The statistics are startling.

According to the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, approximately 60 percent of men and 50 percent of women will have an extramarital affair at some point in their marriage.

To add insult to injury, further studies estimate that 54 percent of men and 70 percent of women are not aware of their spouse's unfaithfulness. "Virtual" Internet affairs as well as emotional ones are also on the rise.

Suspicion can fester like an open wound, causing anxiety and heartache until one simple question is answered beyond a shadow of a doubt—is my spouse or significant other cheating?

For a growing number of people, the answer to that question lies in hiring a private investigator.

What is a private investigator?
A private investigator's primary responsibility is to gather facts—whether that entails investigating suspected wrongdoing or searching for missing persons. Unlike law enforcement officials or crime-scene investigators, private investigators usually work for attorneys, businesses, and private citizens. They are hired to collect information, not to apprehend criminals. In some cases, private investigators are also hired to deliver information—as with a summons, subpoenas, and other legal documents—to parties in a legal case. Many private investigators have attended college and have previous experience in investigative work. In most states, they are required to be licensed; Georgia private investigators are licensed by the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies. It is crucial to hire a private investigator that is licensed; otherwise any evidence obtained on a case may not be admissible in court.

When do I need to hire a private investigator?
The need for a private investigator usually corresponds with a person’s need for proof of his or her suspicions, as is often the case with adultery. In many instances, divorce attorneys advise their clients to hire a private investigator to legally gather proof of adultery—proof that may be admissible during court testimony. Other people obtain the services of a private investigator on their own accord when they feel their physical and emotional wellbeing is in jeopardy.

How does the process work?
Once a person chooses an investigative agency, the next step is the preliminary interview. During this interview, investigators gather information and intelligence that guides them toward determining how to best conduct an investigation. This interview also serves as a time for prospective clients to evaluate the investigators to ensure that they feel comfortable with their abilities and skills and that they trust them to conduct the investigation.

What to bring to the preliminary interview
Potential clients should bring certain pieces of information that will allow the investigator to begin work on the case in a quick and educated manner. This information includes:

• The full name, date of birth, and social security number of the spouse or significant other;
• Current residential and work addresses;
• Vehicle description and tag numbers for all vehicles to which the spouse or significant other as access;
• Current work schedule and calendar of upcoming events;
• Information about others who reside in the spouse or significant other’s household;
• Recent photographs, for identification purposes;
• Information about any party that potential clients believe may be involved with their spouse or significant other;
• Information about the spouse or significant other’s habits & hobbies;
• Information about the spouse or significant other’s routine; and
• Name and contact information for the potential client's attorney, if one has been retained. If the potential client is in need for an attorney, most investigators will refer one.

Potential clients should be prepared to talk to the investigator about what has raised their suspicions (e.g. what has changed in the spouse or significant other’s routine?).

Signs of a cheating spouse
Not sure if a loved one is being faithful? Listed below are signs that may indicate that a person’s spouse may be involved in an adulterous situation. If these signs are present, it may be time to hire a private investigator.

• Unaccounted time away from spouse/significant others and their family;
• Losing weight and working out in an attempt to improve appearance;
• Buying new clothes, specifically things that are out of the norm;
• Suspicious phones calls on cell phone and taking calls in private away from spouse/significant other;
• Text messages at odd hours;
• Suspicious business trips and being told "if you need me, just reach me on the cell".
• Being unhappy at home and requesting "space".
• Preliminary discussion about separation or divorce and reassurance that "you will be taken care of".
• Going out with friends and not inviting spouse/significant other; and
• Hanging out with recently divorced friends for unusual amounts of time

How should a person act after hiring a private investigator?
After hiring a private investigator, clients need to maintain their normal behavior. They should not let their spouse know that they are suspicious of or checking into their activities. This could defeat an investigative effort. Clients should not confront their spouse about the person they are suspicious of (e.g. the secretary at work, a neighbor, etc.) It is a great benefit to the clients and the investigation for the spouse to think no one is aware of his or her infidelity. Confronting spouses with suspicions will not change their behavior, it will only educate them to the mistakes they have made, and they will become more creative.

How much does a private investigator cost?
Private investigators, like attorneys, will take an initial retainer to begin a case. While clients are in the preliminary interview, investigators will try to make their best estimate for the amount of money that will be needed to complete the first stage of the investigation. The amount of the retainer will often depend upon the estimated amount of time that will be invested on the case, the location, the level of difficulty, the number of investigators required, and the estimated amount of other investigative tasks that may be required. In addition to labor fees, expenses incurred on a case are deducted from the retainer as they are expended.

Other investigative tasks:
Surveillance is not always the solution. In some cases, evidence can be obtained through other methods of research, such as those listed below. This research is also useful in surveillance matters or can be utilized individually to obtain the evidence needed.

• Background Investigations
• Asset Investigations
• GPS Monitoring
• Computer Forensics

How is evidence obtained?
A private investigator conducts many hours of investigative surveillance, following the subject of the investigation and documenting his/her daily activities. Private investigators incorporate the use of video or photography to document the activities of their daily surveillance, and they should also provide a written report of daily activities. At the end of the investigation, this documentation is put together, usually on a disc or through a printed report and is given to client or the client’s attorney to be used as possible evidence.

How does hiring a private investigator help people?
The proof of adultery is useful in divorce and child custody cases, in the enforcement of pre-nuptial agreements, and for providing closure for the deceived party. It is a valuable tool when used as leverage to facilitate a quicker, more reasonable out-of-court settlement, which should always be the client’s objective.