Common Methods of Concealment

Usually, spouses who engage in asset concealment try a mix of techniques, such as: 

• Transferring assets to hidden accounts or trusts.
• Stating a lower figure or deliberately leaving out some income sources in their assets books.
• Reporting too much debt than it is.
• Concealing business ownership or profits.
• Stashing assets in offshore accounts.

Conducting Asset Searches

Most divorce filings include an automatic temporary restraining order, which prevents spouses from making major changes to their financial situations, such as transferring, hiding, protecting, or spending marital assets, changing beneficiaries in life insurance policies, or entering into new debt without court or the other spouses' approval.

In any case, asset concealment is a form of asset theft. A comprehensive asset search can bring your ex-spouse's stashes to light. Here are some things you need to know about conducting asset searches in divorce.

Key Investigation Areas

• Financial Institutions
• Real Estate Holdings
• Business Interests
• Insurance Policies
• Retirement Accounts
• Digital Assets

Places to Search for Assets

• Bank records holding the ex-spouse's details, such as checking, savings, and loan activities.
• Investment Accounts. We are talking stock brokerage, mutual funds, and annuity accounts.
• Real estate details include the ex-spouse's property deeds, tax assessment, and mortgage settlement.
• Business records include financial statements, tax returns, corporate filings, etc.
• Public records include any business licenses the ex-spouse has taken out, as well as property records and court records relating to their business affairs.
• The ex-spouse's digital activity, such as social media posts, online transactions, GPS, and email activity. 

Coordination with Legal Discovery

An effective asset search takes advantage of all available legal avenues. This includes coordinating with the legal discovery process to unearth further evidence that may expose your ex-spouse's illegal activities. 

Discovery usually involves exchanging information and gathering evidence to assess the legal, financial, and personal aspects of the case. It's a formal process that can help with asset searches.

• Interrogatories on financial matters, income, debts, and other details are written questions requiring the ex-spouse to respond in writing, under oath.
• Requests for the production of documents and other evidence.
• Oral examinations under oath in legal depositions.

Engaging a Private Investigator

Unearthing evidence of asset concealment in divorce can be tough. You may not know where to begin, which techniques to use, or how to navigate various legal hoops. 

An experienced private investigator can help you conduct a thorough search without violating the suspect's privacy rights. 

Steps to Find Hidden Assets

There are various ways a PI may go about unearthing hidden assets in divorce. Usually, the steps are:

• Information gathering includes income statements, tax records, property deeds, business licenses, etc.
• Identifying potential hiding places based on their experience of how most people try to conceal assets.
• Using online tools such as public records, social media, and financial databases.
• Consulting with experts such as forensic accountants, attorneys, and other investigators.
• Sticking to legal guidelines to avoid jeopardizing your case.

Benefits of Revealing Hidden Assets

Revealing hidden assets  in a divorce case can be beneficial in many ways, including:

• Ensuring both parties get a fair share of the marital property.
• Providing parties with a clear understanding of their financial picture.
• Protecting your interests in legal proceedings.
• Keeping you from getting into financial hardship.

Impact on Settlement Outcomes

Evidence of concealment may affect your divorce settlement in various ways, including:

• Getting you a larger settlement offer due to an increased asset pool
• Stronger legal standing in court cases and increased chances of favorable rulings.
• Getting a quicker settlement due to bulletproof evidence and, therefore, reduced costs of litigation.

Legal Implications in Divorce Cases

If one is found to be hiding assets in a divorce, they can incur serious consequences such as:

• Penalties and sanctions
• Unfavorable rulings in divorce and other legal cases
• Criminal charges in situations involving fraud and other offenses

Importance in Civil Litigation

Asset searches are not only beneficial in divorce cases; they can come in handy in civil cases, too. We are talking:

• Business disputes, such as determining who owns title to property or the true picture of a company's financial health.
• Uncovering fraudulent activities.
• Identifying assets for estate distributions in inheritance proceedings.
• Addressing estate taxes.

Asset Searches in Specific Cases

Our asset search services cover a wide range of cases. 

• Divorce Case Investigations
• Probate Case Asset Searches
• Asset Search During Litigation

In all cases, revealing hidden assets helps parties get a true picture of their financial situation and an equitable share of assets. 

Conclusion

Divorce can bring out the worst instincts in people, making them try to keep assets from their ex out of spite, greed, or fear of potential financial ruin. If you are going through a divorce, it's wise to check if all assets are accounted for so you don't end up with a smaller share or nothing. 

Our experienced private investigator can help you uncover your ex's illegal stash of assets to ask for a more significant settlement. 

FAQs

Martin Investigative Services

Martin Investigative Services office is located at 620 Newport Center Dr Suite 1100, Newport Beach, CA 92660 

Open: 24/7

Phone: (800) 577-1080