Focusing On Family Law – And You
California is a community property state, which means that the marital estate should be divided equally. That sounds easy enough, but the truth of the matter is that the process is oftentimes more complicated than many people realize. One reason is because spouse’s oftentimes try to hide marital assets from each other in hopes of securing those assets for their own personal use post-divorce. This is unfair and unacceptable, which is why you should take action if you think that you’re being cheated.
How to spot hidden assets
It may seem nearly impossible to identify assets that have been intentionally hidden, but spotting red flags may be easier than you think. Here are just some of the indicators of hidden assets that may be present in your circumstances:
- Your spouse is controlling of marital finances and financial records
- Unexplained and unjustified withdrawals have been made from a jointly held account
- New expenses have appeared on your bank statement that your spouse hasn’t discussed with you
- A family business suddenly suffers losses that aren’t well explained
- Items of personal property go missing
- Expected bonuses allegedly go unpaid
If you identify any of these red flags, then you may want to delve into them further to see if you can determine whether assets have been hidden and, if so, where they went.
Thoroughly investigating for your property division
Although a forensic accountant may be able to help you investigate these matters, so, too, can an experienced attorney. Through the subpoena power, your attorney can get you access to the records that you need to ensure that you’re receiving your share of the martial estate. Depositions can be helpful, too, especially if you think that your case may be heading toward litigation.
There’s a lot on the line in your divorce. Don’t let your spouse take financial advantage of you and leave you in a post-divorce financial predicament. Instead, be prepared to advocate for what is rightfully yours. Attorneys like those at our firm stand ready to assist you in doing just that.
