Proving cohabitation through covert surveillance.

The investigation of suspected cohabitation of two persons is sometimes necessary in divorce cases. Gone are the days when Solicitors utilise evidence of who is at fault for the breakdown of a relationship, they just want to process the divorce and finalise it. However, proving cohabitation can change the outcome of the financial settlement during the Form E process of a divorce.

The Form E should only be completed in applications for a financial order (which can only be applied for as part of a divorce, dissolution, annulment or (judicial) separation in the High Court or family courts in England and Wales) or for applications for financial relief after an overseas divorce/dissolution etc.

If one of the couple applying for a divorce is believed to be in a new relationship and living with that new flame, and it is not disclosed on the Form E then evidence of this may be beneficial. Firstly, it shows lack of integrity if this is not declared, and secondly the income and assets of the new flame can be taken into consideration when deciding who in the original relationship receives what percentage of assets.

This is a very simplified explanation, and we don’t profess to be qualified legal practitioners; however this is our experience on previous cases. This is down to the opinion of your legal representative and advice should be sort.

If between you and your legal representative suspect cohabitation and decide that it is worthwhile to prove, then we will then advise you on the best course of action based upon our professional experience.

Proving cohabitation: what information is required?

In proving cohabitation, we will ideally require;

• The address which you believe your estranged partner and new partner to be residing at.
• An image of both,
• Details of vehicles used,
• Suspected arrival and departure times from the address.

If all you have is your estranged partner’s new partner’s address, then that is fine. If you have their name but not their address, then this is also fine. We can trace anyone in the UK to their current place of residence in the correct circumstances within 24 hours based on a no-trace no fee basis. We have covered person tracing in previous newsfeeds and also on Titan PI YouTube channel which can be watched by clicking on the below link.

So once we at least have the address that we believe they are residing at, we advise that surveillance is carried out over a two-week period. Ideally, evidencing both entering the address in an evening and out the following morning, ideally wearing different clothing to evidence there is a wardrobe at the address. The evening and morning is classed as one deployment spreading the minimum of six hours over both (three hours in the evening and three in the morning). The fee for the evening and the morning is £360. This should be repeated as many times as the budget allows over a two-week period, not repeating any of the previous days. This negates the defence of them saying it was a one-off overnight stay.

After each evening followed by a morning, we will provide an evidential report which is fully admissible in a criminal or family court which includes still images taken from the surveillance footage. If, for example, you wanted to cover every weekday over two weeks and not repeating any day then this would cost £1800 inclusive of VAT and provide a water tight case in proving cohabitation.

Who do I contact for more information regarding a cohabitation enquiry?

One of the Titan’s cohabitation investigation team is awaiting your call and will be treated with the highest confidentiality.

London Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations London Office 020 39046622
Birmingham Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations Birmingham Office 0121 7162442
Cambridge Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations Cambridge Office 01223 662022
Derby Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations Derby (Head Office) 01332 504256
Leeds Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations Leeds Office 0113 4574066
Leicester Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations Leicester Office 0116 2436520
Nottingham Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations Nottingham Office 0115 9646950
Manchester Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations Office 0161 3023008
Sheffield Cohabitation Investigation – Call the Titan Investigations Sheffield Office 0114 3499400

Alternatively, you can contact us directly using our fully confidential contact form at enquiries@titaninvestigations.co.uk or chat directly using our Live Chat facility and one of our private investigations team will get right back to you.