Hidden assets are one of the most contested issues in high-net-worth Tennessee divorces. A spouse who suspects their partner of concealing income, property, or financial accounts before or during divorce proceedings often needs more than a financial disclosure document — they need independent evidence.
What asset concealment looks like
Asset concealment can be sophisticated or surprisingly simple. Common patterns include underreporting business income on financial affidavits, transferring assets to family members or business partners temporarily, delaying receipt of commissions, bonuses, or contract payments until after the divorce, creating fictitious business debts, and purchasing physical assets like collectibles, equipment, or cryptocurrency that are easy to undervalue.
What a private investigator can document
While a forensic accountant is often the right professional for tracing financial records, a PI provides a complementary layer of investigation. We can document lifestyle evidence — vehicles, properties, trips, and expenditures — that contradicts a stated income level. We can identify business interests, property ownership, and public-record financial activity that contradicts financial disclosures. We can conduct surveillance to document assets not disclosed in proceedings.
What we cannot access
We do not access private financial accounts, tax returns, or banking records without proper legal authorization. If documentation of specific financial records is needed, that work is done through the legal discovery process, often supported by the evidence we've gathered to justify the request.
How to use our work alongside your attorney
The most effective asset investigations happen when the PI and the attorney are working in coordination. We provide the observable evidence; the attorney uses it to target discovery requests and deposition questions. If you are a family law attorney handling a high-asset divorce in Nashville, contact us to discuss how we can support your case strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I bring in a PI agency for hidden assets in a Tennessee divorce?
Earlier is usually better. Starting before or during early discovery lets your attorney use the findings to shape document requests and deposition questions while there is still time. Waiting until the end of discovery can limit what your attorney can do with new information. Talk with your attorney about timing, then Birds Eye can coordinate with them directly.
Can a PI agency find cryptocurrency a spouse is hiding?
A PI agency cannot access crypto wallets, exchange accounts or private devices. What it can do is document lifestyle signs, public statements, business activity and spending that suggest undisclosed holdings. Those findings help your attorney decide what to request through formal discovery or subpoenas, which is where exchange records and account details are lawfully obtained.
What public records can show assets in Tennessee?
Common sources include county property and deed records, business filings with the Tennessee Secretary of State, court records such as lawsuits, judgments and liens, and UCC filings that show secured loans. Licensed PIs also use professional databases and open-source research. Together these can reveal real estate, business interests or transfers to relatives that were not disclosed in the divorce.
What should I give a PI agency to start an asset search?
Share what you already know: full names and dates of birth, known addresses, business names, vehicles, relatives who may hold property, and any spending or travel that seems out of line with reported income. Copies of prior tax returns or financial statements your attorney has provided help too. Specific leads make the search faster and more focused.
