Socialite Husband and Wife Accuse Each Other of Hiding Jewelry in Bitter Divorce
Whitney St. John and James B. Fairchild’s acrimonious divorce began in 2011, and the couple has been fighting over how to divide their fabulous collection of art and antiques ever since. With no amicable resolution in sight, last week, a…
The Sterling Tapes: Don’t Try This at Home
Revenge is a dish best served cold, so if you’re going to tape a spouse or significant other, be cool about how you do it.
Donald Sterling may yet hang on to his basketball team, and his (probably now former) girlfriend V. Stiviano may owe…
Happy Tax Day: How to Find Assets Using Tax Returns
It’s everyone’s favorite or least favorite day of the year—tax day. While some people are rejoicing about their anticipated refund check, others are reluctantly handing money over to the government. Here, we’re thinking about the…
Hidden Assets and the Gray Divorce Revolution
A recent study has shown that divorce rates for people over 50 has skyrocketed during the last 20 years in what has been dubbed the “gray divorce revolution.” This has two implications for people like us who are tasked with finding hidden…
Man Who Faked Bankruptcy to Avoid Child Support Gets 17 Years
California businessman Steven Zinnel was sentenced to a 17 year prison term last week for defrauding the bankruptcy court in an effort to avoid paying child support and alimony to his ex-wife. The prosecutors on the case believe this to be…
Dealing with Russia: An Asset-Search Checklist
If it seems like a remote possibility that the U.S. will go to war over Ukraine, it’s much likelier that Washington will attempt to impose some form of sanctions, including asset freezes on Russian leaders and some of Russia’s richest…
Tracking Down Life Insurance Settlement Payouts
PROBLEM:
You are fairly certain your debtor has a life insurance policy and you are worried he may try to cash in on it before you get divorced.
SOLUTIONS:
The law surrounding life insurance policies in divorce can be confusing…
Scottish Boxing Promoter’s Mortgage Fraud Revealed in Divorce Documents
Scottish boxing promoter and former lightweight boxer Barry Hughes recently pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud and is now facing some lengthy jail time. Between 2004 and 2006, Hughes reported his wife’s income on two mortgage applications…
How to Spot a Sweetheart Scam
Valentine’s Day is upon us, and, as investigators, our minds turn not to chocolate and roses but to romance fraud. According to Fraud.org, romance fraud is the tenth most common type of scam in the U.S. Last year, the Federal…
Gathering Intelligence in National Divorce Month
Every January, the depressing stories come back. Following the festive season, eating, drinking and family reunions come the reminders that January is “Divorce Month.”
This one at CNN is somewhat typical. But it turns out that January should…
