why a lawyer depose bank records in family law cases

by Laurianne Kuhn MD 7 min read

A deposition provides a unique opportunity for an attorney to learn the scope of a party's or witness's knowledge or anticipated testimony in advance of a trial which can reduce the amount of time spent in the courtroom.May 23, 2019

What happens to your bank statements in a divorce?

Dec 10, 2013 · Now my ex-wife has filed a motion to set aside the first settlement. She wants bank account statements from my checking and savings account, tax filing from previous years, the information from my 401K, and perhaps more. When I filed I submitted form 12.902(c) family law financial affidavit.

Are bank records protected by the government?

Jun 15, 2020 · A subpoena might be used for a variety of purposes in a family law case – to uncover hidden marital assets, for example. The reason why subpoenas are used so often is that in many cases, evidence needed by one party is in the possession of the other party or a third party (such as a bank).

When your spouse won't provide financial information during a divorce?

Apr 09, 2012 · 26 reviews. Avvo Rating Not Displayed. Divorce / Separation Lawyer in Hopewell, NJ. Reveal number. tel: (609) 466-1222. Call. Posted on Apr 9, 2012. If his name is on the account you should be able to secure copies of the relevant bank records. You should not hesitate to serve the Subpeona if his name is on the accounts.

What do your bank records say about you?

Jan 25, 2019 · Based on its review of the case law, the Court found that there was no legal basis in this matter to institute an attorney’s lien insofar as the law firm only performed services for the plaintiff which occurred post-judgment and there was no judgment, verdict, or order upon which an attorney’s lien could attach pursuant to the Attorney’s ...

Why do people depose?

Why take a deposition? Depositions are extremely important to all trials. They give attorneys for both sides the opportunity to determine what damaging testimony they will be up against in court during the trial.Mar 6, 2014

What does depose a client mean?

1. Depose is defined as to forcefully and suddenly remove someone from office, or to testify or present evidence under oath in a legal proceeding.

Is a deposition a good thing?

Depositions are often a vital and pivotal part of litigation. A good (or bad) deposition has the ability to sway the case one way or another.Nov 30, 2015

What does deposed mean in a lawsuit?

Primary tabs. The act of questioning a deponent under oath, either a witness or a party to a lawsuit, at a deposition. Such an action is taken during the pre-trial discovery process.

What does deposed by a lawyer mean?

Out-of-court testimony a witness gives under oath before an officer authorized to administer oaths for use later in the proceeding. Depositions may be taken by: Oral examination, where the witness's answers to the deposing attorney's questions are recorded and often transcribed.

What to expect when you are being deposed?

When you are deposed, you will be brought into a room with attorneys from both sides, sworn in, and a court reporter will record every word you say as you are grilled by lawyers. You will be asked to recall minute details regarding an incident that might have happened months ago.Oct 20, 2008

What should you not say in a deposition?

8 Things Not Say During a DepositionNever Guess to Answer a Question.Avoid Any Absolute Statements.Do Not Use Profanity.Do Not Provide Additional Information.Avoid Making Light of the Situation.Never Paraphrase a Conversation.Do Not Argue or Act Aggressively.Avoid Providing Privileged Information.May 19, 2020

What is the purpose of a deposition in court?

A deposition is a witness's sworn out-of-court testimony. It is used to gather information as part of the discovery process and, in limited circumstances, may be used at trial. The witness being deposed is called the "deponent."

Are depositions scary?

The truth of the matter is that depositions are not nearly as scary as you might think. While depositions can be awkward and there might be some difficult questions for you to answer, if you have a good lawyer preparing you for the deposition, you will be fine.

What does getting deposed mean?

1 : to testify to under oath or by sworn affidavit. 2 : to take testimony from especially by deposition plaintiffs… were entitled to depose experts retained by the defendants — National Law Journal — compare examine. intransitive verb.

What do I need to know before getting deposed?

Below are the top 5 rules to guide you during a deposition:Listen to the question. ... Be sure you understand the question. ... Think about the answer. ... Express the answer in the shortest and clearest manner possible. ... Tell the truth.Sep 30, 2020

What does it mean when something is overturned?

