My Spouse is Hiding Income in Maryland Divorce

 Posted on February 11, 2026 in Divorce

People going through a divorce don’t always tell the truth about their income. It’s amazing how it works. During the marriage, you and your spouse are doing great financially. During the divorce, however, your spouse is suddenly crying poor.

In a Maryland divorce case, both parties are required to truthfully disclose their income, and the numbers are closely analyzed. Actual income has a major impact on the amount of child support payable, whether and how much alimony is awarded, and how much each side will receive from the marital assets. Whether it is due to entitlement, financial insecurity, or spite, If your spouse is hiding income, then it can significantly affect the outcome of your divorce case.

But there are warning signs and actions you can take along with your divorce attorney to make sure you get the best result possible, even if your spouse is being shady with money. Your Columbia, MD divorce attorney can help you find them.

Warning Signs that Your Spouse is Hiding Money in Your Divorce

Unusual Transactions or Withdrawals

This can be very obvious, but also very subtle. It is important to look through each transaction to see whether everything makes sense. If you see a lot of cash withdrawals or transfers to unknown bank accounts, then those items are worth further investigation. Likewise, if there are other transactions that look different or questionable, then you need to look deeper.

Weird or Fictitious Debts 

It’s easy for your spouse to create a promissory note, or a document that says someone loaned your spouse money to be paid back. But having a document doesn’t mean there is an actual loan. Many times, this loan is actually a gift. Usually a fictitious loan involves a friend or family member who "loans" money, signs a loan document to be paid back, and then forgives the loan after the divorce is finalized.

Hidden, Unknown, or New Bank Accounts

Just like unusual transactions, hidden accounts can be easy to spot, but also difficult. One thing to look for, along with transfers to random accounts, is if less money than before is coming into the main bank account. That should trigger suspicion.

Transferring Money to Family or Friends

This can be done many different ways – cash, direct transfer, automatic deposit. But the idea is to divert funds that would be considered income to other people.

Using a Business as a Piggy Bank 

Your spouse claims that the business is struggling, but the discrepancy between claimed expenses and perceived lifestyle is obvious.

You Have a Feeling Something Isn’t Right

No one knows your situation better than you. If you think that your spouse is hiding money, then at the very least you should check it out. Either you will prove yourself correct, and your spouse is hiding income, or your suspicion is not as bad as you thought. Either way, you will have peace of mind knowing instead of being left in the dark.

How to Find Hidden Money in a Maryland Divorce

When you recognize some or all of these signs, what can you do about it? A good divorce attorney can use the following tools:

Conduct Thorough Discovery

Discovery is the way to find out information about your spouse, including information about money. Interrogatories, questions that your spouse must answer under oath, and document requests, for tax returns, bank and credit card statements, paystubs, loan applications, etc., are a starting point. Depositions and subpoenas can provide even more detail. The idea is to get everything there is to get from your spouse and third parties 

Analyze the Information You Discover

Look at your spouse’s spending. Review your spouse’s debts and obligations. Look for the red flags discussed above and then follow up. That is worth repeating – FOLLOW UP. You can verify for yourself the accuracy of the information you gather, the statements your spouse makes, and figure out what is going on. There is almost certainly a paper trail leading you to the truth.

Hire a Forensic Accountant

Sometimes the information is extraordinarily complicated and extensive in scope. In that event, it is worth hiring an forensic accountant, someone with a great deal of experience looking into all the tax returns, bank statements, and other documents for the purpose of reviewing and determining where all the money is going.

Show What is Actually Happening

This is where you tie it all together, using the tools to create a coherent tracing of what funds are actually coming in and what funds are actually going out. Then you can show the Court what your spouse’s really making.

Look at How Much Your Spouse is Paying for a Divorce Lawyer 

If your spouse can afford thousands of dollars on a divorce lawyer, then there is a good chance that they can afford their lifestyle and expenses.

Contact a Columbia, MD Divorce Attorney with Experience Finding Hidden Money in Divorce

Lastly, if you haven’t figured it out yet, you need an experienced Columbia divorce lawyer if you suspect your spouse is hiding money. Armed with the tools and knowledge to find what you are looking for, a lawyer will gather as much information as possible, make the necessary arguments, and get you the best possible result for your situation.

Attorney Marquardt at DM Family Law has over 20 years of experience. Call us today at 443-545-8100.