I looks like I have found the right thread this time. I accidently posted on Maybell's So...purpose of forensic accountant?:)
Hi Why! The role of a forensic accountant is identification and valuation of assets. It's certainly not necessary in all cases, but they can be useful where one of the partners owns non-marital assets, where the pay structure is unusual (large bonuses, commissions, etc.), to value a business owned by one of both of the spouses, where there are collections (e.g., art), where one spouse has little knowledge of the finances. A financial expert can also assist in structuring the settlement to achieve future goals, education of the children, for example.
In a traditional divorce, each side may have its own financial expert, who then battle it out. In my case, we have one financial expert and we both accept his opinion. He works for both of us, not either of us.
Bottom line is, if you are young, your assets are not complicated, and you both agree on the split, a forensic accountant is probably not necessary.
