Oprah Helps Father Hide Assets in Messy Divorce
Last week, a Tennessee judge fined Oprah Winfrey’s father, Vernon Winfrey, $70,000 in legal fees as punishment for bad behavior during his divorce. According to the judge’s decision, Mr. Winfrey used some fairly complicated maneuvers to…
How to Find Hidden Jewelry
PROBLEM:
Your debtor has a taste for fine jewelry and you suspect that she’s recently purchased and hidden some expensive pieces.
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SOLUTIONS:
If you have access to your debtor’s bank records, they are a great place to begin looking…
Lupe’s Fiasco: Drug Kingpin’s Wife Accuses Rapper of Hiding Money
Gossip sites were all abuzz last week with news of rapper Lupe Fiasco’s legal battle with Inita Patton, the estranged wife of convicted drug kingpin and Fiasco’s mentor, Charles Patton. The court filings have yet to be released to the…
Finding Hidden Antique Cars
PROBLEM:
Your debtor has loved the Aston Martin DB5 ever since James Bond drove it across the silver screen in 1964. He has wanted one for years, and you suspect that he finally took the plunge and bought one the minute you moved out of…
How We Find Hidden Fur: Stolen Stoles Discovered
PROBLEM:
You know that your debtor has a taste for the finer things in life, but, above all she adores furs. Occasionally, a new mink would suddenly appear on the first wintry day of the year. If you asked about it, she would shrug it off,…
Finding Secretly Owned Historic Property
PROBLEM:
The debtor has a passion for historic architecture, and you remember him once mentioning a beautiful old house that he was thinking about buying years ago. You suspect that he may have secretly purchased the house and has failed…
Tracking Down a Patent, Trademark or Copyright
PROBLEM:
Your debtor's come clean on stocks, bonds and a condominium he owns, but you suspect he has valuable intellectual property rights acquired during marriage. Half the value of those rights is yours, but first you have to find the property.
SOLUTIONS:
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Intellectual…
Finding Collections of Rare Things
PROBLEM:
The debtor is a big collector, whether of coins, stamps, toys, or comic books. You ask about the collection but get no response, or else you are told it was “lost” or sold for much less than you were always told it was worth. You…
Finding Real Estate Bought Through a Secret Company
PROBLEM:
You think that your debtor owns property, but you cannot find any evidence that he owns any real estate in his own name. You suspect that he purchased property through a corporation so that you would not be able to find it.
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SOLUTIONS:
If…
Highbrow, Low Profile: Hidden Art Collections
PROBLEM:
A debtor may say he has no assets when he actually owns an art collection worth millions. Or, in anticipation of a divorce, a debtor may convert ready cash or easily-discoverable assets into art, which can be safely stashed away…
