The Role of A Forensic Accountant  In Divorce

Before a divorce can be finalized, the joint assets of a marriage must first be identified. At times, these assets can be:

• • Complex and hard to value, like complex investments, real estate, or a business
  • Hidden or hard to find, like liquid assets that are held overseas

A Forensic Accountant can help uncover assets and provide a valuation.

Tracing involves identifying assets to establish whether they should be divided or if they were acquired and owned prior to the marriage.

Here are a few of the things a Forensic Accountant can do in preparation for finalizing a divorce:

• • Uncover cash, assets, liabilities, and even relationships

Assets can be hidden in a lot of places, such as off-shore accounts.

A forensic specialist may also find assets that the couple is unaware of simply because of his or her lack of participation in the couple’s financial affairs.

Finally, forensic accounting finds things that the other party, innocently, does not remember.

• • Corroborate financial information with non-financial information.
  • Perform a thorough business valuation that can establish the valuation of a company and the available cash flow from the business.
  • Calculate income and cash flow that may be used in calculating support payments.
  • Assist your attorney in preparing document requests of the other party.
  • Assist your attorney in gathering information to be used in the preparation of subpoenas.
  • Provide input during the settlement process on the tax consequences of certain proposed actions.

Once the accountant’s work is done, their accumulated evidence can then be used in the divorce paperwork, and the Forensic Accountant’s evidence can be submitted to the court, should the divorce be contested.