Going through a divorce can prove emotionally and physically grueling. However, if you arm yourself with information, you can make sure to protect your own rights and to avoid getting blindsided by unexpected events. A background check can help you discover hidden assets, learn about your ex-spouse’s past, research your ex-spouse’s new love interest, and find any bank accounts about which you might not have known.
Look for Checking and Savings Accounts
Unfortunately, spouses involved in a divorce can resort to unethical tactics when it comes to protecting cash. They sometimes open bank accounts in their own names and shield those accounts from their future exes.
Some people slowly transfer assets over time, while others make large transfers all at once. If you’re not familiar with your family’s current financial situation, you might not even realize that money has disappeared from shared accounts.
The problem becomes even more critical when spouses keep separate bank accounts for the duration of their marriages. In this case, you might not know how much money your partner has stashed away. A background check can reveal those hidden bank accounts so you can include them in your filings for divorce.
Discover Other Hidden Assets
Bank accounts aren’t the only assets that people can hide. Real property, from vehicles and investment homes to jewelry and collectibles, all have value. While some assets might prove more difficult to track than other, major purchases often show up on a background check.
You’re looking for any assets that should be included in the dissolution of your marriage. In most cases, any property that one spouse or the other acquires during the marriage becomes communal property. You might have heard about the massive property settlements that take place between celebrity couples, but even non-celebrities need to know about any assets that might be partially theirs.
Find Out About Your Partner’s Past
Maybe you don’t know your partner as well as you thought you did. A past criminal history, for instance, could lurk in your spouse’s background, and you’ll want to know about it before you finalize your divorce.
While a criminal history might not have any bearing on the divorce proceedings, it can help you better understand your spouse’s state of mind. Additionally, a history of violence could serve as a red flag that you need to be careful.
Research New Partners
If you and your spouse have children, you probably want to know about anyone that your partner might introduce into their lives. Background checks can help you learn about your spouse’s new partners, so you can protect your kids.
A background check can turn up all kinds of information, from past marriages and children to credit issues and criminal histories. All of this information can either warn you about trouble or put your mind at ease, depending on what you find.
A divorce might seem like the end of the world, but you’ll get through the process. Use background checks to keep your family safe and to protect your rights.
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