What to Do if a Spouse is Hiding Assets in Washington?

Washington is a community property state, which means that all marital property must be split equally, 50/50, between spouses in a divorce. Sometimes, one spouse will try hiding assets in Washington in order to walk away from the divorce with more than they should.

If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets the experienced divorce attorneys at the Hodgson Law Office are here to help. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.

How to Locate Hidden Financial Records

The first step in determining whether your spouse is hiding assets in Washington State is to locate copies of your financial records. This is easy enough on joint accounts, where you can request a copy of the records as an account holder. You may also be able to find copies of records in the home if your spouse keeps an office or someplace else where these records are routinely kept. 

Look for documents referring to: 

• tax returns
• loan applications
• checking and savings accounts
• retirement accounts, and 
• other financial statements. 

However, finding financial records that are just in your spouse’s name can be more difficult, which is where an attorney can help substantially in this process.

Legal Discovery Tools to Use in Washington

The next step in this process is utilizing a lawyer to determine whether your spouse is hiding assets, which can be done through the discovery process in a divorce. An attorney has multiple tools at their disposal to help uncover hidden assets in a divorce. These tools include the following:

• Document requests: Requests can be made for copies of all financial information held jointly or in your spouse’s name alone.
• Depositions: In-person testimony is given under oath where your spouse can be asked specific questions about assets that may be hidden during the divorce.
• Interrogatories: Similar to depositions, except the questions and answers are given in writing.
• Inspection requests: Requests to inspect physical spaces or items, such as a storage unit or a safe.

Discovery of a Spouse Hiding Assets in Washington After a Divorce

If you discover that your spouse was hiding assets after the divorce is finalized, an experienced attorney can help set things right. If it is discovered that a spouse hid assets during the divorce, it can be grounds to reopen the divorce case and revisit the property distribution between spouses. It may also impact the amount of alimony awarded and child support given in the case. Depending on the number of assets in question, the spouse who hid the assets during the divorce could even face criminal charges.

To learn more about how a lawyer can help with the issue of hiding assets, talk to our office today.

Reputable Family Law Attorney in the Spokane Metro Area Today

Are you concerned that your spouse might be hiding assets in your Spokane divorce case? Let the knowledgeable and experienced divorce attorneys at the Hodgson Law Office help uncover assets that you are entitled to. Contact us today to schedule a consultation of your case now.