No matter how simple your divorce may seem, they are also complex. While this may seem contradictory, it’s true. Even if you believe your divorce is cut and dry, there could be situations like hidden assets that make it more complex.
Are you concerned your soon-to-be-ex is hiding assets to keep you from getting anything? If so, our legal team can help. At Griffin Family Law, we deal with these types of cases all the time and can help you find hidden assets to ensure you get your fair share of the assets from your marriage.
It’s a good idea to get to know some of the signs of hidden assets, which can be found here.
Trying to Maintain Control of Your Financial Situation
Does your spouse try to maintain complete control of your financial situation? Do they have all the information and passwords? If so, they may be trying to hide something.
You deserve to know as much about the financial situation in your marriage as your spouse. You also have the right to access joint bank accounts during your divorce. If they do not let you do this, then it may be because they are trying to hide something.
Acting Secretive About Your Financial Situation
It is not uncommon for your spouse to be uncommunicative and even defensive during a divorce. However, if you believe your ex is being overly secretive about certain financial situations, it could be because they are trying to keep you in the dark or even hide certain assets. You should not allow your spouse to avoid or evade crucial questions or refuse to provide you with the whole picture of what is going on.
Having a Private Box for Mail
You may want to hire a private investigator during your divorce if you believe that your spouse is hiding significant assets. This PI will keep tabs on the activities of your spouse and may even discover they have a private mail drop or P.O. Box. This may be where they receive financial statements, so you do not know about them.
Deleting Information on the Computer
One way that some spouses work to hide assets from the other person is by deleting certain financial programs, like QuickBooks, from your computer or tablet. They may also claim a computer has crashed when your ex-spouse actually destroyed or stole the hard drive purposefully.
Complaining About Their Financial Situation
Has your spouse recently started complaining about the poor state of their finances? For example, do they say there has been a reduction in business, failed investments, or they are facing serious debt? If so, they may be trying to trick you. Lying, overstating, or exaggerating this type of financial hardship may skew the divorce settlement in favor of your spouse.
Lifestyle or Income Discrepancies
If your spouse is lying about their income, but it’s clear they are living a rather lavish lifestyle; it may be a sign they are trying to hide assets from you. One example of this is if there’s an income report that shows your spouse is living under the poverty line, but they go on crazy vacations and make expensive purchases regularly. If this is the case, there’s a good chance they are lying about their financial situation and trying to hide assets because of the pending divorce.
Changes in Your Bank Account Activity Suddenly
Have you noticed that your joint bank account has had regular withdrawals for many years, but then all of the sudden, there are unusual or big withdrawals or purchases? If so, it’s time to ask the other account holder what the money is being used for. It’s a good idea to track all the transactions that are made and watch your accounts closely. You can ask your spouse about these unusual financial situations or hire Griffin Family Law to help with this communication process.
Contact Griffin Family Law to Help Determine if Your Spouse Has Hidden Assets
Are you in the process of filing for divorce? Are you concerned your spouse may be trying to hide assets from you? If so, Griffin Family Law is ready to help. We can review your divorce situation and your financial records to determine if there are hidden assets in play. We will also work to ensure that you receive what is fair in a divorce settlement.
The first step to getting help with your divorce is to contact our office. We can schedule a consultation to discuss your situation and create a plan of action to find out what is going on.
Read More:
