“I think my husband is spending a lot and not telling me. Is this cause for concern?”

Short answer: Yes.

I want to talk to you, here, about what’s called “community waste.” This is an important concept, so pay attention.

First I’ll give you the technical definition. Then I’ll translate it into simple English.

Technical definition: Community waste is the intentional use of community-property assets in a way that does not benefit the community, going further than reckless or careless spending, and is done without the knowledge of the other spouse.

Simple English: This is when your husband willfully squanders what is both of yours (the “community property” which would get divided in divorce), and does so on the sly.

Community waste is a no-no. Just ask your attorney.

It’s also complicated. You need to prove “intent,” which is hard. But if it’s really there, then it’s prove-able.

There are typically two different community-waste scenarios, depending on the motive:

1) There is “spite” community waste. This is where the husband—typically out of anger, resentment, or revenge—will intentionally (and secretly) reduce the community property, even if it hurts him, too, just to “get even” with his wife.

2) There’s the secret spending of community property on a mistress. Things like trips, apartments, jewelry, stuff like that.

Of the two, the “mistress” scenario is usually easier to prove… although you may need to bring in the services of a private investigator to help. (That’s because the husband may say, “I took that trip by myself,” unless someone else snapped photos which dispute that claim.)

And the “secrecy” aspect is key, as well. If, for example, you know your husband has a gambling problem, and he gambles away a ton of your community property, that’s not technically “community waste,” because you knew about this condition all along.

What should you do?

As I said, it’s hard to hide big expenditures, especially from me. I’m a CPA, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst^® professional. (I’m also divorced, so I know what you’re going through.)

I can perform a forensic appraisal and find the “hidden” expenditures, handing your attorney all the ammunition they need to build a case. Even if there’s cash involved, which is seemingly easier to hide, well, I can still track it down.

So if your Spidey Sense is tingling, and you suspect your spouse is engaged in community waste, you need to 1) get an attorney, ASAP, and 2) talk to me, ASAP.

Because here’s how we can help you protect yourself. We can help you file for the separation immediately; this locks a date, legally, at which you’re calling out this possible behavior. Once the other party has been served with legal separation (or divorce), the “community” is terminated. In other words, if your husband decides to keep on spending after that point, what he spends will be taken out of his half of the total community property.

If you suspect community waste, it’s better to head it off now, than try and get it back later.

Contact me today and let’s talk.

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