Lifestyle Analysis in Divorce Cases: Investigating Spending and Finding Hidden Income and Assets, Third Edition

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A financial expert or forensic accountant can play an integral part in a divorce case involving complex financial matters. One of the most important tools they can use is a lifestyle analysis, a component being employed in an increasing number of divorces.

Lifestyle Analysis in Divorce Cases walks through the critical documents used in the lifestyle analysis, as well as the process used to complete a thorough and accurate analysis. The book discusses in detail the information that can be gleaned from tax returns, financial statements, bank statements, and other financial documents. The lifestyle analysis is then used to determine the standard of living for all parties, which will influence important support calculations and may affect property division. Additionally, a lifestyle analysis can uncover hidden sources of income and be used to evaluate the finances of each party in a prenuptial agreement.

Author Tracy Coenen, CPA, CFF, discusses these subjects in a manner that is logical and easy to understand, bringing clarity to a topic that could be confusing for attorneys, judges, and juries who often lack an accounting or finance background. The book begins with the critical factors to use in analyzing a couple's standard of living, followed by a discussion of the various types of income and why they should be either included or excluded from calculations in a family law case.

To help an attorney determine whether a lifestyle analysis is necessary for a particular case, the author discusses the numerous red flags that may indicate hidden income or assets or other financial irregularities, including sources for obtaining information, the documents needed for a lifestyle analysis and a strategy for gathering and managing these documents, and discovery from the perspective of the financial expert. Additional chapters focus on key elements included in a lifestyle analysis, including:

• Analyzing historical spending
• Locating hidden assets
• Business lifestyle analysis
• Reporting and testifying
• Appendices include a financial discovery checklist, sample Form 1040 and related schedules, and a direct examination checklist.

Author Bio

Tracy Coenen, CPA, CFF, MAFF, of Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting hasspent more than 25 years investigating fraud. Her educational backgroundincludes an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Law Studies and aMaster of Business Administration, both from Marquette University. Tracyis a Certified Public Accountant and holds the designations Certified inFinancial Forensics and Master Analyst in Financial Forensics. She has personally investigated hundreds of frauds in a wide varietyof industries, including cases of embezzlement, financial statement fraud,investment fraud, divorce, and insurance fraud. She has also served as anexpert witness in numerous cases involving damage calculations, commercialcontract disputes, shareholder disputes, and criminal defense. Tracy has been an adjunct instructor at Marquette University, adjunctprofessor at Concordia University, adjunct faculty member for the Associationof Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and faculty member for theNational Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA). Sheis the author of four books: Expert Fraud Investigation: A Step-by-StepGuide, Essentials of Corporate Fraud, Lifestyle Analysis in Divorce Cases:Investigating Spending and Finding Hidden Income and Assets, and FindMe The Money: Take Control, Uncover the Truth, and Win the Money YouDeserve in Your Divorce.