Hidden Assets During Divorce

by | Nov 8, 2018 | Hidden assets | 4,659 comments

What can happen if a spouse hides or undervalues community assets?

When a spouse has hidden assets during divorce, it is not simply a bad idea. It is illegal. Understating the value of an asset is also illegal. Why would a spouse be tempted to do this? Sometimes spouses feel they will not get their fair share during property division. They mistakenly believe that hiding assets would solve the problem.

How does property division work in Texas?

Community property, also called marital property, is property that a couple owned in common during their marriage. Examples are income, a family home, family vehicles, joint investments, retirement accounts, other property acquired during the marriage, etc.

Texas is a community property state. During divorce, the court divides community property between spouses according to what it considers to be fair. This does not necessarily result in a 50/50 division.

Divorce lawyers can trace hidden assets and determine whether assets are being undervalued

Especially with today’s advancements in technology, divorce lawyers can trace hidden assets without much trouble. Some ways that a spouse may hide assets include:

  • Having family members or friends hold assets in their names
  • Using offshore bank accounts
  • Through digital currency like Bitcoin
  • Putting assets in a safety deposit box

The Texas Family Code

The Texas Family Code, Sec. 7.009 describes activities such as hiding assets or undervaluing assets as “fraud on the community.”

When the court discovers that fraud on the community has occurred, it does the following:

  • Calculates the value by which the community estate was depleted due to fraud
  • Calculates the actual value of the estate (reconstituted estate)
  • Divides the value of the estate between the parties in the manner the court deems just and right
  • Awards the wronged spouse an appropriate share of the community estate
  • Against the spouse who committed the fraud, the court awards a money judgment in favor of the wronged spouse
  • Awards to the wronged spouse both a money judgment and an appropriate share of the community estate

If you suspect your spouse is hiding assets during divorce, our attorneys at Richardson Brown can advise and help you protect your rights.

4,659 Comments

  1. minecraft games on September 16, 2019 at 3:15 pm

    Greetings! I know this is kinda off topic however , I’d figured I’d
    ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa?
    My blog addresses a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we
    could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested
    feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!
    Awesome blog by the way!

    Reply
  3. Porta Potty Rentals on September 16, 2019 at 6:56 pm

    What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It absolutely helpful and it has
    helped me out loads. I’m hoping to give a contribution & help different users like its helped me.

    Good job.

    Reply
  5. SMS Marketing provider Dubai on September 17, 2019 at 4:43 pm

    This website was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me.
    Kudos!

    Reply
  6. Best SMS Marketing Dubai on September 17, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    I’m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s
    both educative and engaging, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the
    nail on the head. The problem is an issue that not enough folks are speaking intelligently about.
    I am very happy I found this during my search for something regarding this.

    Reply
  7. minecraft games on September 18, 2019 at 2:33 pm

    Inspiring quest there. What occurred after? Good luck!

    Reply
  8. blackjack on September 21, 2019 at 8:16 am

    This is a very good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.
    Short but very accurate info… Thank you for sharing this one.
    A must read post!

    Reply
  9. nipslip on September 21, 2019 at 9:30 am

    Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in truth used
    to be a leisure account it. Glance complicated to far delivered agreeable from you!
    However, how can we keep up a correspondence?

    Reply
  12. pornhub on September 24, 2019 at 10:59 am

    What’s up, always i used to check website posts here in the early hours in the dawn, for the reason that i enjoy to learn more and more.

    Reply
  13. minecraft games on September 24, 2019 at 6:25 pm

    Greetings I am so thrilled I found your blog
    page, I really found you by mistake, while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Anyways I am here now and
    would just like to say kudos for a remarkable post
    and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read it all
    at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do
    keep up the excellent jo.

    Reply
  14. minecraft games on September 25, 2019 at 9:21 am

    You’ve made some really good points there. I looked on the internet for additional information about the issue and
    found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.

    Reply
  15. viagra on September 25, 2019 at 10:05 pm

    I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but good topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.

    Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.

    Reply
  16. minecraft games on September 25, 2019 at 11:27 pm

    You are so awesome! I don’t think I have read through something like this before.
    So wonderful to find someone with original thoughts on this topic.
    Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This site is something
    that is required on the web, someone with a little originality!

    Reply
  17. payday loans on September 27, 2019 at 3:44 am

    hello there and thank you for your info – I
    have definitely picked up anything new from right here.
    I did however expertise a few technical points using this website, since I experienced to
    reload the website lots of times previous
    to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is
    OK? Not that I’m complaining, but slow loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high-quality score if
    ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my
    email and could look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content.

