What Should I Do If My Spouse is Concealing Assets?
Posted on Feb 12, 2015 2:25pm PST
Many divorce clients find themselves suspecting that their spouse is
hiding assets from court in order to protect them from
redistribution. For some, it's just a hunch. For others, they're certain. Either
way, the existence of these assets needs to be proven in court for a judge
to consider them in the overall financial portrait of the marriage. Luckily
for the suspecting spouse, there are methods to ensure that all assets
are open to consideration in court.
Depending on the client's own financial situation, there are a few
different strategies to exposing hidden assets during a divorce. Some
require additional legal costs, but evidence of possible concealed assets
may be able to be gleaned from documents that spouse already has access to.
During, or even shortly before a divorce, a suspecting spouse should consult
the following documents belonging to the opposing spouse:
- Pay stubs
- Bank statements
- Tax returns
- Credit card statements
- 1099 tax forms
- Any cancelled checks
- Any public records of other property
Information and discrepancies in these documents may give you the evidence
you need prove that your spouse is hiding assets. If, however, you do
not have access to these documents, then it's possible to file a
discovery motion. This can result in subpoenas to compel your spouse, their banks, employers,
or other relevant parties to relinquish financial information. It's
also possible to hire forensic accountants to review your spouse's
finances to uncover anything hidden.
Get the Settlement You Deserve
Thorough financial investigations can come at an additional cost, but that
expense should be weighed against any potential assets these investigations
stand to find. One of the most critical factors in a successful divorce
settlement is making sure each spouse gets the money and support they
deserve. If your Nassau County divorce attorney is truly putting your
interests first, then they will have the contacts and resources to make
these investigations available to you.
At Jason M. Barbara & Associates, P.C., we've assisted numerous
divorce clients uncover buried assets that had a bearing on the trial.
If you suspect your spouse may be hiding money or property from you, we
invite you to call our Nassau County divorce lawyers today for a
free consultation.