Domestic Dep Dive: Family Law PI Masterclass
On-Demand CourseCourse Overview
This masterclass prepares licensed North Carolina private investigators to plan, conduct, document, and close domestic and family-law investigations that hold up in court and stay within the law — covering everything from the first intake call to the final report.
What's Included
- • 6 hours of comprehensive training
- • Professional certification upon completion
- • Access to course materials
Learning Objectives
- • How to conduct social media and OSINT research legally — platform-specific insights (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, dating apps, location-based apps), forensic evidence capture, and staying inside CFAA and NC computer-access law
- • North Carolina family law fundamentals: PI licensing law, grounds for divorce and custody, the "inclination" standard, and what evidence actually holds up under NC rules of evidence
- • Client management: the initial consultation, active listening techniques borrowed from the interview room, and setting boundaries in the first thirty minutes
- • Conflict-of-interest identification — dual representation, prior relationships, financial conflicts, social-media connections, opposing-counsel conflicts, and subcontractor conflicts — plus a conflict-check process
- • Recognizing "stalker clients": behavioral red flags including obsessive behavior, illegal requests, and misrepresentation, and how to end the engagement properly
- • Vetting and managing subcontractors on domestic cases: PPSB license verification, background checks, experience requirements, and insurance verification
- • Building court-ready affidavits and reports: sworn statement requirements, oath/affirmation, notarization and jurat, and NC-specific writing standards
- • NC PI record retention rules: the three-year statutory minimum vs. the five-year best practice, and extended retention for domestic cases
- • GPS tracking device law under NC's cyberstalking statute — the narrow statutory exceptions (law enforcement, vehicle owners/lessees, parents/guardians) and why this is the highest-risk topic in the course
Course Content
Course Overview and Meet the Instructor
- • Jurisdiction: North Carolina family law focus, with all examples drawn from NC practice
- • Credit hours: 6 CE hours applicable toward NC PI CE requirements
- • Structure: 9 self-contained modules; all nine required for full CE credit
- • Delivery: self-paced via Rise 360, accessible on any device; 30-day access period
Module 1: Domestic Intake Forms & Social Media Research
- • Platform-specific OSINT research, using only public-facing information
- • Forensic evidence capture: screenshotting, preserving URLs, timestamping
- • CFAA and NC law: understanding lawful vs. unlawful access
- • Complete intake form execution to document client, subject, and case details
- • Vehicle ownership verification
- • Red flag identification during intake to decide whether to accept a case
- • Platform insights: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, dating apps, and location-based apps (Strava, Find My Friends)
- • OSINT methodology and source quality/reliability
Module 2: North Carolina Family Law & the Domestic PI
- • PI licensing law and the Private Protective Services Board's role
- • Grounds for divorce and custody actions
- • The "inclination" standard
- • Elements of evidence that hold up under NC Rules of Evidence
- • Preparing evidence for court use
Module 3: Client Interactions & Retainer Agreements
- • The initial client consultation
- • The "first thirty minutes" framework
- • Active listening techniques borrowed from the interview room
- • Allowing the client to speak first, without interruption
- • Setting client boundaries early
Module 4: Conflict of Interest & Professional Ethics
- • Identifying conflicts of interest in domestic cases
- • Common conflict categories: dual representation, prior relationships, financial conflicts, social-media/LinkedIn connections, opposing-counsel conflicts, subcontractor conflicts
- • The conflict-check process
Module 5: Stalker Clients — When It's Time to Break Up
- • Recognizing behavioral red flags: obsessive behavior, illegal requests, misrepresentation
- • Why these patterns rarely announce themselves early
- • How and when to end a client engagement
Module 6: Managing Subcontractors on Domestic Cases
- • Vetting subcontractors before engagement
- • Verification checklist: PPSB license verification, background check, experience requirements, insurance verification
- • Why a subcontractor's conduct becomes your liability
- • Managing non-billable hours
Module 7: Affidavits, Investigative Reports & Evidence Preservation
- • Building court-ready affidavits
- • Sworn statement requirements and the oath/affirmation process
- • Notarization and jurat requirements
- • The legal weight of sworn statements in NC proceedings
- • Writing standards for affidavits
Module 8: NC PI Record Retention Requirements
- • Statutory and administrative retention requirements
- • Record retention as risk management
- • Three-year statutory minimum vs. five-year best practice
- • Extended retention recommendations for domestic cases
Module 9: GPS Tracking Devices & North Carolina Law
- • NC's cyberstalking statute and GPS tracking overview
- • Statutory exceptions: authorized duty period (law enforcement), ownership/lease period (vehicle owners/lessees), parental responsibility period (parents/guardians)
- • Why this is the most legally dangerous topic in the course
Final Quiz Assessment
- • 30 questions covering all nine modules
- • 80% (24 of 30 correct) required to pass
Your Instructor
Catherine D. Flowers
Catherine Flowers brings 30+ years of investigative expertise as a licensed PI and FAA-certified drone pilot. A passionate NCAPI speaker and NC Education Committee member, she specializes in complex litigation, drawing from extensive experience that includes criminal investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course for?
Licensed North Carolina private investigators who handle domestic and family-law cases and need North Carolina-specific CE credit.
How many CE hours does this course provide?
6 Continuing Education hours applicable toward North Carolina PI license renewal, provided you complete all 9 modules.
What topics does this course cover?
Everything from the first client call to the final report: social media/OSINT research, NC family law, client management, ethics and conflicts of interest, problem clients, subcontractor management, affidavits and evidence, record retention, and GPS tracking law.
Does this course provide legal advice?
No. It's educational only. Statutes, rules, and case law change, and you should always verify current law and consult licensed counsel for any specific case.
How long do I have to complete the course?
30 days from the start date.
What's on the final quiz?
30 questions covering all nine modules, with 80% (24 of 30 correct) required to pass.
Why does this course spend a whole module on GPS tracking law?
Because it's the highest-risk topic covered — North Carolina's cyberstalking statute narrowly limits who can lawfully place a GPS tracker (law enforcement on duty, vehicle owners/lessees, and parents/guardians of minors), and a single mistake here can carry criminal exposure.
What Our Students Say
"Catherine Flowers delivered exceptional active shooter response training for our organization that went far beyond basic protocols. Her real-world experience and emphasis on practical application made the training immediately valuable for our staff. She understands the unique challenges faced by victim service organizations and tailored the content to address our specific needs. The combination of situational awareness training and hands-on scenarios gave our team the confidence to implement critical safety protocols. Her professional approach and extensive knowledge made this one of the most valuable training investments for our staff's safety preparedness."
Rhonda Raney
Executive Director of InterAct in Raleigh