A high-asset divorce may leave you uncertain whether you will retain the life you built or how much support you might owe. In New Jersey, a lifestyle audit by a certified public accountant (CPA) with forensic accounting experience helps answer both questions.
The role of marital lifestyle in alimony
When deciding alimony, New Jersey courts consider the standard of living you and your spouse established during the marriage, including what you spent on homes, travel and household help. That standard is one of several statutory factors the judge must evaluate. No fixed formula or percentage of income sets the amount.
The judge compares what each of you needs with your respective incomes, earning capacities and other financial resources. You both have an equal right to a lifestyle reasonably comparable to the one you had together. The award still depends on what the paying spouse can afford.
The forensic review of family spending
A forensic CPA typically examines three to five years of bank statements, credit card records and tax returns. This review helps show the lifestyle you and your spouse shared. The accountant groups expenses by type, such as housing or entertainment, and calculates an average monthly cost for each.
Credit card charges reveal luxury vacations and country club memberships, while canceled checks or payroll records document household staff wages. Loan and mortgage statements show the payments on expensive vehicles and additional homes. The accountant separates regular costs from unusual, one-time purchases to help the judge assess your spending pattern.
The use of audit findings by each spouse
If you are seeking support, the CPA’s report connects your request to documented monthly expenses instead of a rough estimate. Those records let the judge compare the budget you submit with what you spent during the marriage.
The higher-earning spouse may retain a second CPA to contest inflated entries or one-time costs, such as a major renovation. The review also tests whether that spouse’s current income and other resources can sustain the former lifestyle. The judge weighs these findings with the other statutory factors before ruling on alimony.
The value of accurate financial disclosure
In a contested New Jersey alimony case, you file a Case Information Statement. This court form lists your income, assets, debts and monthly expenses, both during the marriage and now. Because you certify that the form is true, it helps to base the figures on available records and clearly identify any estimated asset values.
A divorce attorney obtains your spouse’s records through formal requests. That lawyer also advises whether the amounts in dispute justify hiring a forensic CPA.
