Do I Need a Forensic Accountant for My Divorce?

Understanding the Role of Forensic Accountants in Family Law Disputes

On our hidden assets page, we briefly mentioned how individuals can utilize a forensic accountant. Understanding what exactly a forensic account does and how one can help you navigate the divorce process enables you to build the strongest team for your case.

Harmon Caldwell and his team regularly help clients navigate complex divorce cases. We'll work with you to find a forensic accountant you can trust and protect your assets during your divorce.

To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online or via phone at (404) 882-7263.

What Is a Forensic Accountant?

Forensic accountants specialize in using various investigative and analytical processes to understand the story behind a business or person's finances. For example, businesses often hire a forensic accountant to trace missing inventory or funds when they suspect an employee of committing theft.

In family law disputes such as a high-asset divorce, forensic accountants play a similar role.

During the property division process, both parties must submit a complete inventory of their separate and community property to the court so the property can be distributed equitably, whether through an agreement between the parties or litigation.

Unfortunately, parties often try and hide assets during the divorce process to obtain a more favorable outcome from the court.

When a party suspects that their soon-to-be-ex is hiding assets or withholding financial information that could impact the property division process, hiring a forensic accountant can help them uncover any wrongdoing and obtain an appropriate judgment from the court.

How Can a Forensic Accountant Help Me with My Family Law Case?

A forensic accountant can help you navigate the divorce process by:

• Identifying discrepancies in financial information provided by the other party, such as under-reported income, unreported investments like stocks, etc.;
• Establishing a proper value for assets reported during the divorce process, including complex entities such as businesses;
• Determining what an equitable child or spousal support arrangement could look like given the circumstances of the case;
• Analyzing how the parties spent marital funds during the marriage and divorce;
• Helping the party and lawyer prepare a plan for the property division process, whether in the form of a proposed agreement or case strategy for litigation.

Harmon Caldwell and his team regularly work with forensic accountants to help our clients achieve their goals and identify the best path forward in their case.

To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online or via phone at (404) 882-7263.