to locate a lost person in Ohio ICS can help. If you want to reconnect with a loved one, find your birth parents or locate a debtor/defrauder, contact ICS to begin your investigation today.

Ohio Background Check

If you need a background check performed on an individual living in Ohio, or if you live in Ohio and need a background check performed out of state, ICS can help. Background checks are one the most common and well known tools an Ohio private investigator can provide. Often, a background check is the only information a client needs. In cases where a more in-depth investigation is called for, the background check is a great starting point, providing the investigator and client with valuable leads to pursue. If you need an Ohio background check, or if you have a case involving one, ICS is ready to work for you to provide the discreet and confidential service you need in a delicate and professional manner. ICS has been helping people in Ohio just like you get results since 1967.

Computer and Cellular Forensics

In an increasingly technological world, it has become more important-and more difficult-to keep your personal information safe. Part of keeping your information safe involves knowing who has been accessing your personal electronic devices, and determining if information has been viewed or copied. ICS can retrieve and analyze data from electronic storage devices, like desktop and laptop computers, network servers, external storage drives, flash drives, digital cameras, smart phones such as the iPhone or Android phones, and more. All data retrieval methods used by ICS are complaint with all federal and Ohio state laws, so any data recovered will be available to use as evidence. In addition to recovering emails, instant messages, and text messages, ICS also offers virus and spyware detection and removal, pornography detection, email tracing, computer and network intrusion detection and prevention, Internet history evaluation, and hidden files detection. Contact ICS today to ensure that your data and digital devices are safe. ICS can help protect you from the increasing threat of identity theft.

Technical Surveillance Countermeasures

Technical Surveillance Countermeasures are steps taken to detect and prevent unwanted surveillance. Technical surveillance often takes the form of eavesdropping by bugging a house, tapping a phone line, or installing hidden cameras, with the intention of committing corporate espionage, privacy invasion, extortion, identity theft, information theft, or stalking. Being the victim of technical surveillance can endanger your personal safety, and leaves you vulnerable to potential financial damages. To ensure that you haven’t fallen prey to technical surveillance, ICS will perform a technical surveillance countermeasures sweep, which consists of sweeping for bugs, performing a physical and electronic inspection of the area to check for infrared, laser, audio recording, hidden cameras, wireless microphones, radio transmitters, phone taps, GPS tracking, and cell phone interceptors. A technical surveillance countermeasures sweep is not an investigation in itself, but rather is a service offered by ICS; if evidence of illegal surveillance is found, ICS will collaborate with a Ohio private investigator to report findings and take appropriate action.