what is the advantage to hire a forensic attorney for my divorce

by Justyn Cartwright Jr. 8 min read

Forensic accountants are especially useful when one spouse suspects another spouse of hiding assets to gain an unfair advantage during divorce proceedings. The best attorneys for this type of situation are ones that use an accountant to ensure all assets of both parties are disclosed in full and confirm that no assets are hidden.

Forensic accountants can review each party's tax returns and financial records, investigate each spouse's spending habits, and identify any discrepancies. Testify in court – Forensic accountants can also provide expert testimony of their findings in court or in a deposition.Oct 14, 2021

Full Answer

Do I need a forensic accountant for a divorce?

Dec 12, 2017 · Forensic accountants are especially useful when one spouse suspects another spouse of hiding assets to gain an unfair advantage during divorce proceedings. The best attorneys for this type of situation are ones that use an accountant to ensure all assets of both parties are disclosed in full and confirm that no assets are hidden .

Can a forensic accountant find assets that my spouse is unaware of?

Oct 16, 2017 · Many aspects of a divorce can be problematic, especially when it comes to financial issues. One of the primary objectives in a divorce is the division of marital property, which includes all the assets and debts accumulated during a marriage. While an experienced divorce attorney can greatly help with property division, when it comes to complicated financial …

What can I do to help my lawyer with a lawsuit?

Aug 07, 2019 · Most people are under the impression that a divorce attorney is solely capable of handling their divorce case and in many cases that may be true. However, when a divorce involves a particularly complex or even problematic financial situation, a forensic accountant will play a vital role in both the preparation and the impending proceedings.

What are forensic accounting services?

Aug 10, 2021 · If you are going through a divorce, you’d want one working to protect your interests. To explain why, here are 10 reasons to use a forensic accountant in a divorce case. 1. A Forensic Accountant Increases Transparency. In most marriages, only one person is in charge of handling financial matters.

What does a forensic accountant do in a divorce case?

Forensic accountants have the investigative and analytical skills to verify and explain financial data that is presented during an appraisal. The accountant will help calculate the actual value of assets, businesses, and properties during a divorce so that they are split up fairly between the two parties.Sep 15, 2020

Who pays for a forensic accountant in a divorce?

The cost is usually split or, for the lower earning spouse, the higher earner pays for it…not so much of an advantage to the higher earner obviously. One forensic accountant provides conclusions and numbers versus two battling it out.

How does a forensic accountant find hidden assets?

To uncover hidden assets, forensic accountants examine a variety of documents, including tax returns, bank records, real estate records, insurance policies and court filings. Loan applications, employment applications and credit reports also may yield valuable clues about the value and location of a person's wealth.Mar 7, 2019

What is the cost of a forensic audit?

We usually see a range of $2,500 to $6,000, which is dependent upon each case and the complexity of the specifics involved. The good news – a lot of times, they end up saving the client time and money, as their work oftentimes eliminates the need for unnecessary court litigation or trial.

How long does forensic accounting take?

Becoming a forensic accountant takes 4-6 years, including four years for a bachelor's degree, plus additional education through certification programs, master's programs, and/or on-the-job training.Oct 15, 2020

When should you hire a forensic accountant?

Any individual who has been financially taken advantage of should consider seeking the services of a forensic accountant. Forensic accountants are trained to thoroughly investigate financial cases and bring justice to those who have been robbed or wronged.Apr 17, 2020

How do forensic accountants investigate?

Forensic accounting is a specialized area of accounting — and a challenging one. A forensic accountant investigates incidents of fraud, bribery, money laundering and embezzlement by analyzing financial records and transactions, tracing assets, and more.Nov 9, 2021

What qualifies someone as a forensic accountant?

Forensic Accounting Qualifications & Requirements In order to become a forensic accountant, you'll need to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in an accredited accounting or financial degree program, or a forensic accounting degree program. No formal licensing is required to become a forensic accountant.

How can I get a divorce without losing everything?

If divorce is looming, here are six ways to protect yourself financially.Identify all of your assets and clarify what's yours. Identify your assets. ... Get copies of all your financial statements. Make copies. ... Secure some liquid assets. Go to the bank. ... Know your state's laws. ... Build a team. ... Decide what you want — and need.Dec 31, 2019

How does forensic auditing work?

A forensic audit examines and evaluates a firm's or individual's financial records to derive evidence used in a court of law or legal proceeding. ... Forensic audits cover a wide range of investigative activities. A forensic audit is often conducted to prosecute a party for fraud, embezzlement, or other financial crimes.

Why would you hire a forensic accountant?

There are many reasons people hire Forensic Accountants, ranging to include suspected company fraud and even divorce. You can accuse someone of taking millions of dollars from you, but you must prove it on paper for the courts to take it as truth.

What do forensic auditors do?

Forensic auditors are investigators of legal and financial documents that are hired to look into possible suspicions of fraudulent activity within a company; or are hired by a company who may just want to prevent fraudulent activities from occurring.Oct 9, 2016

Is it worth it to hire a forensic accountant?

Any individual who has been financially taken advantage of should consider seeking the services of a forensic accountant. Forensic accountants are trained to thoroughly investigate financial cases and bring justice to those who have been robbed or wronged.Apr 17, 2020

What does a forensic accountant do?

A forensic accountant uses accounting and analytical skills to investigate financial transactions of a person or business. They are often relied upon as experts in legal cases that deal with financial fraud or embezzlement.

What is forensic accounting investigation?

