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Matt Rooney
is a New Jersey attorney, former Superior Court law clerk, and noted commentator who focuses his practice on family law, municipal court defense, and personal injury matters. He was recognized by SJ Magazine as a 2018 “Top Divorce & Family Attorney."
Latest posts by Matt Rooney (see all)
- N.J. COURT: Live-In Nannies Are Covered By The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act - July 31, 2019
- When will the judge hear my N.J. family court motion? - October 16, 2018
- N.J. may soon allow “hardship licenses.” Here’s what that means. | Rooney - October 10, 2018
By Matt Rooney
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It is not unusual for divorcing spouses to want to know whether it’s okay to record — with video or audio — the other party.
And as is the case with many questions in the legal arena? The answer is complicated and often highly circumstantial.
First and foremost, you should always consult your attorney before pressing “record.”
Why? The New Jersey Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Act is central to any analysis of these issues. New Jersey is a “one-party consent” state. That means only one party needs to consent in order for the conversation to be recorded. Put another way: you do not need to obtain consent to record your spouse provided your spouse KNOWS you’re a party to the conversation; if you’re sitting in Atlantic City and talking to your spouse on the telephone (she’s in Newark), you can usually record it.
The “line” is not always easy to see when you’re in an emotionally charged situation. Generally, you cannot leave a recorder on the table or under a potted plant, walk away, and then continue surreptitiously recording. Video taping someone with a video phone in a public space is usually permissible; the key is often whether (1) the recorded individual had a reasonable expectation of privacy, and if (2) the recordation qualifies as harassment.
However, installing a secret recording device in a house, car, or laptop used by your spouse could run afoul of not just the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (and result in the entry of a restraining order) but also state criminal law for having invaded someone’s privacy or even stalking. Civil remedies could arise, too, meaning you could get sued for monetary damages in civil court.
These weighty issues arise before we even get to the more proximate consideration of whether the recording will be deemed admissible in court.
Do you have questions about your New Jersey divorce case? The boundaries for recording your spouse? Or what to do if or when you discover that you are being recorded?
Help is only a quick phone call or e-mail away. Navigating difficult family legal disputes is our passion! We’re here to walk you through the process and achieve a best-case outcome given the unique facts of your case.
If you have any questions regarding divorce generally, alimony, equitable distribution, the determination of income for child support, custody, parenting time, or any other family court matters in New Jersey, please contact us online today or call (856) 546-1350 for a confidential consultation with one of our skilled New Jersey family court lawyers.
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Note: The outcome of every case is fact specific. Your particular case’s results will vary depending on a wide range of legal and issues and factors. The facts of your case may not apply to or relate to the case described above.
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The following two tabs change content below.
Matt Rooney
is a New Jersey attorney, former Superior Court law clerk, and noted commentator who focuses his practice on family law, municipal court defense, and personal injury matters. He was recognized by SJ Magazine as a 2018 “Top Divorce & Family Attorney."
Latest posts by Matt Rooney (see all)
- N.J. COURT: Live-In Nannies Are Covered By The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act - July 31, 2019
- When will the judge hear my N.J. family court motion? - October 16, 2018
- N.J. may soon allow “hardship licenses.” Here’s what that means. | Rooney - October 10, 2018