1 : to turn over or upside down Waves overturned the boat. 2 : to reverse or cancel something previously decided or ordered The judge overturned the lower court's ruling. overturn. transitive verb. over·​turn.

How to force spouse to turn over financial information?

Family law courts have multiple tools they can use to force spouses to turn over financial information. First, you can file a “Motion to Compel,” which is a request to have the court order your spouse to turn over documents.

What to do if your spouse won't provide financial information?

If you're going through a divorce, one of the first things an attorney will tell you is to gather your financial information, including bank account statements, credit card statements, title documents, and mortgage documents.

What is an attorney's fee award?

an attorney's fee award— where your spouse pays for the attorney's fees you incurred in bringing the motion. evidentiary sanctions—where the court prevents your spouse from introducing certain evidence at trial, and. jail time—ordering that your spouse spend a certain amount of time in jail.

What is the definition of financial disclosures in divorce?

In some states, divorcing spouses must provide each other certain financial information at the beginning of the case, sometimes termed "mandatory discoveries" or "preliminary financial disclosures.". If you live in one of these jurisdictions, you and your spouse will have ...

What is a request for production of documents?

Whether you live in a mandatory disclosure state or not, you can send your spouse a formal request for information , typically called a “Request for Production of Documents.”. You can also send questions for your spouse to answer under oath, called "Interrogatories".

What is a financial affidavit for spouse in Georgia?

For example, in Georgia, spouses must provide each other a "Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit" that includes each spouse's assets and debts, income information, and a detailed monthly budget, which identifies all normal expenses for both parents and children.

Do you have to give your spouse a W-2?

In some jurisdictions, spouses must also provide each other with certain documents at the beginning of the divorce. Typically, spouses give each other the last few years of tax returns and bank statements, W-2's, and recent financial account statements, such as brokerage and retirement account statements.

How long does it take to get a financial affidavit?

Not only can they request this information, you are required by law to provide all of the following documentation within 45 days of service of the petition, even without a request:#N#(1) A financial affidavit.

Can an opposing counsel propound a request for production?

Opposing counsel can propound a Request for Production that would require your compliance absent a valid and timely objection. Unless you signed a waiver of Mandatory Disclosure, much of these documents were supposed to be exchanged during the divorce. Unless you committed fraud, this Motion should be denied.

How to force spouse to turn over financial information?

Family law courts have multiple tools they can use to force spouses to turn over financial information. First, you can file a “Motion to Compel,” which is a request to have the court order your spouse to turn over documents.

What is the term for requesting financial information during a divorce?

In some states, divorcing spouses must provide each other certain financial information at the beginning of the case, sometimes termed “mandatory discovery" or "preliminary financial disclosures.

What is an attorney's fee award?

an attorney's fee award— where your spouse pays for the attorney’s fees you incurred in bringing the motion. evidentiary sanctions—where the court prevents your spouse from introducing certain evidence at trial, and. jail time—ordering that your spouse spend a certain amount of time in jail.

What is a request for production of documents?

Whether you live in a mandatory disclosure state or not, you can send your spouse a formal request for information, typically called a “Request for Production of Documents.”. You can also send questions for your spouse to answer under oath, called “Interrogatories.”.

What to do if your spouse won't provide financial information?

If you're going through a divorce, one of the first things an attorney will tell you is to gather your financial information, including bank account statements, credit card statements, title documents, and mortgage documents.

What is a financial affidavit for spouse in Georgia?

For example, in Georgia, spouses must provide each other a "Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit" that includes each spouse’s assets and debts, income information, and a detailed monthly budget, which identifies all normal expenses for both parents and children.

Do you have to give your spouse a W-2?

In some jurisdictions, spouses must also provide each other with certain documents at the beginning of the divorce. Typically, spouses give each other the last few years of tax returns and bank statements , W-2’s, and recent financial account statements, such as brokerage and retirement account statements.

What is a subpoena in family law?

