When you file for divorce, your spouse probably moved out, or you did, so you’re not living together. It’s still going to take some time for the divorce to technically be finished, however, so this can get a bit messy.
What your spouse does at this time could still impact you. Generally, items that you buy on your own after you’re separated count as separate assets, but you probably still have a lot of marital assets that you have yet to divide.
But what if you think your spouse is intentionally wasting these assets? What signs should you look out for?
Watch their financial choices
You really want to keep an eye on your spouse’s monetary activities and their financial decisions during this time, if you’re able to do so. For instance, if you see pictures on social media showing that they’re on vacation with a new partner, it may raise some red flags. If it suddenly seems like they started buying all sorts of different items that they’ve talked about wanting but never felt they could afford, that could also be a red flag.
This may qualify as the dissipation of assets. This is when your spouse attempts to use marital funds in a way that cannot be refunded or replaced. A vacation is a great example because they can enjoy the trip but you can never get your share of that money back. There’s no physical asset to sell.
What they’re trying to do is spend as much as they can to keep you from getting it in the property division process. That’s why it’s so crucial for you to know about all of your legal options, as you still may have a right to some of those assets.