Orange County Hidden Assets Lawyer

Orange County Hidden Assets Attorney

One of the most challenging and emotional experiences a person can face in Orange County is divorce proceedings. This can be especially true if your spouse is hiding assets. In an Orange County divorce, both parties will need to reveal all assets, including those owned separately and marital property. When one spouse attempts to hide assets, you need an Orange County hidden assets lawyer to fight for you. If you’re not sure where to begin, talking to an expert Orange County divorce lawyer can help you understand your options and protect your rights.

Orange County has many affluent communities like Cota de Caza and San Clemente, where divorces often come with high assets like real estate, offshore accounts, or business interests. In these cases, having a lawyer on your side is vital. With nearly five decades of legal experience, the attorneys at Minyard Morris provide our clients with top-tier service and proactive strategies. We can ensure that all assets are revealed while securing the property you are due in an Orange County divorce.

Property Division in an Orange County Divorce

In 2023, California had a divorce rate of 7.45% for every 1,000 residents. One of the most important aspects of any California divorce is that of property division. If your spouse may be hiding assets from you, it is important that you first understand how property division works in an Orange County divorce. There are two main types of property involved in a divorce, which are:

• Separate property. This includes all the assets and debts an individual obtained prior to their marriage. Examples include a home purchased by one spouse before getting married and student loans from before the marriage. Inheritances given to one spouse are also viewed as separate property. In a divorce, separate property will not be subject to an equal split.
• Community property. This includes any property that was acquired during the marriage by either spouse. This can include the marital home, vehicles, certain bank accounts, home furnishings, and art collections. It can also include shared debts, such as credit cards, personal loans, or home mortgages.

At Minyard Morris, we provide our clients with aggressive legal representation in all divorce and property division cases. When you work with our team, you aren’t getting just a single lawyer but an entire team of law professionals. We can protect the property you are entitled to in an Orange County divorce. Families going through these tough times can also benefit from working with an Orange County family lawyer who understands how property, custody, and support all connect.

Signs Your Spouse May Be Hiding Assets

Facing a divorce may already feel like the ultimate betrayal of trust. If your spouse is also hiding assets during property division, these feelings only grow more intense. Minyard Morris can investigate your spouse and make sure they are being forthcoming about their assets. If we find that your spouse is hiding assets, our team will fight for what’s yours.

There are many common signs your spouse might be hiding assets. Due to modern digital technology, it is becoming increasingly difficult to hide assets without leaving evidence behind. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t try to do so anyway. At Minyard Morris, we know the warning signs that point to a party’s attempt to hide assets. These include the following:

• Your spouse begins purchasing more expensive items with cash. This can be one technique to store wealth. Your spouse may then turn around and return or sell these items, once the divorce is finalized, to retrieve the cash.
• If your spouse is a business owner in Orange County (whether that business is a small coffee shop downtown or a medical practice), a thorough business valuation may be necessary to uncover any hidden assets., they may begin to suddenly start claiming that the business has seen an increase in expenses. This can enable them to reduce the net value of the business and reduce support.
• Your spouse may claim that they owe their family members or close friends large amounts of money. They may then begin funneling cash out of the marriage to these parties. Once the divorce is finalized, they will often retrieve their cash from their loved ones.
• The oldest method, which is still a common move despite the obvious record of activity, is simply to withdraw cash from accounts and physically hide it from the other spouse.

If your spouse is hiding assets in your Orange County divorce, the attorneys of Minyard Morris can offer you aggressive legal advocacy. We don’t back down until our clients get what they deserve.

FAQs

Q: How Can I Discover Hidden Assets in California?

A: There are several ways you and your attorney can discover your spouse’s hidden assets in a California divorce. One way is to examine your and your spouse’s financial records, such as bank account statements or income tax returns. You may also wish to review any business records if you and your spouse own a business.

Q: What Are the Penalties for Hiding Assets in Orange County?

A: In a California divorce, there are two main penalties for hiding assets:

1. The individual who is found to be hiding assets could be ordered to pay all the divorce-related costs, including the attorney fees, of the other spouse. They may also be required to pay damages to their spouse.
2. They may also lose their rights to all forms of community property if the judge deems that they should.

Q: What Contributes to Asset Hiding in Orange County?

A: There are many reasons why an individual might feel the need to hide assets during a divorce. In many cases, it can simply be greed or a malicious intent to leave you with less. Additionally, Orange County is an affluent area, with the median household income being around $113,702. When more money is involved in the lives of a couple, the more likely it is that one of the spouses will attempt to hide assets.

Q: What Can I Do If My Spouse Is Hiding Assets?

A: If your spouse hides assets during an Orange County divorce, it is vital that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can review the details of your case and find any signs that your spouse may, in fact, be hiding assets. If so, they can take steps to retrieve your rightful assets.

Speak With a Trusted Divorce Lawyer Serving Orange County Today

At Minyard Morris, our team of 20 Orange County property division and divorce attorneys can handle all aspects of your case, including situations where your spouse is hiding assets. Let us protect you while securing all the assets and property that are truly yours. Contact our offices today to learn more.