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 Ohio, forensic accounting is a recognized practice within the legal and financial fields, particularly in the context of divorce litigation. Ohio law requires an equitable division of marital property in a divorce, which includes all property acquired by either spouse during the marriage. If one spouse suspects the other of hiding or undervaluing assets, a forensic accountant may be hired to conduct a thorough investigation, often referred to as asset tracing or financial tracing. This process involves analyzing various financial documents and transactions to uncover any discrepancies or signs of fraud. The findings of a forensic accountant can significantly impact the division of assets, as well as the determination of spousal and child support, by providing a more accurate picture of the parties' financial situation. It is important to note that while forensic accountants can provide crucial evidence, their involvement and the admissibility of their findings in court proceedings are subject to Ohio's rules of evidence and procedure.