Unfortunately, things can get messy during the divorce process and spouses may attempt to hide assets, to prevent the other party from receiving their share. If you believe your spouse is hiding assets, it is essential that you hire an experienced divorce attorney to handle your case as soon as possible. An attorney will know what questions to ask and where to look for hidden assets, giving you the best chance of obtaining the results you deserve.
Discovering Hidden Assets in a Divorce
If your soon-to-be former spouse handled the household’s finances, it can be difficult to track assets. Your first move should be to ask for copies of all pertinent financial records. Your spouse may not produce everything you need or straight out refuse to help you, at which point you will go through a more thorough discovery process.
The discovery process can potentially involve a variety of methods to gather information, including:
- Your attorney can demand the documents you need, including account records, tax returns, and more.
- Also known as interrogatories, your attorney can write out questions for your spouse to answer.
- You can request to inspect specific property, such as a safe deposit box or other valuables.
- Your spouse can provide an oral deposition, which is a testimony under oath. Your spouse must appear before a court reporter and answer all questions truthfully.
The discovery process is often an effective method for collecting vital financial information from a spouse who refuses to cooperate because the court has the authority to compel compliance. If your spouse disobeys a court order to produce certain requested documents, a judge may impose a sanction, which can potentially involve a steep monetary fine or an unfavorable judgment on the matter in question.
Your attorney may also enlist the assistance of experts, such as a forensic accountant, to dive deeper into your finances and find the necessary information.
Speak to One of Our Experienced Divorce Attorneys for the Help You Need Today!
If you are filing for divorce and believe your spouse may be hiding assets, the family law team at Patricia Barberis, A Law Corporation can assist you. Backed by more than 70 years of collective experience, you can trust our team to provide the skilled legal representation and guidance you need to protect your interests.
Reach out to our law office today at (310) 904-6648 to set up a consultation with a knowledgeable member of our team.