Is Your Lawyer Spouse Hiding Money? What Colorado Spouses Must Know
By Matthew C. Clawson, JD, MBA | Colorado High Asset Divorce Attorney
Divorcing a lawyer in Colorado can be uniquely challenging. Attorneys understand litigation strategy, financial documents, evidence rules, and how to manipulate procedures to their advantage. When the spouse in control of the finances is also legally trained, it can create a significant power imbalance. Many Colorado spouses feel intimidated, controlled, or confused when a lawyer spouse insists on handling the money, restricting financial access, or using legal knowledge to pressure outcomes.
If you are married to an attorney and preparing for divorce, you need to understand the financial warning signs that suggest hidden assets, manipulation, or misconduct. You also need to know your rights.
Financial Red Flags When Your Lawyer Spouse Handles the Money
When divorcing a lawyer spouse, these signs may indicate concealment, manipulation, or financial misconduct:
Your spouse refuses to share financial information
Attorneys often know how to stall or avoid disclosing tax returns, bank statements, law firm financials, or retirement data. In Colorado, that is not allowed. Financial transparency is mandatory.
You are discouraged from hiring your own lawyer
Any spouse who tries to limit your access to legal representation is protecting their own interests, not yours.
Your spouse insists you “don’t need” certain documents
Lawyers who control information may claim that documents are irrelevant. In a divorce, documents are everything.
Do not take their word for it.
You are pressured to sign something quickly
Your spouse may draft an agreement themselves and say it is “standard” or “fair.” It rarely is.
Large cash withdrawals or unexplained transfers appear
Some lawyers try to move marital money into client trust accounts or law firm operating accounts, believing it will be harder to track.
Sudden changes in income reporting
A lawyer with a private practice can manipulate how income appears by adjusting distributions, delaying receivables, or shifting expenses.
You are removed from bank accounts or denied access
Financial control is one of the most common forms of marital manipulation.
If any of these things are happening, it is time to seek independent legal advice immediately.
How Lawyers Hide Money in a Divorce (and How We Find It)
Because attorneys understand financial transparency rules, some use that knowledge to conceal assets. Common tactics include:
Underreporting income from a private practice
Adjusting when income is received, reclassifying distributions as business expenses, or moving cash into trust accounts.
Shifting money into business accounts
Many lawyer spouses believe business accounts will not be examined. They are wrong. They are subject to the same rules of discovery.
Paying “fake” business expenses
Running personal expenses through a law firm to reduce apparent income.
Delaying bonuses or settlements
Postponing major payments until after the divorce is finalized.
Misrepresenting debts or liabilities
Claiming the firm owes money that it does not owe to reduce the value of the business.
A skilled Colorado divorce attorney can subpoena financial institutions, request law firm ledgers, depose the spouse, and require a forensic accountant to uncover irregularities.
Your Rights Under Colorado Law
Colorado is an equitable distribution state. That means marital property must be divided fairly. Your lawyer spouse does not get to decide what is “fair.” Neither does their legal expertise give them special rights.
You have the right to:
- Full and complete financial disclosure
- Independent legal representation
- Copies of tax returns, bank records, retirement statements, and business documents
- A valuation of any law practice or business interest
- A forensic accounting if financial misconduct is suspected
- A temporary orders hearing if your spouse controls finances
Your lawyer spouse cannot legally intimidate, threaten, or manipulate you using their legal knowledge.
FAQ for Colorado Spouses Divorcing Lawyer Spouses
Can my lawyer spouse hide assets because they know the legal system?
They may try, but Colorado law requires mandatory disclosure. Courts take misconduct especially seriously when committed by an attorney.
Can I get access to business records from their law firm?
Yes. Business financials, trust account records, ledgers, and profit and loss statements are discoverable.
What happens if my lawyer spouse threatens me with legal consequences?
This is improper and can be used against them in court. You should document all communications and speak with your own attorney immediately.
Can a law firm be valued in a divorce?
Yes. A lawyer’s business interest can be valued like any other professional practice, except for personal goodwill, which cannot be divided.
Should I hire a high asset divorce attorney?
Yes. Divorcing a lawyer requires strategy, financial skill, and the ability to stand up to a spouse with legal training.
Why Choose Matthew C. Clawson
Matthew C. Clawson, JD, MBA, is one of Colorado’s leading high-asset divorce attorneys with extensive experience litigating cases involving attorneys, CPAs, physicians, business owners, and financial professionals. He understands the ways financially sophisticated spouses attempt to gain unfair advantage, and he knows how to uncover hidden assets, secure court protections, and restore financial balance.
He ensures his clients are fully informed, fully protected, and fully empowered.
We can be reached at www.clawsonattorney.com, and Matthew can be contacted directly at Matthew@clawson.law. For more information about our top-rated legal services, fill out our online form or call 719-471-7050 or 303-805-9353 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Legal Disclaimer-This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content or contacting the author does not create an attorney-client relationship. Legal outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case, and Colorado laws may change over time. You should consult an attorney for guidance tailored to your circumstances. No guarantee is made regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided.