Before you file for divorce, it is a good idea to take inventory of all the assets you and your spouse have so everything can be divided up fairly. However, there is always the possibility of your spouse having assets you are not aware of. The following are a few ways in which a private investigator can help with a financial asset investigation.
Access to More Information
Working on your own, you will have limited access to data. This alone will make your attempt to find hidden assets difficult. We have access to a lot of information that is not readily available to the public. This information, along with experience in finding assets and the techniques that are most fruitful, will give you the best chance of finding anything that has been hidden from you.
Finding Real Estate in Someone Else’s Name
This is a common way to hide wealth. Either an individual will buy property in another name or perhaps buy it with another person. The latter method is easier to uncover, but if the property is only listed in someone else’s name, it is something you are not likely to be aware of.
Hiding wealth in this manner is usually done by listing it under someone trustworthy and close to your spouse. Sometimes it is an old friend, but more commonly a relative. A brother, sister or even your mother-in-law could be the one helping your spouse. We know how this is done and can uncover assets that are hidden from you in this manner.
Assets Hidden Inside a Business
Business owners, especially small business owners, have an instinct for hiding assets inside of their business. Although it is often illegal, personal assets and business assets are often combined. If this is being done to hide assets from you, we can help to separate business from personal assets.
If there is a business partner involved, assets are more easily hidden. If the partner is a relative, it may be an attempt to hide assets from you in plain view. In this case, look for signs that the relative only recently became a partner or their share of ownership has recently increased.
Search for Out-of-State Assets
Another common way assets are hidden from a spouse is to simply have them in another state. Real estate and businesses are common examples. Because they are in another state, your spouse may think they are safely hidden from you, and they may be right, but what is hidden from you can easily be found by a private investigator. Our search for assets are not limited to those within the state you reside.
It should be obvious by now that an financial asset search can be complex, and in order to give yourself the best chance of finding these assets you need to hire a private investigation firm such as ours. Contact us during your divorce preparation and we can explain how our services can help you.
Bruce Robertson
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