You may need to find hidden bank accounts for any number of reasons, including divorce. While your spouse is supposed to provide all bank account information during the mandatory disclosure phase, that sometimes does not happen and you may need to find secret bank accounts. The banks cannot give you this information. You will need to find it on your own. There are places you can look to find bank account numbers or other references to bank accounts.
Check Current Accounts for Clues
Go through all of the mandatory disclosures and review all bank statements you currently have. Make a notation of the bank account numbers, routing numbers, name of the bank and date of the statements. If you are missing any monthly statements, request that those statements be provided. Review the statements carefully. Look for transfers to other bank accounts. When you find a transfer, check the stack of statements to be sure you have the statements from that bank account. If you do not have the statement for that particular bank account, make a notation of all the information you have, including the amount that was transferred into or out of the bank account.
Check Tax Return Routing Numbers
Check tax returns for automatic deposits to a bank account. Match the routing number and the bank account number to the statements you have on hand. Make a notation as to which statement it is, if you have that particular statement. If not, make a notation of the bank account number and routing number.
Computer Browsing History
Check the computer used for online banking for references to bank accounts in the browser history and cookies.
Look Up Other Accounts
Check business filings to see if there is a business registered in the person’s name. Chances are, if there is a business, there is a business account. Check any other financial documents produced for references to bank accounts. Check a listing of the contents of any safe deposit boxes for references to bank account statements. This information may also be subpoenaed.
Take It to Court
Serve the other party who you suspect has a hidden bank account a formal request for production of documents through an attorney, or on your own, if you choose not to use an attorney. This is a type of discovery you can conduct to ask for paperwork from the other side in a legal case. This may allow you to obtain the bank statements from the other party. If the other party does not produce the bank statements, you will have to get a court order for those statements.