As part of a couple in New Jersey that is currently going through a divorce, it is more important than ever for you to stay on top of your assets. Unfortunately, there are instances in which having higher assets can tempt a spouse into attempting to hide some from you.
A spouse may hide assets for a number of reasons. They may find it “unfair” that they have to give you a certain amount of money. They may want to spite you. Findlaw points out a few ways in which you could potentially find the information needed to determine if your spouse is lying about their assets in an attempt to hide some. The first ways are through voluntary or involuntary disclosures. A voluntary disclosure requests that your spouse submit information on their financial situation for you or your attorney to look over. If they refuse to do this voluntarily, an involuntary disclosure legally forces them to oblige.
It is also possible to do some investigating of your own. In some cases, people suspicious of a spouse hiding assets have hired professional investigators who specialize in financial matters. These individuals are able to dig up all kinds of information on assets and trace where everything is coming from and going to.
Barring these methods, you can also make inquiries during a deposition. As these are sworn testimonies, you can use anything said in court to back up your case. Additionally, it should be noted that lying in court is considered perjury, which is a very serious offense that can get your spouse arrested.
