Domestic Surveillance · No. 02
Domestic Surveillance in New York City
Discreet surveillance involving family, children, and the home. Handled with the care these situations need.
Discreet surveillance involving family, children, and the home. Handled with the care these situations need.
Domestic surveillance covers the cases where the people being watched are family. Custody concerns. A teenager you're worried about. A nanny or caregiver. A spouse during a contested divorce. These cases need not just investigative skill, but the judgment to handle situations where children and family relationships are at the center.
Our domestic surveillance work includes child custody surveillance for matrimonial attorneys, cohabitation surveillance in alimony cases, nanny and caregiver surveillance, elder care welfare checks, surveillance of a co parent suspected of unsafe behavior, and general home and family welfare investigations. Every case is different, and every case is handled by an investigator experienced in this specific area.
When a parent is concerned about what happens at the other parent's home. Substance abuse, dangerous adults around the children, custody violations. Surveillance can produce the documentation that matters in custody proceedings. New York family courts give significant weight to documented, professional surveillance evidence, and our work is built for that standard.
In post divorce alimony disputes, proving that a former spouse is cohabitating with a new partner can end or reduce maintenance obligations. These cases need documenting a pattern over time. Not a single night, but the consistent presence that satisfies the cohabitation standard under New York law.
Much of our domestic surveillance work comes through matrimonial and family law attorneys who use us repeatedly because our reports are court ready and our investigators testify well. If your attorney has not referred a specific PI, we're happy to coordinate directly with their office.
Domestic surveillance is billed by the hour, typically with a minimum block of hours per outing, because the value is in sustained, patient observation rather than a quick drive by.
The main things that move the fee:
A typical domestic surveillance day in New York runs in the high hundreds to low thousands of dollars depending on the hours and team involved. Every case is quoted individually. The initial consultation with David is free and confidential, and you’ll get a written estimate before any work begins, with no obligation.
Straight answers to what clients ask most. If yours isn't here, call David directly for a free, confidential consultation.
It covers private and family matters: a partner's movements, a teenager's safety, an elderly parent's caregiver, a custody concern, or any situation at home where you need to know what is actually happening. We document activity that occurs in public or in plain view and report it factually.
Yes, within limits. We can observe and record what is visible in public spaces and document patterns of behavior. We do not trespass, intercept private communications we are not party to, or install devices on property we have no legal right to access. Staying inside those lines is what keeps the evidence usable.
Yes. Caregiver and nanny investigations are one of the most common domestic cases. Verifying that a child or elderly parent is being treated and supervised properly. We tailor the approach to your home and the lawful options available to you, and walk you through them in the consultation.
Completely. The subject of a domestic case is usually someone close to you, so secrecy matters even more. We use covert surveillance, unmarked vehicles, and never reveal the client. Nothing about the case is shared outside the engagement.
A clear, chronological account of what was observed, with dates, times, locations, and supporting photo or video where it exists. It is written to be understood plainly and to stand up if it is ever needed by an attorney or a court.
Domestic surveillance is billed hourly with a minimum block per outing. A typical day runs in the high hundreds to low thousands of dollars depending on hours and team size. Every case is quoted after a free consultation, with a written estimate before any work starts.
New to working with an investigator? See how we work, our confidentiality standards, or why a licensed PI matters.
From the field: What to expect during a surveillance operation · What a PI can legally do in custody cases · How professionals stay undetected.
New York Intelligence Agency works across all five boroughs and the surrounding metro. Understanding the population we serve. Its scale, density, and makeup. Informs how we plan surveillance, locate people, and build cases in the city.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (New York City).