Divorces can often lead to contention, especially when one spouse surprises the other with a divorce petition. Divorces generally don’t occur for no reason. They are the product of months or even years of pent-up resentment, anger, disappointment, and even betrayal. In many cases, when your spouse receives the divorce papers, they may suddenly want to find ways to somehow hurt you. One way is hiding assets. If your spouse may be hiding assets, you should consider speaking with a Topeka, KS, divorce lawyer.
If you decide to pursue a divorce, it may not be as easy as you may think. A divorce is much more than just signing a piece of paper and moving on with your life. Depending on how long you’ve been married and how entangled your life is with your spouse, getting divorced can be an almost surgical procedure. You are effectively separating your life from your spouse’s in every way, and that can be a complicated feat. A divorce lawyer can help you work it out.
Dividing Assets in Kansas
In a Kansas divorce, assets are divided based on a model of equitable distribution. In this model, the court gives each spouse what it feels is a fair share of assets. Fair may not always mean equal, as the court considers many different factors before arriving at an amount. These factors include each spouse’s monthly income, the total length of the marriage, and what each spouse has contributed to that marriage.
Choosing to deliberately hide assets from your spouse to make sure they can’t get them in the divorce may be considered an act of financial abuse. Financial abuse may, in turn, be considered an act of domestic violence, which can have a significant effect on asset division in a divorce. If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets from you, you should immediately tell your lawyer and get an investigation started. Be sure to document everything that might prove your case.
Important Signs That Your Spouse May Be Hiding Assets
Investigating your own spouse for hiding money from you may seem extreme at times, but it’s entirely necessary if you truly believe they are doing it. Hidden assets can heavily affect your divorce settlement. It’s also considered a crime in Kansas and could result in criminal charges as well. Asset division can only truly be equitable if all the assets in question are being considered. Here are some vital signs to check if your spouse is hiding assets:
- They have control over finances. If your spouse insists on having complete control over all the marital finances, that could be a glaring indication that they are financially abusing you. They may even be trying to hide important information from you, or they don’t want you to see something. They could be secretly hiding an account from you that they plan to use to leave the marriage themselves. Check your online accounts if you can access them.
- They avoid discussing money with you. If your spouse simply refuses to discuss your joint finances in any way, this could be a sign that they are hiding something important from you. There’s nothing inherently wrong or distasteful about discussing money with your spouse. If they try to make you think there is, that could be a signal they are manipulating your finances.
- They are blatantly lying about their salary. If your spouse is hiding money from you, they may take extra precautions to lie about how much they make. They might loudly complain about a pay cut that didn’t actually happen. This would let them squirrel away a portion of their paycheck that you know nothing about. They may toss out your bank statements or give you the wrong password for your bank account.
FAQs
Q: How Can You Find Hidden Assets in a Divorce?
A: There are multiple paths you can take to uncover hidden assets during your divorce. Above all, you should bring your concerns to an experienced divorce lawyer who can review your options and provide you with the necessary resources. Your lawyer could file a motion for discovery to find certain financial records. A forensic accountant could find anything suspicious in your finances.
Q: How Can You Tell If Your Spouse Is Hiding Assets?
A: If you are suspecting your spouse of hiding assets from you, there are many ways to confirm your suspicions. You can search through public records, hire a forensic accountant to go through your finances, and check your joint tax records for any inconsistencies. An experienced lawyer can help you determine the right course of action.
Q: What Is a Prominent Indicator That Your Spouse Is Hiding Assets?
A: Several suspicious behaviors could be prominent indicators that your spouse is hiding assets. If you are already starting to mistrust your spouse because of financial misconduct, you should keep a close eye on them for certain actions. One of the biggest is financial secrecy. If your spouse simply refuses to ever talk about money with you or insists they be the only one handling the finances, that might be a sign.
Q: How Can a Private Investigator Help Me?
A: There are many ways that a private investigator could help you uncover hidden assets. A private investigator can search public records, run surveillance on your spouse to catch them hiding assets, interview people of interest, and even analyze your spouse’s financial trail through digital forensics. Hiring a private investigator may be a very reliable way to find out what’s going on with your spouse’s finances.
Reach Out to an Experienced Divorce Lawyer Today
Realizing your spouse may be hiding assets from you to hurt you in the divorce can be painful. The last thing you want is for your spouse’s selfish actions to hurt your divorce settlement. You should consider bringing your concerns to an experienced divorce lawyer who can advise you.
At Stange Law Firm, we can explore your options for uncovering your spouse’s hidden assets. Contact us to speak to a valued team member about your case.
