When you get a divorce, it can lead to a lot of contention. Your spouse may be unprepared for such a declaration, and it can instantly breed feelings of resentment, betrayal, and a desire to hurt you. One way they may seek to hurt you is by targeting your finances and hiding significant assets from you that they could risk losing in the divorce. Hiding assets from your partner in a divorce is a crime. You may want to speak with a Clarksville hidden assets lawyer for help.
You should always keep in mind that getting divorced may not be as easy as you expect. It’s so much more than just two people signing a piece of paper and moving on with their lives. You have to untangle your life from your spouse’s on every level.
Depending on marital assets, joint accounts, and child custody, that can be a very difficult and painful process. You should consider reaching out to an experienced Clarksville divorce lawyer who can help you make a plan that works for you. Divorce is just one aspect of family law cases, which also include child support, custody disputes, spousal support, and post-divorce modifications.
In a Tennessee divorce, assets are intended to be split through equitable distribution, which ensures that each spouse receives a fair share of the marital assets. Fair does not always mean equal, and the split may not appear to be as equal as either spouse expects. The goal is to provide each spouse with what the court feels they deserve relative to their income, the length of the marriage, and each spouse’s contributions to the marriage overall.
Financial abuse may be considered domestic violence, which makes it grounds for divorce in Tennessee under certain circumstances. Choosing to willfully hide assets to ensure that your spouse receives less in the divorce can be considered an act of financial abuse. If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets from you, you should tell your lawyer and start investigating. It’s important that you document everything you can find that points towards hidden assets.
It’s unfortunate to start thinking duplicitously about someone you may have once trusted wholeheartedly. Regrettably, hiding assets can negatively affect your divorce settlement and is seen as a crime by the court. Asset division can only be equitable if both sides are totally honest about the assets that are being divided. Here are some important signs you can recognize in your partner that might mean they are actively hiding assets from you:
A: There are many different ways you can try to uncover hidden assets in a divorce in Clarksville. First and foremost, you should consult with an experienced divorce lawyer who can provide you with everything you will need to uncover these assets. Your lawyer can file a motion for discovery in order to request certain financial records. You may want to hire a forensic accountant to identify any discrepancies in your joint financial records.
A: If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets from you, there are several things you can do to try and catch them in the act. You can search public records, go through your financials on your own or with a forensic accountant, or go through your joint tax records to check for income inconsistencies. A good lawyer can help you figure out a plan and provide their own resources.
A: There are a number of red flags you should watch out for if you suspect your spouse is hiding assets from you. One of the biggest red flags you should always watch for is financial secrecy. If your spouse refuses to discuss money with you or insists that they be the only one handling your finances, that could be a sign that they are hiding something from you.
A: Private investigators use many different methods to uncover hidden assets. They can access public records, conduct surveillance on your spouse, interview certain individuals who might know something, analyze your spouse’s financial trail, and utilize digital forensics to trace hidden financial information on your spouse’s devices. A private investigator might be a very effective way to find out if your spouse is hiding assets from you.
Getting divorced can be complex and painful enough without also finding out your spouse is hiding things from you. Finding out your spouse has been keeping money hidden from you can make you feel betrayed all over again. It’s understandable to want to be sure all the marital assets are accounted for. A good lawyer can help you figure out a plan forward.
The legal team at Mathis, Bates & Klinghard PLLC understands how difficult it can be to think your spouse is hiding assets, but we can help you prove or disprove that thought. Contact us to speak to someone on our team about what we can do for your case.