    Make sure you update this again very soon.

    Reply
  18. casino on September 27, 2019 at 4:46 am

    Very rapidly this website will be famous amid all blog users,
    due to it’s fastidious articles

    Reply
  19. viagra on September 27, 2019 at 4:54 am

    Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as
    I provide credit and sources back to your blog? My website is in the very same
    niche as yours and my visitors would really benefit from a
    lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this
    ok with you. Cheers!

    Reply
  20. Tampa Bay Bail Bonds on September 28, 2019 at 8:53 am

    Hey! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post
    reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this.
    I will forward this write-up to him. Fairly certain he
    will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  21. Bradenton Pest Control on September 29, 2019 at 6:55 am

    Great article! That is the type of info that should be shared across the net.
    Disgrace on Google for now not positioning this submit
    upper! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)

    Reply
  22. pest control in my area on September 29, 2019 at 7:06 am

    Does your site have a contact page? I’m having problems
    locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you
    might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.

    Reply
  23. Eco Friendly Pest Control Bradenton on September 29, 2019 at 7:26 am

    Greate post. Keep posting such kind of information on your site.

    Im really impressed by your blog.
    Hi there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I’ll definitely digg
    it and for my part recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be
    benefited from this site.

    Reply
  24. esta on October 1, 2019 at 3:08 pm

    Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an incredibly long comment
    but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
    Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!

    Reply
  25. Continue Read on October 2, 2019 at 12:38 am

    May I simply just say what a comfort to find an individual who
    really knows what they are talking about online.
    You actually know how to bring an issue to light and make
    it important. More people really need to look
    at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you are not more popular since you definitely possess the
    gift.

    Reply
  26. Click This on October 2, 2019 at 12:43 am

    Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back
    to your site? My blog site is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you provide here.
    Please let me know if this okay with you. Many thanks!

    Reply
  27. Find it out on October 2, 2019 at 1:03 am

    fantastic submit, very informative. I wonder why the
    opposite experts of this sector don’t notice this.
    You should proceed your writing. I am confident, you have a huge readers’ base already!

    Reply
  28. Click This on October 2, 2019 at 4:04 am

    Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as I
    provide credit and sources back to your blog? My website is in the exact same niche as yours and my visitors would really benefit from a lot of the information you present
    here. Please let me know if this alright with you.
    Regards!

    Reply
  29. Read it on on October 2, 2019 at 4:46 am

    This web site certainly has all the information I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.

    Reply
  30. Click… on October 2, 2019 at 5:00 am

    Having read this I believed it was really informative.
    I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this short article together.
    I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and posting comments.
    But so what, it was still worth it!

    Reply
  31. Check This Out on October 2, 2019 at 6:20 am

    Good day I am so glad I found your blog, I really found you by error,
    while I was looking on Bing for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just
    like to say many thanks for a incredible post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design),
    I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added
    in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read
    more, Please do keep up the great job.

    Reply
  32. Continue it on on October 2, 2019 at 6:50 am

    Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favourite
    reason seemed to be at the web the easiest
    factor to bear in mind of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while folks consider
    worries that they plainly don’t realize about. You managed to hit the nail upon the highest and defined out the whole thing with no need side effect , other folks could take a signal.

    Will likely be again to get more. Thank you

    Reply
  62. quest bars cheap on October 8, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation however
    I in finding this topic to be actually one thing that I feel I might never understand.

    It sort of feels too complicated and extremely broad for
    me. I’m taking a look ahead on your subsequent post,
    I’ll try to get the hold of it!

    Reply
  80. quest bars cheap on October 9, 2019 at 10:47 am

    each time i used to read smaller articles or reviews that as well clear their motive,
    and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am reading at this place.

    Reply
  134. quest bars cheap on October 11, 2019 at 5:42 am

    Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!
    Very useful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such info
    a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a long time.
    Thank you and good luck.

    Reply
  177. Jackrot on October 12, 2019 at 8:17 pm

    [url=https://retina911.com/]retin a buy[/url] [url=https://viagra101.com/]where can i buy viagra[/url] [url=https://paxil40.com/]paxil 30 mg tab[/url] [url=https://accutanisotretinoin.com/]accutane[/url] [url=https://viagrasoft24.com/]viagra soft[/url]

    Reply