Case Studies

Anonymised examples from our practice. All identifying details have been changed or removed to protect confidentiality.

The following case studies are drawn from Matrimonial Forensic Accountant's practice. All identifying details have been changed or removed to protect client and party confidentiality. They are illustrative of the types of matters we handle and the approach we bring to each engagement.

Financial Remedy: Business Valuation and Hidden Income in Divorce Proceedings

Background

High-value financial remedy proceedings involving a spouse who owned several businesses in the hospitality sector. The other party suspected significant undisclosed income.

Instruction

FPR Part 25 single joint expert appointment to value the businesses and assess the income available for maintenance purposes.

Approach

Reviewed four years of business accounts, management information, and bank statements; conducted lifestyle analysis benchmarking declared income against identified expenditure; identified multiple add-backs and adjusted the income figure.

Outcome

The adjusted income figure was substantially higher than the declared position. The valuation and income analysis formed the basis for the consent order reached at the FDR hearing.

Matrimonial Business Valuation: Personal Goodwill in a Professional Practice

Background

Financial remedy proceedings concerning a partner in a medical practice. The parties disputed the matrimonial value of the practice and the extent of personal goodwill.

Instruction

Party-appointed expert to value the practice and address the personal versus transferable goodwill issue for the court.

Approach

Analysed practice accounts, partner drawings, and comparable transactions; applied maintainable earnings methodology with a clear split between personal and transferable goodwill; assessed liquidity for any lump sum order.

Outcome

The report's goodwill analysis was accepted by both parties' counsel. The matter settled before final hearing with a consent order reflecting the expert's matrimonial valuation range.

Hidden Assets: Lifestyle Analysis and Undisclosed Bank Accounts

Background

Financial remedy proceedings where the respondent declared modest income but maintained a lifestyle inconsistent with disclosed resources.

Instruction

Instructed via solicitors under legal professional privilege to investigate financial records and identify undisclosed assets and income.

Approach

Conducted lifestyle analysis against declared income; traced bank and credit card transactions; identified offshore account activity and undeclared rental income from a property not disclosed on Form E.

Outcome

The investigation supported an application for further disclosure. Following specific issue directions, the respondent's revised disclosure led to a revised open offer and settlement at FDR.

Schedule 1: Income Analysis for High Earner with Complex Remuneration

Background

Schedule 1 proceedings where the paying parent was a senior executive with equity incentives, deferred bonuses, and trust distributions.

Instruction

Expert report on the paying parent's maintainable income and capital resources for housing and maintenance claims.

Approach

Reconstructed maintainable income from employment contracts, bonus history, and trust distributions; analysed the liquidity of equity holdings; addressed the treatment of deferred remuneration in periodical payments calculations.

Outcome

The court accepted the expert's income analysis for the purposes of the interim maintenance order. The final Schedule 1 order reflected the capital and income conclusions in the report.

Discuss your instruction

Contact Matrimonial Forensic Accountant to discuss expert witness or forensic accounting support in England and Wales family proceedings. We respond within one business day.