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, asset tracing, or forensic accounting, 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 Georgia, forensic accounting is a recognized practice within the legal and financial fields, particularly in the context of divorce litigation. Forensic accountants are professionals who specialize in uncovering financial fraud and tracing assets by analyzing financial documents and transactions. Their expertise is often utilized in high-asset or high-net-worth divorce cases to ensure an accurate assessment of marital property, which is crucial for equitable division of assets, as well as for determining appropriate spousal and child support payments. Georgia law requires an equitable division of marital property in divorce proceedings, and the discovery of hidden assets or financial manipulation by a forensic accountant can significantly impact the outcome. While Georgia does not have community property laws like some other states, the role of a forensic accountant in tracing and identifying assets remains vital for protecting the financial interests of both parties in a divorce.