Divorce can be complicated enough without one spouse hiding money or property from the other. Unfortunately, financial deception is more common than many people think—especially in high-conflict or high-asset divorces or where one partner is trying to avoid support or alimony payments. In Oklahoma, the law requires full and honest disclosure of all assets and debts. When one spouse tries to conceal assets, the court takes it seriously.
If you suspect your spouse is hiding assets or lying about finances that impact your finances, here’s what you need to know about how Oklahoma courts handle these situations.
What Counts as Hiding Marital Assets?
Hiding assets can take many forms, such as:
- Not reporting bank accounts, investment accounts, or retirement funds
- Transferring money to friends or family to hold until after the divorce
- Underreporting income from a business
- Creating fake debts or expenses
- Delaying bonuses or commissions until after the divorce
- Purchasing items of value (art, collectibles, cryptocurrency) and pretending they’re worthless
- Business owners who hide business earnings or assets.
Oklahoma law requires both spouses to provide a full accounting of their assets, debts, income, and expenses. This is part of the discovery process, where each party has the opportunity to request and review financial documents.
How Does the Court Uncover Hidden Assets?
When financial deception is suspected, attorneys can use legal tools to uncover the truth, including:
- Interrogatories and Requests for Production: These are formal questions and document requests that the other spouse must answer under oath.
- Depositions: A spouse may be questioned under oath about financial matters.
- Subpoenas: Bank records, tax returns, and employment files can be subpoenaed directly from financial institutions, employers, or accountants.
- Forensic Accountants: In complex cases, a forensic accountant can be hired to trace income, analyze spending, and uncover inconsistencies.
Courts rely heavily on documentation—so if you suspect deception, it’s important to gather any financial records you can, including tax returns, credit card statements, emails, and text messages.
What Happens If a Spouse Is Caught Hiding Assets?
If the court finds that a spouse has intentionally hidden assets or misled the court about their finances, there can be serious consequences, including:
- An unequal property division: Oklahoma is an equitable distribution state, meaning the court divides property fairly—not always 50/50. If one spouse has hidden assets, the court may award the other spouse a larger share to make up for it.
- Sanctions and attorney fees: The deceptive spouse may be ordered to pay the other side’s legal fees or face financial penalties.
- Loss of credibility: If the judge finds one spouse lied under oath, it can affect decisions about other parts of the divorce—like custody or spousal support.
- Criminal charges: In rare and extreme cases, hiding assets could lead to charges like perjury or contempt of court.
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Attorneys Finding Hidden Assets in Oklahoma Divorce
In Oklahoma, Hidden Assets in Divorce stink. If you suspect your spouse is hiding assets, don’t wait to speak up. Financial deception can leave you at a serious disadvantage if it’s not addressed early in the process. Here’s what you can do:
- Start gathering financial records now
- Make a list of all assets and accounts you know about
- Speak to an experienced divorce attorney who knows how to spot red flags and uncover hidden assets
The Oklahoma Family lawyers at Tulsa Divorce Attorneys & Associates are serious about uncovering financial deception. Our attorneys use a whole toolbox of legal methods to uncover financial deception. It starts with drafting discovery questions that force the deceptive practice out into the open. We follow this up with depositions and other investigative practices that get to the bottom of any deception. For a free consultation with an Oklahoma family lawyer from Tulsa Divorce Attorneys & Associates, call us at 539-302-0303. You can also click this link to ask an online legal question.