A forensic accountant is generally an accountant with expertise in detecting financial fraud or manipulation in personal and business tax returns, bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, broker accounts, offshore accounts, cash, cryptocurrency, jewels, art, cars, yachts, airplanes, real estate, life insurance policies, and related financial documents. This financial investigation work is often referred to as tracing, financial tracing, or asset tracing, and generally involves “following the money” by tracing a piece of financial information or data back to its source.

In divorce litigation—and especially in high-asset or high-net-worth divorces in which there is significant marital or community property—any financial manipulation or fraud of personal or business finances may have a significant effect on the marital or community property that is available for division, and on spousal support and child support payment amounts. One or both spouses in a divorce may hire a forensic accountant to discover any hidden assets or manipulated financial documents that may prevent the court from having an accurate accounting of the marital or community property assets and the spouses’ incomes.

In Alabama, forensic accountants play a crucial role in divorce litigation, particularly in cases involving high-net-worth individuals or substantial marital assets. Their expertise in uncovering financial fraud and tracing assets is invaluable for ensuring an equitable division of property and accurate determination of spousal and child support obligations. Alabama is an equitable distribution state, which means that marital property is divided in a manner deemed fair by the court, rather than strictly equally. Forensic accountants can be engaged by either spouse to investigate and document any financial irregularities or hidden assets. This includes examining tax returns, bank and investment accounts, and other financial holdings. The findings of a forensic accountant can significantly influence the court's decisions regarding the division of assets and determination of support payments. It is important to note that while forensic accountants provide critical financial analysis, the ultimate decisions regarding asset division and support are made by the court based on the entirety of evidence presented.