If you want to get your fair share of marital assets out of your divorce, then you have to ensure that you have a clear picture of which assets fall into the marital estate. This is easier said than done given that many individuals enter a marriage with individually owned assets, but the matter can become even more complicated when you suspect that your spouse is either hiding assets or squandering them away in hopes of bypassing the property division process.
Signs that your spouse may be hiding assets
To protect your interests as fully as possible, you have to be able to spot indications that your spouse may be hiding assets from you. Here are just some of those signs:
- Your spouse has a history of being dishonest
- Large withdrawals are being taken from a jointly held bank account without any explanation
- Payments are being made to credit cards that you didn’t even know your spouse had
- Your spouse is aggressive in retaining control over marital finances
- Your spouse has a post office box that he or she has tried to keep hidden from you
If any of these indicators exist in your marriage, then you need to investigate further to better determine if marital assets are being hidden from you.
How to investigate
There are a lot of steps you can take to investigate these matters. You can examine loan documents that list income and debts, and you can review bank account statements. Also consider analyzing tax returns, business records, and even public records for assets that you didn’t know exist.
Fight for the outcome you deserve
Divorce is rarely easy, but it’s not always contentious, either. Regardless of how your divorce plays out, though, you want to make sure you’re making the arguments that are necessary to protect your interests in marital assets. Only then can you rest assured that you’ve maximized your chances of achieving the outcome you desire.