When you get divorced, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse will likely be required to complete a financial affidavit. This legal document is necessary so that the courts can have an overview of your finances, and it is critical that this document is complete and accurate.
However, these documents can be very complicated and people can and do make mistakes and oversights when filling these out. In some cases, these are unintentional; in other cases, they are purposeful because someone is trying to shield assets from division. If you believe your ex may be hiding assets, there are other places to look besides the financial affidavit that can help you avoid costly courtroom hearings and get a fair settlement.
As noted in this article in the Huffington Post, many of the ways you can discover undisclosed or hidden assets is by reviewing paperwork and financial records. This can seem tedious and confusing, but it can be helpful to start by looking through:
- Old tax returns
- Pay stubs
- Bank account statements
- Credit card bills
- Utility bills
- Investment records
After looking through these things, you can start to get a better idea of how much money is coming in and where and how it is going out. If things don’t add up, there may be reason to believe there is a secret bank account, undisclosed properties or unreported income, all of which should be causes for concern.
This can all seem overwhelming and very complicated, particularly when you are also dealing with the intense emotional toll of a divorce. Further, it can be stressful knowing that there may be significant amounts of money at stake.
Rather than try to figure this all out on your own, you can discuss your options with an attorney who has experience in high-asset divorces. There are legal and financial resources available that can help to ensure all assets are accounted for in a divorce so that any settlement that is reached is fair.
