Business Details
Emergency
services
Trusted Private Investigators in New Jersey
Cowan Investigations is a full-service private investigation firm founded by former Jersey City Police Chief Bob Cowan. With over 35 years of combined law enforcement experience, our team of former street cops and law enforcement professionals provides trusted investigative services tailored to personal and legal needs. We prioritize trust as the foundation of every case, delivering results through advanced detective skills and legally admissible evidence. Our team includes retired captains, deputy chiefs, and specialized investigators with expertise in criminal/civil investigations, computer forensics, and litigation support.We operate 24/7/365, offering personalized service and transparent communication from consultation to court-ready documentation. Our commitment to integrity ensures all evidence is acquired ethically and legally, reflecting our dedication to client satisfaction and professional excellence.
Services
Cheating Spouse Investigations
Child Custody Cases
Background Checks
Asset Searches
Litigation Support
Computer Forensics
Counter Surveillance
Document Retrieval
Highlights and features
- We offer 35+ years of combined law enforcement experience from former police chiefs and captains.
- Our team provides 24/7/365 availability for urgent investigative needs.
- We guarantee legally admissible evidence collected with ethical standards.
- Our litigation support team includes court-tested expert witnesses.
- We maintain transparency with no hidden fees or administrative delays.
Associations and certifications
- Licensed by New Jersey State Agency
- New Jersey State Agency License #9364
- Member of New Jersey Private Investigators Association
What people say
Exceeded expectations
Compassionate and caring
Detailed reports
Outstanding work
Proven track record
Services
Cheating Spouse Investigations
Our team conducts discreet surveillance to gather evidence of infidelity. We use advanced techniques to document activities while maintaining legal compliance. Clients receive detailed reports and photographic evidence to support personal or legal decisions.
Child Custody Investigations
We provide court-admissible evidence for custody disputes, including parental behavior assessments and environmental evaluations. Our investigators document interactions and living conditions to support legal arguments in New Jersey Family Court.
Asset Searches
Our proprietary software locates hidden bank accounts and brokerage assets nationwide. We conduct legally compliant searches without alerting subjects, providing clients with actionable financial intelligence for legal proceedings.
Background Checks
We perform comprehensive background investigations for divorce, alimony, and child custody cases. Our checks include criminal records, employment history, and financial disclosures to uncover critical information.
Litigation Support
Our retired law enforcement experts assist attorneys with case preparation, evidence collection, and expert witness testimony. We specialize in criminal defense, civil litigation, and family law matters across New Jersey.
People
Bob Cowan
Founder & Lead Investigator
Former Jersey City Police Chief with 35+ years of law enforcement experience. Supervised street operations and developed investigative strategies for complex cases. Now leads Cowan Investigations' team of professionals.
Joseph Ascolese
Investigator
Retired Jersey City Police Captain with expertise in criminal investigations and community policing. Brings operational leadership experience to support complex private investigation cases.
Thomas Cowan
Deputy Chief
Retired Deputy Chief from Jersey City Police Department. Specializes in strategic case management and evidence analysis for civil and criminal investigations.
Brian Duval
Criminal Investigations
Retired Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Captain with extensive trial experience. Focuses on gathering admissible evidence for criminal defense and prosecution support.
Michael Mancuso
Forensic Director
Former New Jersey Attorney General's Office specialist in computer forensics and polygraph examinations. Conducts digital evidence recovery and electronic surveillance for complex cases.
Questions
What services does Cowan Investigations offer?
We specialize in cheating spouse investigations, child custody cases, asset searches, background checks, and litigation support for legal professionals.
Are your investigators licensed in New Jersey?
Yes, Cowan Investigations holds New Jersey State Agency License #9364 and operates fully insured and bonded within the state.
Can you conduct investigations outside New Jersey?
We provide asset search and background check services in Pennsylvania while maintaining our primary operations in New Jersey.
How do you ensure evidence is court-admissible?
Our investigators follow strict legal protocols, documentation standards, and chain-of-custody procedures to guarantee admissible evidence in court.
What makes Cowan Investigations different from others?
Our team combines former police chiefs, captains, and forensic specialists with 35+ years of combined law enforcement experience for unmatched expertise.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes, we provide free 30-minute consultations to discuss your case and develop a tailored investigative strategy with no obligation.
Reviews (4)
Sasha Williams
Dec 19, 2021
Report
We recently had a situation with a thieving moving company out of Pittsburgh that reportedly had a few of our items in NJ. In the middle of the night I woke up after 3 months of nearly 0 communication and decided I needed a set of eyes to confirm if my things were in fact, still around or if I had to move on and forget all my family heirlooms. I contacted Bob and advised him of the situation. Before collecting any money he did a preliminary poke around which allowed me to do a bit more groundwork on my end to find the apparent "new" location of my goods. I paid the fee (which I could not afford
Gene Meyers
Aug 04, 2021
Report
I needed to prove my ex was co-habitating to stop my alimony. On the very first day Bob was on the case, he got so much footage that even he was excited! After submitting his report of over 600 pages to my attorney, she said she'd never had such thorough details. It was a slam dunk! Bob is the best! I highly recommend him for any P.I. needs.
Tri State
Jun 26, 2021
Report
Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
I am a business owner and I contacted Cowan Investigations regarding a business matter I was involved in. I was impressed by the promptness and thoroughness of their work. I am happy I called because they uncovered a lot of pertinent information I was not aware of. Would definitely recommend
Sheldon
I am a business owner and I contacted Cowan Investigations regarding a business matter I was involved in. I was impressed by the promptness and thoroughness of their work. I am happy I called because they uncovered a lot of pertinent information I was not aware of. Would definitely recommend
Sheldon
Carlos Mariano
May 23, 2021
Report
Liz and Bob, thank you so much for everything you've done for me. For years I've tried getting information on a certain person in the family and it was just impossible. You went above and beyond and got me all the info I needed. I would definitely give you 10 stars but unfortunately there's only five to give . Once again thank you for everything you've done for me and my family.
