What should happen in a litigated divorce is this: Each spouse should present a complete list of all their assets to the court. What sometimes happens is this: One or both spouses fail to mention particular assets in an attempt to conceal them from their spouse and the court.
If you suspect your spouse is hiding assets, it’s important to start looking for them. Here are some of the places you can begin your search.
In your joint bank accounts
If you notice any large or regular transactions you cannot explain, your spouse may have a perfectly reasonable explanation. Or, maybe they don’t – in which case, it might be they were moving money out of the accounts to hide it from you. They could have sent it to an account you don’t know about or transferred it into another form of investment you do not have access to, such as cryptocurrency.
In your browser history
If you share computers or tablets, there is no harm in scouring browser history. People often forget how much information browsers retain. If you notice a lot of research into Bitcoin, offshore accounts or trusts in South Dakota (one of a few states that encourages people looking for secrecy), consider following up.
In the conversations you hear or the posts you see on social media
Is it a coincidence that your brother-in-law has been talking a lot about their new yacht recently – something you never thought they could afford? Does your wife’s best friend own that newly acquired beachfront house she’s posting pictures of? On her salary? Sometimes, a spouse will buy assets in the name of a friend or family member to avoid having to share that money in their divorce.
Tracking down deception can be challenging, so it’s wise to get experienced help to do so.