During a divorce, one of the main goals is to properly divide property, assets, and debts between the parties. This requires that both sides are fully aware of everything that needs to be divided. Unfortunately, this simple goal can be extremely difficult if you have an uncooperative spouse.
One of the scenarios that we have dealt with many times in divorce cases is when a spouse is hiding or failing to disclose assets. Trying to find these assets may sound like a daunting task. However, our skilled divorce attorneys can help you discover your spouse’s hidden assets.
1. Analyze Your Case to Determine if Something is Missing
The first way a divorce attorney can help you is by thoroughly looking over your case. This includes analyzing financial paperwork that you have in your possession and documents obtained from your spouse. From such a review, an experienced family law attorney may determine that an asset was missed or has not been properly disclosed.
2. Use the Discovery Process to Discover Hidden Assets
Our attorneys also use the legal discovery process to ascertain if there are any assets you do not know about. “Discovery” is the stage where both parties are given an opportunity to search and ask for certain things that may be important to the case. This could include reviewing documents (such as bank records), interviewing people, and getting your spouse to answer specific questions.
3. Coordinate with Private Investigators and Experts
Another way a divorce attorney can help you is by consulting and coordinating with private investigators and experts to determine if any assets have not been properly disclosed. Financial paperwork can be very complex and convoluted. That is why our family law firm works with private investigators and experts who can analyze your finances to determine what may be relevant to your case.
4. Get a Court Order for Disclosure of Hidden Assets
There are times when your spouse wants to hide an asset, and will not disclose any information to you or your attorney. In this type of scenario, it is especially important that you have an experienced divorce attorney to help you obtain a court order to force your spouse to disclose the information and/or documentation that you are requesting.
The court will usually want to hear from both you and your spouse, so and it is imperative that you have a skilled lawyer who can clearly layout what you are requesting and why it is important to your case.
5. Appointment of a Forensic Accountant / Special Master
In difficult cases that involve a large amount of assets and property, it may be required to have a forensic accountant or special master appointed in your case. A forensic accountant or special master’s job is to be an expert agent for the court.
This person will obtain information and/or documents from both parties, review them, and issue a recommendation to the court. Your divorce attorney will work with you to provide the necessary information to this specialist and present it in a way that will help you obtain the best possible result in your case.
Contact the Divorce Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich Today
A divorce will likely be a difficult time for you, which is why it is important to have an experienced California divorce lawyer review your case and advise you on the best options for you. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have been successfully handling divorce cases for more than 30 years. You can rely on Wallin & Klarich to help you obtain the best possible result in your case.
If you are going through a divorce, it is essential that you get the assistance of an experienced divorce attorney from Wallin & Klarich. With offices located in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Victorville, West Covina, Sherman Oaks, Torrance and Ventura, there is a skilled Wallin & Klarich divorce attorney available wherever you happen to live or work.
Call us today at (888) 749-7428 for a free phone consultation. We will get through this together.
