Despite your spouse’s best efforts to keep asset hiding techniques under cover, you’ve discovered his or her carefully hidden money trail. By taking action now, you could bring asset hiding to a swift close while also holding your soon-to-be ex accountable.
Seek Copies of Financial Records
The easiest way to confirm your suspicions? Ask your spouse for copies of all financial records. This approach benefits ‘out spouses,’ or those with minimal access to pertinent financial information. If your partner refuses to furnish records or obstructs your attempts to gain access, asset hiding could be to blame. Seek assistance from a qualified attorney, who can help you uncover records of hidden assets if your spouse refuses to cooperate.
Start at Home
Not all spouses are particularly savvy about their asset hiding habits. Begin your search right at home, where you may find signs of trouble in forgotten drawers, cupboards or in the attic. You may find bank statements, life insurance policies, stock certificates or other valuable evidence.
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Take Your Search Online
If your spouse hides his or her tracks at home, try hunting virtually instead. Enter your spouse’s name in public records to find potential aliases or business associates. Even a basic social media search could uncover valuable (albeit upsetting) information.
Your spouse’s smartphone could also prove a treasure trove; statistics from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers indicate that 9 out of 10 lawyers see clients obtaining financial information via their spouses’ mobile devices. If searching personal devices makes you uncomfortable, hire a personal investigator or an attorney well-versed in hidden assets instead.
Track Suspicious Behavior
Seemingly minor occurrences could be cause for alarm. Does your cash regularly go missing? Did your partner ‘loan’ a buddy money? Does he or she suddenly require way more money for grocery shopping or other necessities? Note each discrepancy, including the date of the discovery and a detailed description of what happened. Together, your observations may point to a pattern of secrecy and financial manipulation. Share this information with a trusted attorney, who can help you determine next steps based on gathered evidence.
The team at DiPietro Family Law Group can help you more effectively address asset hiding and other property division issues. Get in touch today to learn more.