FAMILY LAW ADVOCACY GROUP. A subpoena is a court order that requires someone to appear in court or at a hearing. You can also use it to force someone to produce evidence needed by a party to the case. Someone who refuses to honor a subpoena can be charged with contempt of court and jailed.

Where to return a subpoena?

Return your copy of the subpoena, including the Proof of Service, to the court clerk prior to your trial or hearing. Keep in mind that the recipient has the right to contest the subpoena. There’s No Time to Waste.

How to serve a subpoena in person?

5. Fill out and sign the “Proof of Service” page (Page 3) of your copy of the subpoena. If you had someone else deliver the subpoena, they must sign it.

Why do we use subpoenas?

The reason why subpoenas are used so often is that in many cases , evidence needed by one party is in the possession of the other party or a third party ( such as a bank). Once a legal case has been formally initiated, you can use the discovery process to demand evidence that is in the possession of someone else.

When did the parties in the divorce case divorce?

Discussion: The parties in this matter divorced in March 2004 after a 10 year marriage. There were three children born of the marriage, one of whom is emancipated, another who is in college, and a third child who resides with the defendant. After the divorce, the plaintiff moved out of state and remarried in 2014.

What did the appellate division conclude?

Upon review of the relevant facts and law, the Appellate Division concluded that the trial court committed reversible error. Specifically, the Appellate Division found that the trial court did not accord the defendant fundamental fairness and due process of law in declining to reconstruct the record of the FRO hearing.

What was the argument in the case Curran?

His argument was to throw out the entire arbitration on the grounds that he did not receive appellate review of the arbitrator’s decision as bargained for in the Agreement to Arbitrate.

What did the husband challenge in the arbitration award?

The Husband proceeded to challenge the arbitration award, noting mistakes of law with regard to alimony and equitable distribution. Specifically, the Husband filed a motion in the trial court to modify the arbitration award regarding several issues, including alimony and equitable distribution issues.

What was the restricted stock award awarded to the husband up to and including the August 2014 award?

Following the conclusion of trial, the trial court found that the restricted stock units awarded to the Husband up to and including the August 2014 award were the result of efforts undertaken during the marriage and were subject to equitable distribution.

How many stock awards did the husband get in 2014?

By the time that the Husband filed a Complaint for Divorce in July 2014, he had been granted eight stock awards by his employer but only three of them had vested. The remainder of the awards were due to vest post-complaint on August 31, 2014 and for every August thereafter.

Can a statute be retroactive?

The Appellate Division made clear that a statute may have retroactive application in the following cases: (1) where there is an explicit or implicit legislative intent to do so; (2) where the statute is enacted for curative purposes; (3) where the parties manifest an intent for the statute to have retroactive effect.

What happens if my spouse refuses to turn over documents?

Spouses that refuse to produce documents can be held in contempt of court and punished with fines and even jail time in extreme cases.

What does a spouse's disciplinary file reveal?

Your spouse’s disciplinary file may reveal information helpful to your case. In some cases, subpoenaing an employer and its records may uncover an affair or illegal behavior.

What is hidden asset provision?

A hidden asset provision automatically grants a spouse a certain percentage of any assets that the other spouse hid during the divorce. Often, divorce agreements grant the defrauded spouse more than 50% of hidden assets to encourage spouses to disclose everything, rather than take the risk they’ll be discovered later.

What are employment related issues?

From work schedules and the ability to spend time with the children to income and retirement accounts, employment-related issues affect virtually every decision a court makes. While most spouses are forthcoming about their work, income, and retirement accounts, others may attempt to falsify or hide important financial information.

What to do if your spouse owns a business?

You have the option of hiring a forensic accountant to investigate whether there are additional assets your spouse is hiding.

How can an attorney flesh out a spouse's response?

Your attorney can also flesh out your spouse’s responses by taking your spouse’s deposition. If your spouse hides an asset that’s later discovered, the court could punish him or her, and your spouse may lose credibility in the rest of the case.

Is forensic analysis worth it?

A forensic analysis can be expensive, so it’s usually only worth doing when you have hard evidence that your spouse has been dishonest. Your attorney can help you make the decision on how far to go in your search for your spouse’s hidden assets. For more information, see How to Find Hidden Assets in Divorce.

