The process of dividing money and assets from the family home to pensions can be one of the most agonising aspects of divorce.
While spouses are legally bound to reveal their assets before a financial settlement can be reached, many partners take extraordinary measures to make themselves seem less wealthy.
A quarter of respondents in a survey of people who divorced within the last decade admitted they concealed the full extent of their wealth and assets during their split.
‘To add insult to injury, these “hidden” assets are often buried in plain sight, by one partner who managed the finances for years while the other (usually the wife) trusted them completely, rarely questioning paperwork, tax returns, investments or spending habits,’ award-winning divorce coach Jennie Sutton said.
The stress of legal letters and hearings means wives – who trusted their husbands for years – find it difficult to challenge inconsistencies or ask questions confidently, meaning these men get away with it, she told The Daily Mail.
If you’re worried that your estranged husband is hiding money and assets from you, listen to your intuition, she advised.
The most obvious red flags are missing bank accounts, but there are other giveaways that he’s not being honest, she continued.
From pressuring you to settle quickly and being dismissive about finances to telling you that there’s ‘nothing left’ despite years of a comfortable lifestyle, these are some tell-tale signs of spouses hiding wealth.
Award-winning divorce coach Jennie Sutton said these ‘hidden’ assets are often buried in plain sight
Financial transfers to strange-sounding accounts
Has your partner suddenly developed an interest in crypto or online investing? Are there unexplained bank transfers leaving accounts?
Many aspects of our financial world are confusing, particularly cryptocurrency, which can be baffling for even the most financially literate.
Research by the Financial Conduct Authority in 2025 found eight per cent of UK adults owned cryptoassets, so don’t brush it aside because you don’t fully understand it; like other assets, cryptocurrency must be disclosed during a divorce.
Cryptocurrency purchases will appear on your UK bank statement, with the name of the cryptocurrency exchange such as Coinbase, Binance or Kraken.
However, you won’t be able to see the specific crypto that’s been bought, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, or the amount of crypto that’s been credited to your husband’s digital wallet.
Other clues that your partner is hiding their wealth the sudden appearance of new gadgets that look like USBs. These could be hardware wallets by brands such as Ledger or Trezor.
What to ask your ex: Which bank accounts or investment platforms have transfers of over £500 been made to? What evidence is available to support those transfers? Why were savings reduced or withdrawn shortly before separation?
Foreign business trips
Some soon-to-be divorcees who take business trips around the world can use their international connections to work in their financial favour, Jennie said.
Dishonest spouses can move money abroad into offshore accounts, overseas properties, foreign investments or international business interests, believing it will be harder to trace.
But part of your financial disclosure is listing all your assets overseas, as well as at home.
Clues that your husband is stashing cash abroad include frequent overseas travel linked to ‘business’, unusual foreign banking activity, currency exchanges and post arriving through the letterbox from overseas financial institutions.
What to ask your ex: What money has been transferred abroad and why? Are there properties or investments overseas? Is there evidence of foreign income on tax returns? Are business interests registered in another country?
Unexplained income delays
Bonuses and deferred shares, such as stock options, that are accrued during your marriage are typically counted as marital assets.
So, a common tactic among higher earners is manipulating the timeframe when income is paid so that it lands after the final order for divorce.
This can be applied to bonuses, commission payments, stock options or deferred share awards
Be aware of sudden drops in income, claims that ‘business is slow’, or bonuses suddenly arriving outside their usual pattern.
If you can find previous statements, bonus records, and share vesting schedules, you will be able to establish a historical pattern to compare against the current financial picture.
What to ask your ex: What has previous compensation looked like? When are bonuses usually paid? What income patterns have changed recently and why?
He is suddenly riddled with debt
One way to reduce the financial settlement is to make the marital pot seem smaller than it really is.
Your ex may create debts that may not genuinely exist, but may just be informal loans from friends or family members that suddenly appear during proceedings.
The clue that these debts are fake are large transfers to relatives, vague explanations or conveniently timed paperwork – it’s key that he provides evidence for these liabilities.
What to ask your ex: Is there a written agreement? Was the money genuinely transferred? Have repayments actually been made? Why has this debt only appeared now?
Business accounting becomes more creative
If your partner owns a business, he might take the opportunity to disguise income or reduce the apparent value of the company.
Common tactics include delaying invoices, inflating expenses, moving money between accounts or paying personal expenses through the business.
Very often, the narrative no longer matches reality, for instance the business suddenly starts ‘struggling’ during divorce despite years of financial success.
Meanwhile, the business accounts may be incomplete, inconsistent or not provided at all.
What to ask your ex: What was the business earning before separation? What personal expenses have been paid through the company? Have contracts or invoices been delayed? Are all business accounts fully disclosed?
Assets are transferred into someone else’s name
A partner planning for divorce might transfer money or assets to friends or family to give the impression that they are less wealthy than they appear.
Sometimes assets including savings, property, luxury items and cash gifts are temporarily transferred into the names of trusted friends or relatives.
This process is called ‘dissipation of assets’ and the family court can freeze, reverse or add back the value of the transfers – it can also penalise the transferring partner.
Timing is the smoking gun, for instance when ownership changed, when gifts were made or whether assets were sold below market value shortly before separation.
What to ask your ex: Which assets have recently changed ownership? What is the timeline of those transfers or gifts? What is the true market value of those assets?
Valuables have recently disappeared
You may think that you know exactly what your husband owns, has inherited or bought during your relationship.
However, some of the most overlooked assets are physical items such as watches, jewellery, artwork, wine collections, designer handbags, vehicles and collectables that may have been stored outside the home.
Storage units, safes, garages and locked cupboards can reveal far more than people realise.
Insurance policies can provide important clues because valuable items are usually listed separately.
What to ask your ex: Have any valuables recently disappeared or been sold? What value did these items previously hold? Are there storage units, safes or additional insurance policies?
