No two divorces unfold in exactly the same way. While you may have friends or relatives who went through protracted court battles, you may benefit from mediation or another type of collaborative divorce. For a friendly divorce to work, however, you and your spouse must be honest about finances and other relevant issues.
A forensic accountant uses investigative skills and auditing methods to evaluate financial matters. Before adding a forensic accountant to your divorce team, you may want to ask yourself a few questions.
Is your spouse possibly hiding assets?
Your soon-to-be ex-spouse must disclose all marital assets both to you and to the court. If you suspect your spouse may be hiding wealth from you, a forensic accountant may help identify discrepancies. You can also use the pre-trial discovery process to find missing assets.
Do you have significant marital wealth?
Even if you and your spouse are honest and make necessary disclosures, a large financial estate may cause you to miss something inadvertently. If you have significant marital wealth or a particularly complex estate, a forensic accountant may help you keep financial matters straight.
Do you want to know your options?
Your divorce attorney is likely to discuss your pre- and post-divorce finances with you, including the division of marital assets and possibly even spousal support. A forensic accountant may make these conversations more meaningful, as he or she may give you a completer picture.
The professionals with whom you choose to work during your divorce are entirely up to you. Nevertheless, by consulting with a forensic accountant, you may boost your chances both of receiving your fair share and beginning your financial future on the right foot.
