Many times – and you’ll see this with domestic/infidelity cases a lot – the woman will hire you because she wants proof that her husband is cheating.

You really need to manage the expectations of your (potential) client.

What is she going to consider proof?

Here’s the thing. You’re going to go out and you’re going to get video. You’re going to get evidence of cheating or infidelity. You might catch him going into a strip club. You might record him going to the condo of his ex-girlfriend rather than going to work on the weekend like he’s told his wife.

When you bring this video to your client, to the wife, is she going to accept it as, “proof”?

She may have expected more! She may have expected to see video of him sitting on her couch making out! (That’s video, by the way, you will never get.)

Plus, he’ll have an excuse. He will have a “reason”.

He’ll say he was in that strip club because it was Dave’s bachelor party and he knew would upset her so he kept it from her to protect her! And he’ll insist nothing happened. That he was a gentleman in there.

Even being over at a girlfriend’s house, condo, or apartment, he’s going to say, “I knew it would upset you. That’s why I didn’t tell you. She was getting smacked around by her boyfriend. She didn’t have anybody else she could call. I just went over there to help her move her stuff out. That was all there was to it.”

He’s going to have explanations for whatever evidence you bring to your client. So both you and your client need to understand it’s “evidence” of cheating. It’s not the “proof” your client may think she’ paying for!

Your client need s to understand, you’re never going to get the stuff she sees on TV like the couple inside an apartment. You may be fortunate, on a case or two, to catch a couple in a public park, kissing or that type of thing. But, the reality is, you’re going to bring back evidence of cheating (not “proof”) and you client needs to understand that before (before!) she hires you.

You need to make sure that your client understands what you’re going to be able to bring to her, what you’re not going to be able to bring to her, and manage those expectations.

Law Firm Clients

You get this with law firms as well, but not so much.

Generally, law firms are excellent clients because they’ve done this so many times, as opposed to a domestic and infidelity case where this is a one-off type thing for them.

With a law office, the attorneys will tell you what they need from you. If not, you should ask. “What are you going to be happy with? What’s the evidence that you need?”

Evidence versus proof. Know the difference and set the expectations of your client.

Committed to your success,
Larry Kaye,
Private Investigator

P.S. – And, of course, don’t miss my special report titled… If You Want To be a Private Investigator Give Up… Unless You Do These Three Things. You can get it right here…