Naperville, IL Hidden Asset Attorneys

Experienced Divorce Lawyers Uncovering Hidden Assets in Naperville, Illinois

As part of your divorce, you and your spouse will have to take inventory of all of the property that you own. This may be more difficult than it sounds, especially if you have complex assets tied up in your marriage. A Naperville, IL divorce lawyer can help you identify hidden assets in your divorce so that the marital estate can be divided fairly.

As one of the oldest family law firms in Naperville, Fay & Farrow has the skills, knowledge, and resources to help uncover hidden assets in your divorce. You do not have to take our word alone—over the years, we have received numerous positive reviews from clients praising our knowledgeable, attentive representation.

Commonly Overlooked Assets in Naperville Divorces

Even when spouses diligently disclose obvious holdings, certain assets frequently slip under the radar. Failing to account for these items can skew the equitable distribution process, leaving you with an incomplete picture of your marital estate. Some of these assets may include:

• Interests in family-owned businesses or closely held corporations, including minority shares and dividend rights
• Intellectual property rights, including royalties from patents, trademarks, copyrights, and creative works
• Life insurance policies with cash-surrender or loan values
• Annuities and structured settlements that continue payments beyond divorce
• Offshore accounts and shell entities used to conceal funds
• Digital assets such as cryptocurrency wallets, domain portfolios, and online business revenues

If you rush through the discovery process, these assets could end up passed over in property division. By proactively identifying and valuing each category, you ensure that all property is fairly considered and prevent surprises down the road. To ensure that all assets are accounted for, we frequently work with forensic accountants and other financial professionals who can provide detailed insights into the marital estate.

Discovery Techniques to Uncover Hidden Assets

A thorough discovery strategy combines traditional legal tools with modern investigative methods. Initial steps include serving comprehensive requests for production of all financial documents such as tax returns, bank and brokerage statements, corporate records, and schedules of assets and liabilities. Interrogatories under oath compel the other spouse to disclose known assets and account details.

Depositions further allow your attorney to question the spouse under penalty of perjury about transfers, valuation methods, and undisclosed investments. For cases involving sophisticated concealment, forensic accountants and private investigators may trace electronic payment trails, analyze metadata from emails and financial software, and conduct lifestyle audits. These audits review luxury purchases, travel itineraries, and membership fees for inconsistencies with reported income.

A thorough discovery backed by expert insights from outside professionals is often necessary for protecting your interests in a complex divorce. This approach can give you the comprehensive financial picture necessary to locate hidden assets.

Can You File a Dissipation Claim for Intentionally Hidden Assets?

When a spouse intentionally hides assets, you can pursue a dissipation or waste claim under Illinois law. Dissipation claims must be filed within the overall divorce timeline, with a hard deadline of 30 days after discovery or 60 days before trial, whichever comes last.

Courts require proof that your spouse engaged in wasteful conduct with marital property, including transfers to an unknown third party, sham business expenses, or offshore account setups, and that these actions occurred in anticipation of divorce. If a dissipation claim is upheld, the court can order your spouse to reimburse the marital estate or compensate you directly for the wasted amount.

Meet With a Naperville, Illinois Hidden Asset Lawyer

Protecting every element of your marital estate demands proactive legal action. At Fay & Farrow, our legal team will evaluate your situation, design a targeted discovery plan, and pursue dissipation claims when necessary. Contact our Naperville, IL hidden asset attorneys or call 630-961-0060 to set up a free consultation.