Hiding Income

How Spouses Defer Pay until after Divorce

There are certain things that you should be aware of^[1] when it comes to your spouse's income if they are the major breadwinner in the relationship. Do they work for a set wage or salary and have they consistently brought home a paycheck for about the same amount week after week? Do they receive commissions and bonuses on a regular basis? Do they work for a small company where everyone is family, even the boss?

Sometimes a boss who values their employee is willing to stretch legalities as far as their paycheck is concerned, maybe by diverting some of the pay into a savings account that is not reflected in their paycheck. This is a divorce tactic more prevalent in small businesses. Your spouse may be bringing home less money as the divorce is looming closer and have perfectly good reasons that are hard to refute.

The business is in a slump which is affecting commissions, and with the business being slow, the bonuses are not forthcoming. Hours are being cut so your paycheck is smaller. If you are actively starting divorce procedures, be on the lookout for a sudden drop in income on your spouse's behalf. When it comes time to file for the divorce, your spouse is going to bring in recent pay stubs that show the new decrease in income, and since part of his or her income had previously been based on bonus and commissions, the amount is not questioned.

Alimony and child support payments were based on the reduced amount of money reflected in the pay stubs. The only thing left to do, if you think something funny is going on, watches for the spouse to have a change in lifestyle after the settlement is final. Are they driving a new car, or did they move into an expensive new home or buying top name brand clothes? Be skeptical of a sudden drop in income and talk to an attorney.