Finding hidden assets- forensic accountant referral please

[Anonymous]

DH and family have substantial assets (~7-10M) in Ventura County and casually 600k in his name alone. We are separating and prior to now I didn't care about finding the CA assets in his name. However he is now balking on paying our daughters' tuitions, saying he would not be able to afford it in divorce.

It looks like I will need to get evidence and amounts for these accounts. Before I get pounced on, I'm not talking inheritance or family money, nor am I talking about going after any of the money in his name. I just need to show he can afford to pay tuition out of our known joint assets/incomes. Thanks for any recommendations.

[Anonymous]

This is entirely justified, OP, and you should NOT get pounced on. Marriage entitles you to HALF the marital assets, and it's a common game for a spouse to hide assets, which is illegal. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

OP, a good divorce lawyer should have suggestions. Best to you and your child.

[Anonymous]

OP if you still have access to his computers look for hidden folders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP if you still have access to his computers look for hidden folders

And go through his phone or notebook to find passwords.

[Anonymous]

Look the last several years of your tax returns. Specifically, look at schedule B for dividends and interest or schedule D for cap gains.

He may have accounts where he had to report dividends, interest, and cap gains.

If there is 10k in dividend income, principal in that account is probably north of 300k (3 percent dividend avg).

[Anonymous]

Thanks, the 600k was discovered off tax returns.

Multiple commercial and residential properties are held across several family trusts (one family, just multiple trusts). He and his two brothers are the likely named beneficiaries.

I have no idea how the trusts are worded and maybe they can't be considered his individual assets yet. But I would think a forensic accountant would have a better shot of discovering this than me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, a good divorce lawyer should have suggestions. Best to you and your child.

This. The lawyer is going to rely on what the investigator uneartgs. It's in the lawyer's interests to know and hire the best

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, the 600k was discovered off tax returns.

Multiple commercial and residential properties are held across several family trusts (one family, just multiple trusts). He and his two brothers are the likely named beneficiaries.

I have no idea how the trusts are worded and maybe they can't be considered his individual assets yet. But I would think a forensic accountant would have a better shot of discovering this than me.

It's quite possible these trusts hold assets outside your marriage, especially if they weren't part of your joint tax return. (Unless you suspect him of cheating on taxes.). Yes, you'd need a forensic account to figure this out.

[Anonymous]

Your divorce attorney will know a forensic accountant.

[Anonymous]

Your DH will be obliged as part of the divorce process to declare it all, by law.