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, or asset tracing, 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 West Virginia, forensic accountants play a crucial role in divorce proceedings, particularly in cases involving high-net-worth individuals or complex asset portfolios. These specialized accountants are tasked with uncovering financial discrepancies, hidden assets, and evidence of fraud or manipulation within personal and business financial documents. Their expertise in tracing financial transactions is essential in ensuring an equitable division of marital property and the accurate determination of spousal and child support obligations. West Virginia family law courts rely on the findings of forensic accountants to obtain a clear and comprehensive understanding of each spouse's financial situation. The state's legal framework allows for the use of forensic accounting to protect the integrity of financial settlements and support awards in divorce cases. By tracing and presenting financial data, forensic accountants help to ensure that all assets are disclosed and that the division of property and support calculations are based on accurate financial information.