How Private Investigators Uncover Hidden Assets in Divorce and Civil Disputes

When someone claims they’re broke—but you know better—it’s frustrating, especially in divorce, business breakups, or personal debt situations. Maybe your ex suddenly has no income. A contractor you’re suing says they own nothing. A former business partner moved money “off the books.”

If you're dealing with someone hiding their wealth, a private investigator can help uncover assets they don't want you—or the court—to find.

At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we work directly with individuals—not just attorneys—to locate hidden assets, expose financial deception, and document the evidence needed to support your civil claim. Whether you’re mid-divorce or considering a lawsuit, this guide will explain how real investigations bring hidden information to light.

 
The Problem With “I Don’t Have Anything”

In civil disputes, money matters. If you're going to sue someone—or split marital assets—you want to know what’s actually on the table. But many people:

• Underreport income
• Transfer assets to relatives
• “Sell” property to friends temporarily
• Use digital wallets, crypto, or shell LLCs
• Hide ownership behind straw buyers

These tactics are used to avoid alimony, child support, court-ordered judgments, or debt repayment. In divorce, it’s especially common for one party to suddenly “go broke” just before filing.

Google won’t reveal this. Neither will people search sites. But a licensed private investigator can find the trail—even if it’s buried beneath layers of deception.

 
When to Suspect Asset Hiding

Not sure if someone is hiding something? Here are red flags we often see in New York-based civil and divorce cases:

• Sudden financial hardship that doesn’t align with lifestyle
• Use of cash-heavy businesses or multiple bank accounts
• “Loans” or transfers to relatives with no repayment
• Unreported vehicles or real estate
• Inconsistent income on court paperwork
• Claims of job loss while still living comfortably
• Delayed or stopped payments during pending litigation

If this sounds familiar, you may be right to suspect asset concealment.

 
How a Private Investigator Locates Hidden Assets

Our asset investigations are comprehensive, legal, and confidential. While we don’t access bank account balances or credit reports without a court order, there’s still a lot we can uncover.

Here’s how we do it:

 
1. Public Record Searches and Property Scans
Many people forget how much real estate and property ownership is public record. We check:

• Deeds and title records
• Property transfers between family or shell companies
• Co-owned or jointly titled properties
• Multiple addresses linked to the subject
  • Even if a home is held under a spouse’s or friend’s name, we can find associations—like overlapping utility accounts, recent transfers, or known aliases.

 
2. Vehicle and Asset Tracking
In divorce and civil disputes, vehicles and toys (boats, RVs, luxury motorcycles) are often hidden. We help uncover:

• Unregistered or recently transferred vehicles
• Cars under LLCs or third-party names
• Leased assets paid through business expenses
• Evidence of hidden assets via online marketplaces (Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, etc.)

We also document lifestyle spending—a person claiming poverty shouldn’t be posting new jet ski photos or Instagram reels from luxury hotels.

 
3. Business Affiliations and LLC Research
Some people funnel income through a business they claim is inactive or “not really profitable.” We uncover:

• Business ownership and partnerships (even silent ones)
• LLCs and shell corporations tied to the person
• Employer payment structures or 1099 side jobs
• High-cash-flow industries (construction, landscaping, consulting, etc.)

We also look into DBAs and fictitious business names often used to keep payments under the radar.

 
4. Digital and Social Media Footprint (OSINT)
We conduct extensive OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) to scan:

Online purchases or sales
Public photos showing lifestyle contradictions
Travel, events, and luxury items
Business promotions not disclosed in court
Friends or associates linked to hidden resources
Social media is often where people slip up—and we’re trained to extract, document, and match posts to real-world behavior.

 
5. Witness Development and Lifestyle Checks
If needed, we can discreetly:

• Contact neighbors, associates, or co-workers (within legal boundaries)
• Conduct lifestyle surveillance to verify location and spending
• Monitor behavior to see if someone is working while claiming they’re not
• Confirm whether children are actually being supported as claimed

When appropriate, we can prepare witness statements or documented summaries that assist your legal team—or give you leverage during negotiation.

 
Real Case Example: Hidden Real Estate in a Long Island Divorce

A client in Nassau County believed her husband had hidden a rental property before filing for divorce. He claimed he had no assets besides their main home.

We discovered:

• A rental duplex titled to a newly created LLC
• Lease agreements using a friend as the front
• Utility and tax payments still traced to the husband
• Rent payments collected in cash via Venmo

With our report in hand, her attorney filed a motion to include the rental property in equitable distribution. Without the investigation, it would’ve stayed hidden.

 
What You Can Do With This Information

Once we complete the investigation, we provide a full written report, photos, documentation, and records that are legally sourced and usable in court.

You can then:

• Bring this to your divorce or civil attorney
• Use it to amend a financial disclosure
• File for discovery or legal remedies
• Leverage the information for a fair settlement
• Report intentional deception or fraud

We don’t give legal advice—but we give you what most attorneys wish they had from the start: hard evidence.

 
Can I Hire You Without a Lawyer?

Yes—many of our clients come to us before retaining an attorney. In fact, some use our findings to:

• Decide whether hiring a lawyer is even worth it
• Strengthen a demand letter or settlement negotiation
• Prepare for mediation or small claims court
• Get peace of mind without escalating things prematurely

You don’t need a legal case open to investigate assets. You just need a reason—and we handle the rest confidentially.

 
How Much Does It Cost?

Every case is different, but here’s a typical breakdown:

• Basic Asset Scan (public records & known affiliations): $199–$399
• Full Asset & Lifestyle Report (with OSINT & verification): Starting at $599
• Surveillance or additional scope: Quoted by case

We always provide a clear scope of work before we begin, and you’ll never pay for services you don’t need.

 
Serving New York City and Long Island

Easton Secure Solutions LLC is fully licensed in New York. We serve clients across:

• Manhattan
• Brooklyn
• Queens & Bronx
• Nassau & Suffolk Counties
• Staten Island
• New York State (by request)

Whether you’re planning for divorce, chasing a judgment, or just want to confirm the truth before it’s too late—we can help.

 
Let’s Uncover the Truth
If you suspect someone is hiding assets, don’t wait until it’s too late. Once property is sold or money is transferred, getting it back can be nearly impossible. We help you act early—and act smart.

📞 Call today: (516) 962-1267
📧 Email: [email protected]
➡️ Learn More About Our Services | Submit a Confidential Case Review

 
People can hide things. But they can’t hide forever. Let us help you find what matters.