Why are bank statements important?

Bank statements can also show spending habits. These s pending habits can be important as it relates to determining the expenses of parties in a divorce. These expenses can be important as it relates to spousal maintenance. It can also be important as it relates to child support when the expenses relate to the children.

How to contact Stange Law Firm?

If you are going through a divorce or family law matter, Stange Law Firm, PC can help. You can reach us at 1-855-805-0955.

What is the evidence needed for divorce?

One piece of evidence that can become important is bank statements. In some courts, the courts may order the parties to exchange bank statements voluntarily.

Can you exchange bank statements in divorce?

In some cases, the parties may agree to exchange bank statements by consent. And in other cases, the parties may issue requests for production upon each other to produce bank statements. In some cases, the parties in a divorce may have jointly titled all their bank statements. In other cases, the parties may have had separate bank accounts ...

Do bank statements show child support?

As it relates to spousal maintenance and child support, bank statements can show deposits into an account. In cases where the income of the parties is a disputed issue, this can be particularly relevant. This can be particularly true where there is commission-based income, tips, rental income, or income from secondary employment.

When Your Spouse Won't Provide Financial Information

  • If you're going through a divorce, one of the first things an attorney will tell you is to gather your financial information, including bank account statements, credit card statements, title documents, and mortgage documents. Some couples have shared records throughout the marriage, but most divorcing spouses will need to exchange at least some financial documents. This video and arti…
See more on aaronthomaslaw.com

An Overview of Requesting Financial Information During A Divorce

  • In some states, divorcing spouses must provide each other certain financial information at the beginning of the case, sometimes termed "mandatory discoveries" or "preliminary financial disclosures." If you live in one of these jurisdictions, you and your spouse will have to provide each other with a list of assets and debts, financial account information, credit card balances, and si…
See more on aaronthomaslaw.com

Using The Court to Force Your Spouse to Provide Financial Information

  • If your spouse refuses to produce financial information, whether it's under mandatory discovery or a specific request for documents or information, you can take the issue up with the court. Judges who preside over divorce cases know that spouses can't reach fair and informed divorce settlement agreements unless they have all the facts about their marital estates. Family law cou…
See more on aaronthomaslaw.com

Subpoenas and Depositions

  • You have other options to obtain financial information besides waiting on your spouse to turn it over. In a divorce, either spouse can directly send a subpoena to third parties with financial information relevant to the case. A “subpoena duces tecum” requires the third-party recipient to turn over documents. Attorneys routinely send these subpoenas to banks, credit card companie…
See more on aaronthomaslaw.com

When Your Spouse Won’T Provide Financial Information

  • If you're going through a divorce, one of the first things an attorney will tell you is to gather your financial information, including bank account statements, credit card statements, title documents, and mortgage documents. Some couples have shared records throughout the marriage, but most divorcing spouses will need to exchange at least some financial documents. …
See more on lawyers.com

An Overview of Requesting Financial Information During A Divorce

  • In some states, divorcing spouses must provide each other certain financial information at the beginning of the case, sometimes termed “mandatory discovery" or "preliminary financial disclosures." If you live in one of these jurisdictions, you and your spouse will have to provide each other with a list of assets and debts, financial account information, credit card balances, and si…
See more on lawyers.com

Using The Court to Force Your Spouse to Provide Financial Information

  • If your spouse refuses to produce financial information, whether it’s under mandatory discovery or a specific request for documents or information, you can take the issue up with the court. Judges who preside over divorce cases know that spouses can’t reach fair and informed divorce settlement agreements unless they have all the facts about their marital estates. Family law cou…
See more on lawyers.com

Subpoenas and Depositions

  • You have other options to obtain financial information besides waiting on your spouse to turn it over. In a divorce, either spouse can directly send a subpoena to third parties with financial information relevant to the case. A “subpoena duces tecum” requires the third-party recipient to turn over documents. Attorneys routinely send these subpoenas to banks, credit card companie…
See more on lawyers.com