Adultery and Infidelity
Let’s start by clearing up the distinction between adultery and infidelity:
Adultery – you’re married and you have sex with someone outside the bounds of marriage.
Infidelity – you’re not married and voluntarily have sex with someone outside of a monogamous relationship.
Either way, you’re cheating outside of a relationship.
Adultery and Infidelity Stats
Unfortunately with respect to adultery and infidelity, 50% of all marriages will be impacted by a cheating spouse being unfaithful and 30% of marriages end in divorce because of the affair. A study conducted by the University of Washington found that those who earn over $75,000 a year were 1 ½ times more likely to have an affair than those earning under $30,000 per year. In a marriage, the majority of cheating spouses are men and over 30% cheat on their wives. But recently, the number of cheating wives in a marriage has risen to nearly 25% of all married women.
If you suspect your spouse is cheating on you, it might make sense to hire the services of an infidelity private investigator. Here at Washington State Investigators, we specialize in infidelity investigations. “But, before you call us regarding adultery, we feel it is in your best interest to talk directly to your spouse about your concerns as they arise”. Communication is the most effective way to resolve problems in an intimate relationship. However, this doesn’t apply when it comes to concerns about infidelity. Talking to a spouse who is already cheating only makes it more difficult to actually discover the truth.
Infidelity Investigators
Private investigators who conduct infidelity investigations are licensed by the state to gather information, engage in surveillance and understand what is permitted under Washington State law. If there is a potential for legal proceedings to exist, i.e. child custody, alimony, marital assets were used to support an extra marital affair, and divorce, hiring an infidelity investigator may help minimize your risk. If you collect information about your spouse, the information may be useless because of how it was obtained. Hiring an infidelity investigator helps minimize the chances of information being thrown out during legal procedures. Remember, private investigators are allowed to testify on your behalf. Having a third-party present information will appear less biased and more credible.
Adultery and Washington State Laws
Washington is a “no-fault divorce” state, which means that the dissolution of marriage does not require a showing of wrong doing by either party. Regarding adultery, Washington State divorce courts only require that one party in the marriage feel the relationship is irreconcilable and the dissolution of marriage request be granted. The largest influence that adultery typically has on a divorce is in the negotiation process of the settlement. There are many times when the straying spouse feels guilty or embarrassed and the betrayed spouse feels anger and desires retribution, but the attitude and demeanor of both spouses can drastically impact the terms of the settlement.
Washington State Investigators has performed numerous infidelity investigations and has the experience necessary to catch cheating spouses by exposing them using surveillance, photographs and video equipment. If you find yourself needing the services of an infidelity private investigator to catch a cheater, call Washington State Investigators.