Chapter 9
Divorce with a Side of Fraud
In This Chapter
Knowing where and how to look for assets
Assigning value to a business
Figuring out where income may be hiding
Trying to avoid the IRS
Divorce proceedings are unlike any other type of legal proceeding. Emotions can run very high. People who once loved each other deeply now hate each other with the same magnitude. When they go at each other, anyone in their path may also get hit with mud, including lawyers, accountants, and social workers.
In this chapter we talk about how forensic accountants play a role in divorce proceedings. We’d like to be able to tell you how to stay out of firing range, but we haven’t figured that one out yet.
Searching for Hidden Assets
Often in divorce cases the spouses try to hide assets in order to avoid paying maintenance (alimony) or child support to the other spouse. Sometimes spouses go to great lengths to hide assets. Other times they just forget to list items on the required disclosure forms. Either way, attorneys often hire forensic accountants to help them get a full accounting. In this section, ...
