Big Divorce Mistake #2: Not Analyzing Claimed vs. Documented Income

At March 28, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Alimony, Divorce Tips, Forensic Accounting, Income Determination
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Often, spouses must declare, or claim, what they earn. Very often, they earn significantly more according to their own tax returns, W-2s, 10-99s, and current pay stubs. There are even more documents available from which to compare claimed vs. documented income. Miles Mason, Sr. JD, CPA is the author of The Forensic Accounting Deskbook: A […]

Dave Ramsey’s Divorce Advice

On his talk show, Dave Ramsey runs callers through many of the same questions a divorce attorney would ask. To determine where spouses are financially, he needs to know their ages and educational levels, how long they’ve been married, and if they have minor children. Assessment requires details about income, assets, savings, and retirement accounts, […]

Big Divorce Mistake #5: Misunderstanding How Alimony is Calculated

At March 24, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Alimony, Divorce Tips, Forensic Accounting
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Calculating alimony (spousal support) is a state by state determination but many states have the same considerations and factors. Need, ability to pay, and lifestyle of the parties are fantastic issues for forensic accountants to analyze and form opinions thereon. Through review of tax returns, financial statements, divorce discovery, subpoenas, and other methods of investigation, […]

Big Divorce Mistake #6: Not Being Skeptical about Financial Documents

At March 21, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Divorce Process, Divorce Tips, Forensic Accounting
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What is the role of professional skepticism in reviewing financial statements? Forensic accountants can cross-reference financial documents better than anyone to uncover inconsistencies. Miles Mason, Sr. JD, CPA is the author of The Forensic Accounting Deskbook: A Practical Guide to Financial Investigation and Analysis for Family Lawyers, Second Edition, published by the ABA Family Law […]

10 Big Divorce Financial Mistakes

#10: Mishandling the Pension QDRO & Elections #9: Not Getting a Business Valuation to Save Money #8: Being Cheap & Not Hiring a Forensic Accountant #7: Ignoring Red Flags of Hidden Money #6: Not Being Skeptical about Financial Documents #5: Misunderstanding How Alimony is Calculated […]

Big Divorce Mistake #1: Not Getting Financial Disclosures Under Oath

At March 17, 2020
By Miles Mason
In Divorce Process, Divorce Tips, Forensic Accounting
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Obtaining financial disclosures under oath from your spouse is a great first step. That can be in response to interrogatories or an affidavit. If your spouse lies under oath, it will help make a better case for relief from the court. Discovery is discussed at length in The Forensic Accounting Deskbook: A Practical Guide to […]

Tracy Coenen’s Lifestyle Analysis in Divorce Cases, Second Edition

At December 28, 2019
By Miles Mason
In Alimony, Divorce Process, Divorce Tips, Forensic Accounting, Recommended Reading
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The American Bar Association Family Law Section recently published the second edition of Tracy Coenen’s invaluable resource Lifestyle Analysis in Divorce Cases: Investigating Spending and Finding Income and Assets. Coenen’s book clearly explains the lifestyle analysis, an important but often confusing calculation of income and expenses in a divorce case, often used to establish parties’ […]

Losing Motions Not Grounds for Judicial Recusal

Tennessee case summary on recusal in divorce. Pamela Diane Stark v. Joe Edward Stark The wife in this Shelby County, Tennessee case filed for divorce in 2018. The husband was a Memphis police officer, and the wife was an attorney working for the district attorney general. The wife made a claim that the husband committed […]

You or Your Attorney Should Show Up for Your Divorce Trial!

Tennessee case summary on showing up for your divorce trial. Lewis Creed Jackson v. Sharon Smith Jackson The husband and wife in this Putnam County, Tennessee, case had been married for 25 years at the time of their 2012 separation and had one minor child, 11 years old. The husband filed for divorce, and the […]

Private Investigators in Tennessee Divorce Cases

Why would anyone need to hire a private investigator for their Tennessee divorce case? There are many reasons why hiring a “Private Eye” could help the case. Perhaps the best known reason, and the basis for many a cinematic drama, is to rustle up evidence of an extramarital affair. In Tennessee law, adultery is one […]