Follow the Money Part 1: Red Flags, Hidden Assets & Financial Manipulation Patterns (Download Guide)

Описание: Where did the money go? Red Flags, Hidden Asset Tactics & Financial Manipulation Patterns

https://www.thedivorcevault.com/
https://www.thedivorceallies.com/

Melissa Gragg & Emile Flowers

If you’re getting partial statements, screenshots instead of full documents, being pressured to just settle, or the numbers simply don’t match your lifestyle, you are not crazy and you are not alone.

In this episode, forensic financial expert Melissa Gregg and lending and documentation expert Emily Flowers break down how money is actually hidden in divorce — and what you can do about it before you spend $10,000–$30,000 on a full forensic.

You’ll learn:

The patterns we look for in a forensic review
How cash withdrawals, transfers, and “missing” accounts show up on statements
Why full PDFs of statements matter more than screenshots
How to download and use CSV/Excel data to save thousands in fees
How to build simple lists that support marital waste and hidden asset claims
How to use this info as leverage in mediation and negotiation
You do not need to be a CPA or forensic accountant to start spotting red flags. You just need access to statements, a highlighter, and a simple framework. This episode gives you exactly that.

👉 In Part 2, we’ll dig into: retirement accounts, 529s, 1031 exchanges, crypto, separate property, and how it becomes marital.

⭐ Key Takeaways

You don’t need a full forensic to start getting answers.
You can begin by gathering full statements, not screenshots, and building simple lists of cash withdrawals and transfers.

Patterns tell the story.
Look for changes in lifestyle, round-number withdrawals, new or unfamiliar accounts, and transactions that don’t match your normal habits.

Full statements over screenshots every time.
Screenshots and partial pages hide totals, check numbers, and key details. Insist on complete PDFs (all pages) whenever possible.

Downloading CSV/Excel data can save thousands.
If you can export transactions from the bank, you cut down on manual entry and reduce what you have to pay a forensic expert to do.

Marital waste can be shown with a simple list.
A date–account–amount list of cash withdrawals over a year (or several years) can be used to say: “This money left the marital estate—where did it go?”

You don’t have to trace every dollar to use leverage.
Your job is often to show that money went missing; it’s their job to explain it. Overstating your estimate slightly can even trigger them to “correct” the number.

Stages, not all-or-nothing.
Start small: soft ask for statements, build basic summaries, then decide if you need subpoenas, depositions, or a full forensic based on what you find.

Q&As
1. How do spouses hide money during a divorce?
Spouses often hide money through cash withdrawals, transfers to undisclosed accounts, using apps like Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal, or routing income through business accounts, crypto, or foreign accounts. The key is that most of it still leaves a trail in bank and credit card statements, which you can analyze.

2. What is the first step if I think money is being hidden in my divorce?
Start by gathering full bank and credit card statements (all pages) for at least 12 months, ideally longer. Then, list out cash withdrawals, transfers, and unfamiliar accounts. You don’t need to know where every dollar went—you just need to identify suspicious patterns that justify deeper review.

3. Why are screenshots not enough in a forensic divorce case?
Screenshots usually omit key data like total deposits, total withdrawals, check numbers, account numbers, and missing pages. Full PDF statements show the complete financial picture, which is necessary to spot hidden accounts, round-number cash withdrawals, and transfers.

4. How can I use bank statements to prove marital waste?
You can create a simple list with date, account, and amount for every cash withdrawal or suspicious transfer over a period (e.g., 12 months). Add up the totals and present it as: “There is $X of unaccounted-for marital money—where did it go?” You don’t have to trace it all; you’re shifting the burden to your spouse to explain it.

5. Can I do part of the forensic work myself to save money?
Yes. You can:
Download CSV/Excel transaction data from online banking
Add up total deposits and compare them to tax returns
Flag unusual vendors, locations, or round-number cash withdrawals
Identify undisclosed accounts or banks

Then a forensic expert can step in at a later stage for strategy, refinement, and testimony—saving you significant time and cost.