What to Watch Out for If You Think Your Soon-to-Be-Ex Spouse Could Be Hiding Assets
Because Illinois is an equitable distribution state, your marital assets will be divided in a manner that the court deems as fair. The court will consider the facts and circumstances of your case and it uses these elements to decide how to distribute assets between you and your ex-spouse. The decision of the court on how to divide the marital estate will greatly impact your future, so it is important that you have an understanding of the process.
Keep in mind that you have the right to the assets that would legally belong to you once the divorce is finalized and you should consult a skilled divorce legal counsel to protect your interests. There are times when a spouse would go to great lengths to hide or conceal assets. This is by no means legal. There are signs to watch out for if you think your soon-to-be-ex-spouse could be hiding assets, funds, and property from you.
How to Find Hidden Assets in Divorce
To help you validate your intuition, it is essential to watch out for the following signs:
- Withholding access to bank account information;
- Opening a new bank account without including your name;
- Having bank statements sent to another mail delivery, instead of your home, or having these financial statements sent through their personal email only;
- Purchasing expensive or costly items like artwork, jewelry, or luxury vehicles, especially if this behavior is not typical or is unusual with your spouse;
- Asking you to sign documents without telling you what these documents are about, without explaining the details to you, or even without letting you read through the content of the documents;
- Claiming that they are broke or lack sufficient funds, but being very visible on social media platforms with posts of them on costly trips and vacations;
- Any type of behavior that prompts your “gut feeling”.
After being with someone for some time, you might be confident that your intuition has helped you in different situations. Most of the time, however, fraud during a divorce happens unexpectedly. This is extremely frustrating, especially when you realize this after your divorce is finalized.
If you feel your spouse may be hiding assets, voice these concerns to your attorney immediately. They can take the necessary steps to uncover these assets and ensure that they are divided fairly. Get started today by scheduling your consultation with one of our Chicago divorce lawyers.