Established Jackson Attorneys Pursue Hidden Assets for Clients in Divorce Proceedings

Proven lawyers work to obtain fair property division in West Tennessee divorces

When couples divorce, property division can lead to bitter disputes, even when both parties act in good faith. When one spouse tries to hide assets to hold on to more of the marital estate than they’re entitled to, the situation can become even more contentious. If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets that will disadvantage you financially, Grant & Sain, PLLC, in Jackson, will do the hard work to find and document them so that the court has an accurate picture and your property rights are protected.

Experienced divorce counselors explain equitable distribution

Tennessee follows an equitable distribution standard in dividing property in divorce. That means the court will seek to divide the marital estate in a way it considers fair, though not necessarily resulting in a 50-50 split. In doing so, courts distinguish between marital property, which is generally all property accumulated by a couple during the marriage, and separate property, such as property owned by a spouse prior to marriage. Only marital property is subject to equitable division in a divorce.

Knowledgeable litigators advise on the ways assets may be hidden

When dividing property, both spouses must disclose all of their assets and debts. When a spouse hides, disguises or undervalues assets so that they will not be counted or will be underestimated by the court, an accurate and fair division can’t take place. The ways in which divorcing spouses may hide assets include:

• Failing to report income and assets
• Creating fraudulent accounting records
• Maintaining secret bank and investment accounts
• Holding money or other property in someone else’s name
• Undervaluing property such as artwork, gun collections, tools and equipment
• Paying phony debts and expenses to their friends and family members
• Colluding with their employers to delay raises, bonuses and stock options until after the divorce
• If they are business owners, skimming money from the business, paying phony business expenses or reducing the business’s income

We will work to uncover these or other assets so that we can present the court with an accurate assessment.

Skilled attorneys look for signs your spouse is hiding assets

As experienced family lawyers, we know how to look for signs that your spouse might be hiding assets or is inclined to do so, such as:

• A history of evading taxes or “cooking the books”
• Unusual debts and expenses
• Recent payments to your spouse’s friends or family
• A sudden reduction in the value of business and personal assets
• Assets that are insured for significantly more than their disclosed value
• A sudden reduction in a spouse’s income

We have the knowledge and experience to identify these and other suspicious circumstances that merit further investigation.

Creative advocates use tried-and-true methods to uncover hidden assets

Once we find reason to suspect hidden assets, we conduct a thorough investigation through discovery of relevant documents in your spouse’s possession and issuing subpoenas for other relevant documents in the possession of third parties. These may include tax returns, bank and brokerage account statements, loan applications and financial statements, bookkeeping and accounting records, and cancelled checks and wire transfer statements. We may depose your spouse and other witnesses who may have knowledge of hidden assets. We may also hire a forensic accountant to help us review the relevant financial documents, identify suspicious entries, and trace accounts and cash flow. Through these and other investigative methods, we work carefully to uncover the assets your spouse is hiding.

Contact a reliable Jackson, TN attorney to help you find hidden assets during divorce

At Grant & Sain, PLLC, our Jackson firm undertakes the painstaking work needed to track down hidden assets in your West Tennessee divorce. To schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys, call 731-256-7477 or contact us online.