In order to answer this question, one must just look back to the answers to the last two questions written above. A New Jersey Private Investigator will need to obtain evidence in as many of the elements which are listed in the New Jersey Alimony/Cohabitation law. A NJ Private Detective does not have to get overwhelming evidence in each element of cohabitation because more evidence in one element can overcome less evidence in another.
So, let‘s take a look at the elements of the NJ Cohabitation Laws in terms of evidence needed by a private detective in order to achieve his goal of achieving a prima facie case of cohabitation.
- When you call a New Jersey Private Investigator to inquire as to how to proceed in conducting a New Jersey Cohabitation Investigation, there is a very important question you should hear first. The NJ private investigator is asking you how much in alimony are you paying each year. The second question you should hear is what is the term (length) of the alimony obligation? These are the two most important questions you should hear
Armed with this information a professional and ethical New Jersey Private Detective will be able to advise you as to whether or not the Alimony Investigation is worth pursuing from a financial perspective. In my opinion, if a client owes less than seventy thousand dollars, an alimony investigation is not worth pursuing because of expense vs. risk of failure. If a client owes between seventy thousand and one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, it may be worth pursuing a Cohabitation Investigation IF the client has a stomach for risk-taking. However, if there seems to be adequate evidence of cohabitation and the client owes over one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, it would be a proper decision for the client to at the very least authorize a preliminary Cohabitation Investigation.
- Before even calling the NJ private Investigator, have all the available and in front of you that makes you reasonably believe that your ex-spouse is cohabiting. The NJ Private detective should be asking you about the different items you have listed and his potential investigative approach. Nothing has to be set in stone during your conversation with the private investigator, but the investigator should be able to think on his feet and speak knowledgeably about the investigation and what the elements of the investigation are as well as what his ultimate investigative objective would be (prima facie case).
- Ask the NJ Private Investigator what would the estimated costs of the cohabitation investigation would be. If a NJ Private Detective gives you a flat rate price, my advice to you would politely thank the investigator for his time and hang up. I have cleaned numerous cases in which a private detective gave the client a flat rate price and the investigator did not even come close to achieving a prime facie case of cohabitation. I had one case in which the client was charged twenty-five dollars to even have a five-minute conversation with the NJ Private Investigator.
New Jersey Cohabitation cases can be expensive if you have the desire to succeed in reaching the objective of achieving a prime facie case. NJ Cohabitations are relatively inexpensive when the investigator undercharges the client, does a couple of days of surveillance, and gives you a worthless report. Just make sure whomever you are speaking with is knowledgeable in the NJ alimony laws and comes across as honest.
- If after talking to a New Jersey Cohabitation Investigator and you like proceeding, as the private detective if the case would be subcontracted out. Far too many New Jersey Private Investigators subcontract their investigations out after taking a healthy chunk of the money you are paying. These cases are often subcontracted out to substandard investigators with substandard equipment; I have even seen reports where the investigator had only cell phone photos. If you are doing your due diligence, ask the private detective what type of cameras he supplies to his employees and what kind of surveillance vehicles a private investigator puts into the field. Another critical question to ask is who will produce the report and what experience that person has. The most critical part of a New Jersey Cohabitation investigation is the reports that the private detective provides. A private investigator who obtains a plethora of evidence for you, but does not know how to do a top-notch report, will lose your case. In juxtaposition, a private detective who knows how to do a good report will make weak evidence appear strong
- When seeking a New Jersey Private Investigator for your cohabitation Investigation, the golden rule should be MAKE SURE THE INVESTIGATOR IS FROM NEW JERSEY. If you have read this article up to this point, I am certain you are doing your due diligence and already know that you should hire a New Jersey Private Detective.
When many people conduct an internet search for a private detective, the search will result in numerous choices of private detectives. Be smart when choosing from the selections that are offered to you. In the search results, there are ordinarily three or four private investigator firms that ask you to contact them if you need a New Jersey Private Investigator. Some of the firms represent that they have private detectives in specific NJ Cities. All of the representations made are untruthful or misrepresentations and half-truths. These are national advertising platforms, very much like ride share companies. These “private detective firms” promise to “connect the consumer” to a New Jersey Private Investigator. What essentially happens in this instance is the following:
(1). A call taker in Nebraska answers your call, but he/she doesn’t tell you that she is in Nebraska
(2) As you speak with the call taker in Nebraska you realize he/she knows nothing of New Jersey
(3) The call taker in Nebraska tells you that a New Jersey Private Detective will call you within three days, the call taker in Nebraska will also tell you the charge is $100.00 per hour
(4) The call taker in Nebraska will then contact a New Jersey Private Investigator and give the investigator the contact information for the client. The National advertising company will promise to pay the New Jersey Private Detective $35.00 per hour while the advertising company skims $65.00 per hour from the costs
(5) The New Jersey Private Investigator, who is essentially inexperienced, lacking the energy to produce a website and run a business (known in industry as bottom feeders) will contact you to get the details of the investigation. The investigator in many instances will try and explain to the client as to why the investigator will need to conduct the Cohabitation Investigation between the hours of 8am and 5pm.
(6) After you and the investigator agree on the investigative plan, the investigator will be out in field with his cell phone camera sitting directly in front of your ex-spouse’s home in a dark sedan which looks like a police car with all its windows tinted out.
A little bit of the last six items were tongue in cheek, but largely accurate in putting a point across.
I hope this article has been helpful to you in your search for a New Jersey Cohabitation Investigator to establish that your ex-spouse is fraudulently collecting alimony. Call us at 732-837-8444 for a case review or fill out our contact form here.