How to Find Hidden Assets or Understated Income in Divorce Cases (Forensic Accounting)

Today we will discuss “How to Find Hidden Assets or Understated Income in Divorce Cases” with Leah Wietholter, a forensic accountant, certified fraud examiner and private investigator in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Welcome Leah!! Thanks for joining us today!

So let’s get right into it because this is a very interesting topic involving mistrust, money and love, better known as divorce.

1. How would you describe what you do as a forensic accountant in a divorce case?
2. Why would someone need to hire you or a private investigator - if they were getting divorced?
3. How do you help people get prepared to get divorced through your course and notebook, “Find Money in Divorce”?
4. So what kind of financial information or documents should people start to collect as they prepare to file for divorce?
5. What are some things people should look for when reviewing their own bank statements or financial documents?
6. How do you find hidden assets – and what could be an example of a hidden asset?
7. What is understated income and why is it important in a divorce case?
8. What was one of your craziest cases and did you find the hidden assets?
9. Tell us more about your company Workman Forensics and all of the various services you provide.



Melissa Gragg
CVA, MAFF, CDFA
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC
Cell: [phone]

Leah Wietholter
MBA, CFE, PI
Managing Director
Workman Forensics
918.574.6616

But , uh, so it hidden asset. Like I said earlier, yes, to the outhouse , it feels hidden to us. We just know where to go look. And so it's not magic. It's a process. So in looking at where did mine come from, where did it go? And then providing that to the client and saying, okay, client, what on here looks weird to you, you know, from a data perspective, these are high risk, but it may be okay. There was one case where , um, there was a hundred thousand dollars spent on at a jewelry store and it was an even dollar payment to , and so, you know, I'm like, okay, spouse, like, are you familiar with this? And she says, Oh yeah, that's such and such ring. And like, she had it on, so it can be okay.But from a data perspective, that's like, Oh my gosh, like, are we dealing with, like, this seems juicy, you know? And then we go talk to the client and she's like, Oh no, here's the rings right here.