What should I do if I suspect my spouse is hiding assets?

Kim J. Onisko, a Certified Public Accountant in Long Beach, answers:

There are two ways to go about finding hidden assets: the direct and indirect methods. Direct methods include reviewing bank statements, brokerage statements, safety deposit boxes, and cash hoards. Hidden assets can be located by examining transfers to family members or friends, to children of the family trust, home mortgage pay downs, insurance policies prepaid, credit cards, savings bond purchase, cashier’s checks, and traveler’s checks.

Indirect methods include reviewing tax returns and financial statements, and examining the net worth of the family unit. Calculating the expenditures of the family unit can indicate hidden assets: if the expenditures are far less than the income, there are likely hidden assets.