What is Forensic Accounting? Forensic accounting is the investigation of fraud or financial manipulation. Billions of dollars were lost as a result of these financial disasters. by performing extremely detailed research and analysis of financial information.

How do I find a good forensic accountant?

Here are five things you should look for in a forensic expert.Experience. Your accountant of choice must have the appropriate skill-set for your particular case. ... Credibility. In order to be a valuable expert witness, a forensic accountant needs to have the right credentials. ... Court Appearance. ... Personal Skills. ... Cost.Jan 15, 2018

What does a forensic accountant do in divorce?

The job of a forensic accountant is to find assets, place value on these assets, and analyze documents in an effort to help determine the division of assets, child support, spousal support, and other financial aspects of the divorce.Aug 30, 2021

How does a forensic accountant work in divorce?

A forensic accountant analyzes documents to help the court decide on child and spousal support payments, as well as how to divide community property. ... In a divorce case, the accountant aims to reveal a spouse's financial information to ensure property valuation and division in the case are fairly split.

Who pays for a forensic accountant in a divorce?

The cost is usually split or, for the lower earning spouse, the higher earner pays for it…not so much of an advantage to the higher earner obviously. One forensic accountant provides conclusions and numbers versus two battling it out.

What crimes do forensic accountants investigate?

Forensic accounting is a specialized area of accounting — and a challenging one. A forensic accountant investigates incidents of fraud, bribery, money laundering and embezzlement by analyzing financial records and transactions, tracing assets, and more.Nov 9, 2021

How long does forensic accounting take?

Becoming a forensic accountant takes 4-6 years, including four years for a bachelor's degree, plus additional education through certification programs, master's programs, and/or on-the-job training.Oct 15, 2020

What are the three procedures of forensic accounting?

Below are four steps that forensic accountants follow when investigating financial crimes or issues.Map out the investigation. The first step involved in investigative accounting is preparation. ... Gather evidence to support the case. ... Prepare the report. ... Testify in court.Jul 12, 2018

What are the two types of forensic accounting?

Forensic accounting has been subdivided into two categories, (1) litigation support and (2) investigation and dispute resolution. Some practitioners choose to specialize in one of the categories.May 21, 2018

How does a forensic accountant find hidden assets?

To uncover hidden assets, forensic accountants examine a variety of documents, including tax returns, bank records, real estate records, insurance policies and court filings. Loan applications, employment applications and credit reports also may yield valuable clues about the value and location of a person's wealth.Mar 7, 2019

How expensive is a forensic accountant?

Most experienced forensic accountants charge a deposit to begin work. We usually see a range of $2,500 to $6,000, which is dependent upon each case and the complexity of the specifics involved.

What questions should I ask a forensic accountant?

Common questions about for a Forensic AccountantHow long does it take to become a forensic accountant? ... Are forensic accountants in demand? ... What is the difference between a forensic accountant and a CPA? ... What skills do you need to be a forensic accountant? ... Where do forensic accountants typically work?

Why would someone hire a forensic accountant?

There are many reasons people hire Forensic Accountants, ranging to include suspected company fraud and even divorce. You can accuse someone of taking millions of dollars from you, but you must prove it on paper for the courts to take it as truth.

1. A Forensic Accountant Increases Transparency

In most marriages, only one person is in charge of handling financial matters. And that puts the other party at a distinct disadvantage in a divorce. They may not have a complete picture of their financial situation, nor an understanding of how that situation evolved over time.

2. A Forensic Accountant Can Identify and Appraise Assets

To arrive at an equitable division of marital assets, both sides must agree on the value of the assets being divided. For obvious reasons, this creates an incentive for one or both parties to seek asset valuations that support their desired outcome.

3. They Can Locate Hidden Assets, Too

It’s not uncommon for a divorcing couple to dispute the value of various marital assets. But sometimes, one of the parties might go even further and attempt to hide assets completely. It’s another way to try and cheat their spouse out of a fair settlement.

4. Forensic Accountants Assist With Fair Child Support

When there are children involved in a divorce, it’s not unusual for the custodial parent to receive child support payments from their former spouse. The payments are typically calculated using the total income of the payee. And those payments can add up in a hurry.

5. They Assist With Fair Spousal Support, Too

Although spousal support payments aren’t mandatory like child support payments are, they can still be a point of contention in a divorce proceeding. And just as they might when it comes to child support payments, a higher-earning spouse might seek to conceal some of their income to reduce the odds that the court will order spousal support.

6. Forensic Accountants Help Track Spending During a Divorce

Since most couples share bank accounts, they both must keep track of whatever money they withdraw from those accounts during a divorce. But if one or both parties make withdrawals without keeping a paper trail of where the money went, things can get messy.

7. A Forensic Accountant Can Provide Expert Testimony

If a divorce case involves any complex financial matters, the decisions made by the court may hinge on each party’s ability to explain their side of the story in court. Forensic accountants have the qualifications to serve as expert witnesses in a court proceeding.

The Benefits of Forensic Accounting in Divorce Cases

While it is not possible to discuss everything as it relates to forensic accounting in divorce in the space of one short article, here is an overview of the process, discussed in varying levels of detail. No one-size fits all.

How a Forensic Accountant Can Help You in a Divorce

Very simply put, forensic accounting is accounting that is used in a legal setting.

How You Can Help Your Forensic Accountant in Your Divorce

Although you are probably not a financial expert, you may be in a position to help your forensic accountant. You may think this unlikely, but in better times, you may have been privy to the source and use of your spouse’s funds.