In a contentious divorce, it is not uncommon for at least one spouse to try to get more than their fair share during the division of marital property. A particularly malicious individual might even stoop to the act of hiding assets in an attempt to walk away with more than the other spouse.
Behaviors that might indicate that your spouse is hiding assets include suddenly withdrawing large sums from bank accounts, suddenly closing accounts or giving unexpected “gifts” to friends or family members. If you have reason to believe your spouse is hiding assets during the divorce process, it is important to know what you should do next.
Find the hidden assets
If your spouse fails to report all their assets to the divorce court, either to purposefully hide them or otherwise, it may fall on your and your legal team to find the hidden assets. One way to do this may be to request relevant documents from the bank or other financial institutions involved in your spouse’s accounts. You might also consider working with an experienced forensic accountant who can conduct a deeper investigation on the matter.
Know how hidden assets will affect divorce proceedings
When it comes to light that your spouse is hiding assets during your divorce, you can benefit from knowing how this information affects the rest of the proceedings. This wrongful behavior will likely affect a judge’s decision regarding the division of marital assets. Not only will you receive your rightful share, but you might also receive a greater share of the property as compensation.
If your spouse gets away with the act of hiding assets during your divorce, you will get decidedly less than you deserve. It is crucial that you take appropriate legal action if you suspect malicious behavior from your spouse.
