Signs Your Spouse Is Hiding Money in Your Divorce with Krista Shelton, CFE, Founder and President of Focused Forensic Solutions, LLC

Is your spouse hiding money during divorce? Maybe the spending doesn't match what you're being told, bank statements go missing, or simple questions about money get brushed aside. In this episode, Karen McMahon talks with Krista Shelton, a former IRS Special Agent with more than 20 years of experience and the founder of Focused Forensic Solutions. Krista walks through the five red flags forensic accountants look for when a spouse is hiding money or assets in a divorce.

Krista explains why owning a small business gives a spouse room to underreport income and run personal expenses through the company. Missing financial documents deserve a closer look too, especially when a month or two disappears from the middle of a stack of bank statements. She describes how income controlled by a parent or sibling can suddenly drop once divorce is filed, and how "nominees" are used to move a business into a relative's name while the original owner keeps control. She also explains why one spouse holding full financial control leaves the other exposed. Along the way she offers a reassuring point: every transaction today leaves a third-party record, which makes hidden assets in divorce far easier to uncover than most people fear.

Krista shares the story of Kate, a stay-at-home mom married 36 years, whose gut told her something was wrong. The evidence Krista's team found led to an additional $250,000 in the settlement and a significant increase in the income used for child support, without anyone taking the stand at trial. Karen and Krista also talk about when to use subpoenas to get bank records. They cover how a business valuator differs from a forensic accountant, and how to vet a forensic expert by reviewing their CV and speaking with former clients. Krista explains why bank statements are the single most important document when you suspect hidden money in divorce.

Cost keeps many people from getting help. Krista's firm works on flat fees based on the volume of documents, with most cases around $5,000 and a range of $2,500 to $10,000. That way you know the cost of a forensic accountant before the work begins.

If your gut is telling you your spouse is hiding money during divorce, this conversation will help you understand what to look for and what to do next.

Connect with Krista:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-shelton-cfe-ea/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/krista.shelton.cfe/
• Website - www.focusedforensic.com

Connect with Karen:

Book a FREE Coaching Call: https://www.jbddivorcesupport.com/rapid-relief-call Join Divorce Support Network: https://bit.ly/jbdpod