When a Spouse Lies About Income to Avoid Paying Alimony

 Posted on February 10, 2026 in Alimony / Maintenance

Alimony, also known as spousal support or spousal maintenance, is a tool used to help spouses get financial support after a divorce. If one partner was a stay-at-home parent, for example, a judge could order the other partner to pay that parent alimony for a period of time based on financial need. Details of that order – such as how much time, how many payments, and how much alimony – are based on several factors. These include the needs and incomes of both parents.

Sometimes, spouses try to lie about their income to avoid paying alimony or to minimize the amount of spousal support they must pay. This is illegal and rarely goes undiscovered. If you think your spouse is lying about his or her finances, tell your St. Charles, Illinois divorce lawyer right away. At Goostree Law Group, we have the tools and legal knowledge to investigate hidden assets, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

How Do I Know If My Spouse Is Lying About Finances?

It is not always easy to tell if someone is lying about finances during a divorce. Even when there appear to be discrepancies in a person’s story, there may be perfectly valid explanations. However, there are common signs that a spouse might be lying about his or her income or assets, such as:

• Living a luxurious lifestyle while claiming to have low income
• Having mail sent to a P.O. box instead of a residential address
• Taking trips to locations with attractive offshore banking laws, like Switzerland or the Cayman Islands
• Claiming that a business which was known to be successful is now failing
• Closing or opening bank accounts
• Making large or sudden purchases
• Hiding purchases
• An increase in cash transactions

Keep in mind that these actions are not necessarily proof that someone is lying about his or her income. A more detailed investigation can verify a claim of hidden assets.

What Is a Financial Affidavit?

A financial affidavit is a sworn document that each spouse fills out during an Illinois divorce. It lists income, expenses, debts, and assets. Each person must sign it under oath. That means the information is supposed to be true and complete.

Judges rely on financial affidavits to get a clear picture of each spouse's assets. The form shows how much each person earns from jobs, businesses, and investments. It also shows monthly costs, like rent, car payments, and groceries. This information helps the court make fair decisions about property, child support, and maintenance. If one spouse leaves out income or assets, the final order could be unfair to the other spouse.

A financial affidavit usually needs supporting documents. These can include pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements. Your attorney can compare these records to what your spouse wrote on the form. Gaps or mismatches can be a sign that something is being hidden. A spouse who lies on a financial affidavit can face penalties from the court, including payment of attorney fees.

What Can I Do If I Think My Spouse is Lying About Finances in 2026?

Your attorney has certain legal tools at his or her disposal to determine if a spouse is lying to the court. These include asking for certain financial documents during the discovery process, which is a stage during the trial when both sides have the opportunity to request documents from each other.

Another option your lawyer might have is to cross-examine your spouse in a deposition. What your spouse says in the deposition will be considered testimony under oath. Lying under oath is a crime known as perjury, and it can have serious consequences.

What Factors Do Judges Consider for Maintenance in 2026?

In Illinois, a judge first decides whether maintenance is appropriate by weighing a list of factors found in state law (750 ILCS 5/504). Many of these factors depend on honest financial information. The judge looks at what each spouse earns now and could earn in the future. The judge also considers each person's needs and the standard of living the couple shared during the marriage. Other factors include the length of the marriage and each spouse's age, health, job skills, and debts.

Hidden income can throw off nearly every one of these factors. Suppose that the paying spouse claims to earn far less than he or she really does. The judge might decide that spouse cannot afford to pay much support. The couple's past lifestyle might also seem out of reach, making the other spouse's needs look smaller than they are.

When maintenance is ordered, state guidelines often set the amount and length of payments based on each spouse's income. If those income numbers are false, the award is flawed from the start.

Can a Forensic Accountant Uncover Hidden Assets or Income in a Divorce?

A forensic accountant is a financial expert who can help find hidden assets or income in a divorce. These professionals are usually brought in during high-asset divorces with complex properties, but they are not exclusively for wealthy couples.

A forensic accountant may review tax returns, bank statements, credit card bills, and business records. He or she can trace where money came from and where it went. This can show if funds were moved to another account, given to a friend or relative, or spent in secret.

A forensic accountant can also write a report and testify in court. This evidence can help the judge see the full financial picture before making decisions about property and maintenance. Our family law attorneys regularly work with forensic accountants and other outside experts, and we can use their insights to support your request for alimony.

Contact a Kane County, IL Divorce Attorney

Be careful about making accusations if you are not absolutely sure your spouse is not telling the truth. The best thing to do if you suspect your soon-to-be ex is hiding assets is to consult a St. Charles, IL divorce lawyer.

At Goostree Law Group, we have over 80 years of combined experience, so we are very familiar with the various ways spouses try to conceal their income. Call 630-584-4800 for a consultation today.