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How to Handle a Spouse Who Won't Divulge Financial Information
- By Dani Taylor
- Published 10/1/2008
- Relationships
- Unrated
Dani Taylor
Danielle L. Taylor is an author for Xstilla.com - one of the most active divorce support communities in the Internet. If you want to learn more about divorce, child support, dating or just want to tell your divorce story and get support from understanding members of the community go to http://www.Xstilla.com
View all articles by Dani Taylor
If you want to get the truth about the financial situation with you and your spouse, but he or she refuses to divulge the information - you can be left in quite a predicament. Assuming that you haven't just simply asked for the information you need, this would be the first thing to try. You'd be surprised how well that actually works! However, if you've tried that to no avail and still need the information, there are a few other ways to get it. Here are some tips on how to handle a spouse who won't divulge financial information.
Speak with Your Attorney -
The next step you might take is to speak with your attorney. During a divorce, it becomes necessary to divide the assets and property you and your spouse have accumulated during your marriage. In order to do this, many divorce attorneys will use the discovery process to find information. Basically, your attorney will formally request specific information about your spouse's financial records. This will include but is not limited to current income, property owned, pensions or retirement plans and money that may be tied into stocks and bonds.
Go Over Tax Records -
If you have access to your income tax records, this would be another great place to start. Of course, because your spouse has to pay taxes on the money he or she makes and the assets they hold, there will be an up-to-date list of those things. You can find out exactly what sort of yearly income your spouse brings in, what things he or she owns which are taxable and even pension plans or retirement plans that your spouse is paying into. If you can find this information, you can find all you need to be sure you're getting a fair share.
If you can find your spouse's W2, you can also get the same sort of information. You may need to check the schedule C section in order to find information about any retirement plans or pensions your spouse pays into. While you will not get the actual dollar amount or value of the plan, you can then speak with your attorney who can get the records for you.
Business Logbooks -
If your husband or wife happens to own their own business or keeps track of their income and bills through software, there is a possibility that you can find the information there. If they do keep records, chances are there will be records of payments into insurance policies, pensions, retirement plans and more. There will also likely be a record of the income your spouse brings home yearly. This is a great place to find the information you need.
If you can't get information from these methods, it's important that you speak with an attorney and find any evidence you can of retirement plans, pensions, insurance policies or other things that your spouse holds and pays into. Your attorney can legally get the records of those assets for you so that the division of the assets is fair and complete. Good luck.
Speak with Your Attorney -
The next step you might take is to speak with your attorney. During a divorce, it becomes necessary to divide the assets and property you and your spouse have accumulated during your marriage. In order to do this, many divorce attorneys will use the discovery process to find information. Basically, your attorney will formally request specific information about your spouse's financial records. This will include but is not limited to current income, property owned, pensions or retirement plans and money that may be tied into stocks and bonds.
Go Over Tax Records -
If you have access to your income tax records, this would be another great place to start. Of course, because your spouse has to pay taxes on the money he or she makes and the assets they hold, there will be an up-to-date list of those things. You can find out exactly what sort of yearly income your spouse brings in, what things he or she owns which are taxable and even pension plans or retirement plans that your spouse is paying into. If you can find this information, you can find all you need to be sure you're getting a fair share.
If you can find your spouse's W2, you can also get the same sort of information. You may need to check the schedule C section in order to find information about any retirement plans or pensions your spouse pays into. While you will not get the actual dollar amount or value of the plan, you can then speak with your attorney who can get the records for you.
Business Logbooks -
If your husband or wife happens to own their own business or keeps track of their income and bills through software, there is a possibility that you can find the information there. If they do keep records, chances are there will be records of payments into insurance policies, pensions, retirement plans and more. There will also likely be a record of the income your spouse brings home yearly. This is a great place to find the information you need.
If you can't get information from these methods, it's important that you speak with an attorney and find any evidence you can of retirement plans, pensions, insurance policies or other things that your spouse holds and pays into. Your attorney can legally get the records of those assets for you so that the division of the assets is fair and complete. Good luck.