How can investigation help in a custody or visitation suit?

A judge or jury has wide latitude in deciding conservatorship of minors. The overriding command is to act "in the best interest of the child." In considering what ultimately is in the best interest of the child, the court may consider basic environmental issues such as the lifestyle of the parent, the probable future lifestyle of the parent and child, threats to the safety, welfare, and physical and emotional well-being of the child. While an affair during marriage or even dating during the separation period would not at first blush appear to be an issue that would effect "the best interest of the child,", when repetitive such activities can be used to show the probable swinging lifestyle of the parent once the divorce is granted, the interests and focus of the parent, and the status of the child in the newly single or separated parent's scheme of things. While the court will be most interested in paramours and activities in proximity to the child, the court may also choose to look at an aberrant lifestyle on weekends when the child is not around during the separation period if such a lifestyle is clearly a precursor of things to come once the divorce, conservatorship and custody arrangements are finalized. Other issues such as drinking, parties, live-in or visiting paramours, drug usage, supervision, abandonment, or acting as a proxy for a grandparent are all issues that may be considered by the court in determining the proper party to be awarded conservatorship.