People sometimes want to protect themselves financially when going through a divorce, but fraud can occur when hiding assets or attempting to mislead a partner. New Jersey residents might see red flags that signal some type of manipulation is occurring so that one spouse gets a larger portion of assets than he or she may be entitled to.
Signs of fraud may be evident if a spouse starts acting differently or if changes in income or lifestyle occur. Red flags include hiding mail or computer activity from a spouse, multiple, unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts and being secretive about transactions. A spouse may also get caught lying or might give money away to others without informing the other party.
When looking at why one spouse might engage in fraudulent behavior, there are some reasons why someone with no criminal history chooses to commit white-collar fraud. A person must have pressure, a rationale and a perceived opportunity to act in this manner. Perceived opportunity means that the person thinks committing an indiscretion without discovery is possible while pressure is the motive, and the rationalization is what occurs to make one feel like he or she is still a moral person who must commit an indiscretion because of bad circumstances.
Dissipation is one kind of fraud that takes place in divorces, as one spouse attempts to minimize assets without the knowledge or consent of the other spouse. Even if both spouses are honest, issues concerning the division of marital property can be difficult to resolve without legal assistance. In many cases, an attorney can help a divorcing spouse in negotiating a comprehensive settlement agreement that addresses property division and other applicable issues.
