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 Oklahoma, forensic accounting plays a crucial role in divorce proceedings, particularly in cases involving high-net-worth individuals or complex asset portfolios. State statutes and case law govern the division of marital property and the determination of spousal and child support. Oklahoma is an equitable distribution state, meaning that marital property is divided in a manner that the court deems fair, which may not always be equal. Forensic accountants are hired to ensure that all assets are properly disclosed and valued. They trace and analyze financial transactions to uncover any hidden assets or financial fraud that could impact the division of property and support calculations. The findings of a forensic accountant can be used as evidence in court to argue for a fair distribution of assets and appropriate support payments. Their expertise is particularly valuable when one spouse suspects the other of concealing or misrepresenting the true value of marital assets. The use of forensic accountants in divorce litigation is supported by the legal framework that seeks to prevent financial manipulation and ensure an equitable resolution for both parties.