Divorcing couples in Connecticut have to split their property with one another after sharing their lives for years. This process may follow instructions from a marital agreement, require intensive negotiations or lead to litigation. The whole process should be fair, which requires financial transparency and honesty.
Sometimes, one spouse attempts to hide assets from the other spouse and the courts. Hidden assets that should be part of the marital estate can unfairly affect the outcome of property division in a divorce.
What can you do when you find assets that your spouse wanted to hide?
When you find them during the divorce
Sometimes, you realize before the courts finalize your divorce that certain assets aren’t included in the current paperwork. If you discover hidden assets or improperly valued assets while your divorce is still underway, you can provide information to the courts about those assets.
The more it seems like your spouse intentionally undervalued or hid the property in question, the more likely it is that the courts will penalize them in the property division for trying to manipulate the process through dishonesty.
When you find them after the divorce
Usually, your property division decree is not subject to change. However, if you discover after your divorce that your ex intentionally hid assets, you can potentially use that information to reopen your case with the family court. A judge may go back over the property division order and make significant changes because of your ex’s misconduct.
Understanding the impact hidden assets can have on property division can help you secure a fair share of the marital estate.
