| Divorce itself can be bad enough, but matters can | | | | name for the sole purpose of hiding those assets. |
| become significantly worse when one partner is | | | | For instance, let's say that your spouse has a |
| seemingly withholding assets, or information about | | | | friend or business partner, and they regularly send |
| those assets, from the other. Unfortunately, the | | | | them money, transfer accounts into their name, |
| act of hiding assets in marriage is becoming more | | | | or transfer ownership of a business or businesses, |
| and more commonplace, and if you think that | | | | or property. In cases like these, it's usually quite a |
| there's even a remote chance that your spouse is | | | | bit more difficult to find those assets as they are |
| not forthcoming with all of their accounts, | | | | technically, and legally, no longer assets that your |
| property, vehicles, or cash reserves, you owe it | | | | spouse controls. |
| to yourself to look try and find out if your spouse | | | | Unfortunately, these asset-transfer transactions |
| is hiding assets from you. | | | | may look legitimate on paper, if there is even a |
| What asset searches can reveal | | | | paper trail. Sending money to an associate or |
| Asset searches, also called asset investigations, | | | | even an unknown third party can be explained |
| and asset locator services, can find a great | | | | away by calling it a business expense or loan |
| number of items under your spouse's name. For | | | | repayment. Furthermore, especially if your spouse |
| instance: | | | | has means, either personally or through their |
| * Businesses | | | | business, it can be difficult even for a seasoned |
| * Accounts | | | | asset investigator to follow all of the various trails |
| * Property / real estate | | | | to identify which transactions may be related to |
| * Vehicles | | | | asset hiding and which transactions are legitimate |
| When you hire an actual investigation firm to | | | | business transaction. However, as this type of |
| search for your spouse's assets, they can dig | | | | asset hiding generally requires that your spouse |
| deeper than a simple database search -- an | | | | transfer full control of their assets over to the |
| investigator may be able to dig into properties, | | | | third parties, it is by no means an everyday |
| vehicles, and assets under the control of | | | | occurrence. |
| businesses in your spouse's name. | | | | If you think that your spouse may be hiding |
| Limitations of divorce asset searches | | | | assets from you, it is in your best interest to hire |
| While asset searches tend to be comprehensive | | | | an investigator that offers asset search services. |
| by nature, they are not without potential | | | | After all, if your spouse is hiding assets from you, |
| limitations. As an unfortunately all-too-real | | | | it could make a night and day difference in the |
| example, asset searches may not be able to | | | | end-result settlement that you receive during |
| uncover money, property, or other goods that | | | | your divorce proceedings. |
| were transferred over into another person's | | | | |