New York, NY family law attorney Lisa Zeiderman talks about some of the ways a spouse might hide assets during a divorce. She notes that asset concealment is unfortunately common in divorce cases. Often, clients arrive with spreadsheets of supposed complete assets provided by their spouse. While these can be a helpful starting point, she emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough discovery, exchanging sworn statements of net worth, and reviewing supporting documentation. In many cases, significant assets—sometimes amounting to millions—are omitted from these spreadsheets.

She highlights common methods of hiding assets, starting with tax returns. Some individuals intentionally overpay taxes, allowing the refund to roll into the next year, effectively concealing those funds. Others may obscure compensation by not disclosing bonus structures, deferring bonuses, or arranging deferred compensation with their employer, which complicates the accurate calculation of marital income. Restricted stock units (RSUs) are another frequently undisclosed form of deferred compensation that requires careful examination.

Trust assets also warrant scrutiny, as distributions may not always be reported. She stresses that meticulous review of all discovery documents, including tax returns, financial statements, and employment records, is essential to ensure that all assets are properly identified and accounted for in the equitable distribution process.