Divorce accountants

Various financial records and assets can be uncovered by our forensic accounting team. These might include family bank accounts, business interests, property, pensions and other assets, including cryptocurrencies. Forensic divorce accountants seek to uncover any discrepancies over financial assets and provide a clear picture of a family’s income and assets, to ensure a fair settlement.

Forensic accountants are often instructed in divorce proceedings where one party has more financial control than the other. For example, one spouse might have been in charge of the family’s finances, dealing with income, outgoings and all other financial assets. In cases like this, it’s important to gain transparency to be able to settle a divorce in the fairest possible way.

Read more on hidden assets in a divorce.

A forensic divorce accountant uses skills such as auditing, investigating and financial management to provide a clear report of a family’s assets. This could involve analysing bank accounts, reports, transactions, spending habits, tax records and tracing any hidden assets. The financial investigation involved in such cases is thorough and often complex.

Due to the complexities of such investigations, it’s advisable to seek support from a divorce financial settlement solicitor as early as possible to ensure the best possible outcome from the divorce.

Cohabiting is becoming increasingly common, with the amount of cohabiting couples having risen significantly since 2011, especially across younger age groups. But cohabiting couples do not have the same legal rights as those who are married; for example, the right to inherit a partner’s assets, pension or property.

There is no law that provides guidance on financial matters should a couple in this situation separate, so forensic divorce accountants would not be called upon by a cohabiting partner.

Read more on cohabitation rights after separation.

If a marriage ends in hostile or disharmonious circumstances, then one spouse could try to prevent the other party from gaining access to certain assets. This can be the case especially in high-net-worth divorce situations. A spouse might try to sell off assets, hide particular finances or spend a large proportion of funds to reduce what their ex-partner might be entitled to.

In these situations, a forensic accountant can work to uncover any hidden assets or unusual expenditure. In some circumstances, a freezing order might be granted by the Court to protect any relevant assets and ensure that they can’t be sold or given away. Our UK family lawyers can help you to plan your next steps.

Because the investigative work carried out by our forensic divorce accounting team varies depending on each unique situation, there is no one set cost. Our forensic accountants will discuss your options and circumstances with you and provide an estimate of likely costs during your divorce, depending on the work involved to ensure transparency.

Our family law teams are highly regarded by Legal 500 and Chambers for handling high-value and financially complex matters with confidence and precision.

In 2026, our regional rankings include:

Yorkshire: Band 2 chambers & Tier 2 Legal 500: Beverley, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Ilkley, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Wetherby, York

East Midlands: Band 2 chambers: Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham, Peterborough, Stamford

West Midlands: Tier 2 Legal 500: Birmingham, Leamington Spa, Lichfield, Solihull

North East: Band 2 chambers: Durham, Newcastle, North Shields, Sunderland

South East: Tier 2 Legal 500: Berkhamsted, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, St Albans

Wales: Tier 2 Legal 500: Cardiff, Swansea