Before You Argue About the Money, Make Sure You Know What Money Exists

Imagine a collection of years-long financial documents like bank statements taxes, credit card statements, the statements of a brokerage and payroll reports.

You now have information on technical aspects.

Practically speaking, you might have a few questions.

Complex matrimonial matters aren’t necessarily difficult since financial records aren’t always available. It can be difficult to determine which documents are relevant and to determine if there are crucial missing parts.

Start with the question Don’t start with the Spreadsheet

A forensic accountant for divorce in New Jersey may approach financial discovery differently from someone simply organizing documents.

Let’s say the disagreement involves income that can be used to support. It’s helpful to look over a tax report, but professional owners or those who receive high compensation may receive their compensation in different ways. Salary, bonus, distributions and other types of compensation may require further analysis, depending on the particular circumstances.

If there is a question regarding assets that may not have been disclosed, different records may be relevant. The pattern of transfer activity in banks of spending patterns, and the movements between accounts are all factors which can assist you in establishing more complete financial information.

The purpose isn’t to get all documents. It is important to gather the necessary information to answer financial questions.

Business Ownership Impacts the Discovery Process

A privately held company can be a significant addition to matrimony discovery.

To be eligible for New Jersey divorce business valuation companies must be able to provide all pertinent financial information. A professional may be required to supply historical financial information, tax data or ownership records as well as other relevant documentation depending on the relationship.

Problems can arise from incomplete information.

If you just look at the earnings of your company and do not take into account expenses, it is only a small part of the overall financial picture. A single year’s performance may not be indicative of a company’s typical or exceptional performance.

SJS Forensics helps counsel by making sense of relevant documents, preparing targeted discovery requests, as as examining the documents produced to ensure accuracy.

Financial differences don’t necessarily mean there is something hidden

The divorce process is emotionally charged, and a divorce that isn’t well-known could quickly create suspicion.

Transfers between accounts might look concerning until the corresponding reports reveal its purpose. The large amount of money withdrawn could be some common cause. However, a seemingly mundane series of transactions could be worth a closer look when viewed in conjunction.

It is essential to begin with an objective assessment since forensic accounting must not start by assuming that there was misconduct.

Records should be the first stage for analysis.

Mediation may be more effective by providing more information

Financial experts are usually used in court but a more thorough analysis could start much earlier. Clarifying the issues in dispute prior to mediation is beneficial when parties disagree over business value or income as well as other property issues or financial activity.

SJS Forensics combines forensic accounting expertise with a settlement-minded approach and participates in mediation to address complex financial concerns.

When testimony is necessary, an expert witness accountant for matrimonial litigation must be able to take the underlying analysis and explain it clearly to attorneys, mediators, judges, and other non-accountants.

The objective is to minimize the amount of uncertainty

Many years of financial transactions can accumulate in a complicated divorce. Simply putting the records in folders does not provide clarity on financial matters. Documents must be scrutinized to see what they establish or reveal, as well as the questions that remain unanswered or if additional information might be needed.

This is the benefit of an analysis of forensics. It’s not the goal to complicate a divorce by putting more documents. The goal is to understand a complex financial position and slowly decrease the number of questions left unanswered.