fbpx
Hidden Asset Search: 5 Not-So-Obvious Sources

Investigative firms are often called upon to conduct an asset search in the context of litigation; whether a law firm is in pre-litigation mode and wants to see if a case is worth filing or to potentially gain leverage in the course of negotiations.  In most cases, attorneys don’t have the luxury of having the legal authority to access information about liquid assets such as bank accounts and investment accounts.

Legally conducting an asset investigation through open sources is one of an investigator’s most difficult tasks. Privacy laws prevent investigators from identifying the most obvious assets (i.e. bank accounts) and people are willing to take extreme measures to hide their financial interests and defraud creditors.

Below are 5 not-so-obvious areas that an asset search can identify records through open source records:

1Real Property

You may be thinking that real property is pretty obvious, considering that for most people it is the most significant asset held in their lifetime.  But identifying the ownership and true net worth (including outstanding loan obligations) of real property may not be so easy.  

Assets may not be held in the individual’s name –  they may be held by a close associate, family trust, family member or shell company.  Real property assets may also be held overseas.  One of the best ways to locate any hidden property assets is through investigator interviews with former colleagues, associates or neighbors.

2Corporate Filings

Identifying corporate affiliations through secretary of state filings and other research is an important step in identifying assets held by affiliated companies which may not be held by the subject directly.  Assets are often transferred into shell companies to hide them under a corporate umbrella.

3UCC Filings

UCC filings, which are filed with a designated state government agency, are financing agreements between a corporation and a financial institution and typically require an individual or corporation to post some type of collateral in order for the bank to accept the loan.  

A review of the UCC filings can identify collateral such as merchandise and equipment, and in certain instances individuals or corporations will use rare art collections, vintage cars or valuable jewelry as collateral.

4Civil Litigation

A review of court filings relating to civil litigation involving a corporation or individual may not be the most obvious place to identify potential assets.  However, in certain situations an individual or company may have been awarded a large financial settlement as part of the litigation.  

In other situations, parties may have had to supply financial statements or asset information as part of the litigation and that information will be preserved in the public record.  Litigation can also develop a web of professionals, such as attorneys or accountants, who the subject could have utilized to hide assets.

5Divorce Filings

Although divorce records are not available publicly in every jurisdiction ( e.g. New York), in many of the most populated states (e.g. Illinois, Connecticut, Florida and California), divorce cases are available to the public.  

Identification of assets is a typical part of the divorce proceedings and publicly-available documents may contain a wealth of information relating to bank accounts, employment information, investment income and other sources of income.

Enjoyed What You Read?

Join 2,000+ others to get insider tips and tricks delivered to your inbox from what has been voted the best blog in the investigative industry!

4 replies
  1. Carmen Lambeck
    Carmen Lambeck says:

    Researching assets research firms. Yours sounds promising.

    The executor of my sons’ father’s estate has hidden assets and gifted money to others to diminish the estate . I am doing background research for their attorneys to save some money. There is a legal battle ongoing to remove the executor and stop his diminishing the estate’s value.

    We know some banks to check but for the most part, in the dark.

    Would need a nationwide bank search, although the banks involved are in Texas and Louisiana.

    Just seeking information and pricing at this point.

    Thank you,
    CCL

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. […] Hidden Asset Search: 5 Not-So-Obvious Sources […]

  2. […] own and what other potential liabilities they may have.  Of course there may be a whole host of hidden assets, but here are a few key assets and potential liabilities that can be identified quickly, discreetly […]

  3. […] we interview Harbor Masters to find a boat or pour through property records, we are creative and know where to […]

Comments are closed.