How Can I Account for All of My Assets in a Divorce?

 Posted on October 11, 2025 in Property Division

For many couples going through a divorce, property division may be the most prominent issue. Accounting for all of the assets in a large marital estate is important, and rushing through the process could result in tens of thousands of dollars lost. With the help of a Plainfield, IL divorce lawyer, you can get a detailed assessment of your marital estate to protect your property rights.

At the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., our attentive legal team will work to uncover your marital property so that you can negotiate from a position of strength. You can trust our knowledgeable lawyers to handle your property concerns with diligence and care, as we provide personalized service for every case.

Uncovering Marital Property Through Deposition

If you want to make sure that nothing in your marital estate has been overlooked, you could use a discovery tool known as a deposition. This is essentially a formal meeting between you and your spouse, along with your respective attorneys, to clear up any questions about your divorce.

In this formal session, you and your spouse can question each other under oath, with a court reporter present. This ensures the integrity of the process, discouraging either party from making inaccurate or false statements. During deposition, your attorney can ask questions about your spouse’s finances, potentially giving you a clearer idea of his or her assets and liabilities.

Interrogatories in Illinois Divorces

A deposition is only one tool at your disposal during your divorce. If you have questions that you want answered in writing for the purposes of property division, you could consider exchanging interrogatories.

Interrogatories are written questions that must be answered truthfully by the other spouse. You can either use the standard interrogatories set forth by the Illinois Supreme Court, or ask other questions for more specific inquiries about your shared property. However, keep in mind that you cannot serve your spouse more than 30 interrogatories without good cause. Our firm can also put forward a Notice to Produce on your behalf, which requests your spouse to provide certain documents or other tangible property.

Other Methods of Identifying Complex Assets in a Divorce

Sometimes, outside experts are needed to get a clear idea of the value of the marital estate. Forensic accountants, business valuators, and other professionals can be brought in to help clarify financial matters or identify hidden assets.

A forensic accountant may be especially helpful if you suspect that your spouse is engaging in dissipation, which refers to the practice of misusing marital assets during the collapse of the marriage (750 ILCS 5/503). If intentionally concealed assets are discovered, our attorneys can build a case for a dissipation claim and help you pursue an appropriate remedy in court.

Contact a Will County, IL Family Law Attorney

Getting a clear picture of your marital estate is critical for protecting your property rights in a divorce. At the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., we will take measures to help protect your finances in a divorce, negotiating for an ideal outcome on your behalf. To schedule a free consultation with our Plainfield, IL divorce lawyers, call our offices at 815-666-1285 today.