How Does a Divorce Attorney Help if Your Ex is Hiding Money?

If you suspect your spouse is hiding money when you are dissolving your marriage, you should talk with a Santa Ana divorce attorney. Money and property acquired over the course of your marriage is considered community property in California. This means if your spouse is hiding cash or any assets, you may not get your fair share that you are entitled to. You need to get to the bottom of where the cash or property is, and an attorney can help.  

There are different legal tools and techniques you can use if your ex is hiding money, and you need to make sure you do everything possible to find the missing assets so you don’t lose out on anything you are entitled to when your marriage ends.

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP has helped many husbands and wives to find missing funds as their marriages come to an end. Call us today to speak with a Santa Ana divorce attorney to find out how we can help.

Why is it Important to Find Missing Money in a California Divorce?

It is important to find missing money in a California divorce, because you are entitled to receive your fair share of marital property. Under California’s family code, community property rules apply to division of marital assets. Community property rules dictate that virtually all property which was acquired by either spouse during the marriage is considered marital property. There are very limited exceptions, such as when an inheritance is left only to one spouse. Everything else belongs to both members of the couple- and each is entitled to receive 50 percent of all martial assets when the marriage ends.

Since you are entitled to half of marital property, regardless of who earned the money or acquired the property, you need to know what the marital property is so you can get your fair share. If there is hidden money or if your spouse has secret assets, the value of your divorce settlement will be lower than it should be, since this property won’t be properly factored in when dividing up your estate. You need a settlement that provides you with the money and property you need to move on with your life, and you shouldn’t miss out on getting assets that should rightfully be yours.

How a Santa Ana Divorce Attorney Can Help You Find Missing Money

If you believe there is money missing or hidden assets in your divorce, a Santa Ana divorce attorney can provide you with assistance in trying to find the secret funds or property. An attorney can do a number of different things on your behalf to help you try to identify where the hidden property is and to prove that it exists. For example, your lawyer can:

• Petition the court so the court can compel your spouse to produce property and/or financial records. You are entitled by law to know what assets your spouse has. During the divorce process, your attorney can go to court and ask the judge to force your spouse to provide information so you can find out about missing money. If your ex won’t comply with a court order and provide required info, your ex could be held in contempt of court and face a variety of serious legal consequences.
• Find the right experts. There are professionals such as forensic accountants who can review accounts and financial records and trace funds. An experienced Santa Ana divorce attorney can provide you with help in finding the professional experts who can unravel financial transactions your ex may have made so you can find missing money.

These are just a few of the key ways in which a Santa Ana divorce attorney can provide you with the assistance and advice you need to account for all of the money and property that your divorce settlement can be based upon.

Contact a Santa Ana Divorce Attorney for Help Today

Do not let your spouse get away with hiding assets that should be partially yours. California community property laws protect both spouses and you need to know what money and property you and your spouse share so you can end your marriage with as much financial security as possible. Contact a Santa Ana divorce attorney as soon as possible so your lawyer can get started on helping you to find missing assets.

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP knows how to assist you in taking the right steps to recover money and property your ex is hiding. Give us a call at  (866)237-8129 or contact us online to find out how we can assist you.