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How you can discover hidden assets in a divorce

On Behalf of | Aug 27, 2020 | Divorce

Many divorces end with ex-spouses not being very friendly or fully honest with one another. Since there are a lot of emotions attached to ending a relationship, sometimes people aren’t the best versions of themselves. The problem with dishonesty in a divorce is that one party might feel the inclined to hide assets.

To ensure you receive a share of the marital estate that is fair, you can seek out hidden assets. You can do this by reviewing financial documents and roping in professional to help guide a top-to-bottom search.

Where should I look?

If you think your ex might be hiding assets, you’ll want to check documents and statements that are already accessible to you or your ex, like:

  • Tax returns: If you can locate tax return statements, this can help you see if the income your spouse is claiming on divorce documents lines up with what they listed in legal forms over the past few years. In addition to income, you should confirm that assets like investments or retirement accounts are also consistent from year to year.
  • Bank account statements: Ask for full copies of checking and saving account statements from your ex and review them with extreme attention to detail. You might be able to spot large sums of money withdrawn from a checking account that your ex used to fund a source unknown to you. Hefty or consistent savings account deposits not connected to known income or investments can also signal streams of money that your spouse hid from you on purpose.
  • Loan applications: Whether you plan to settle your divorce in a court setting or not, a court visit might help you uncover some assets. If your spouse applied for a loan, it’ll be on file at a local court and the application should list out their assets.

Who can help me?

Although divorce can feel lonely or isolating at times, you can obtain support through the legal process. There are financial and legal experts that can help take a closer look at your case. This includes accountants who’ve helped you manage your finances through the course of your marriage, a forensic accountant and an experienced divorce attorney.