Divorce Deception: How to Spot and Defeat Unethical Tactics

By: Jarbath Pena Law Group

Divorce is never easy. Right now, you may feel drained, overwhelmed, and unsure of who to trust. You worked hard to build your life, your home, and your family, and now it feels like everything is unraveling. To make things even harder, some spouses resort to underhanded, sneaky tactics to get more than their fair share or to punish or get revenge on the other partner.

If you’re facing this, we know that it can seem daunting. How do you fight a person who cheats? But rest assured that you are not powerless. With the right guidance and a strong legal advocate by your side, you can recognize these tactics, protect yourself, and walk away with dignity and fairness intact. The Jarbath Peña Law Firm’s lead divorce attorney, Fritznie Jarbath, has seen these tricks before and knows how to fight them successfully. And she will do the same for you, helping you to emerge from this process stronger than ever.

In this three-part series, we’ll walk through some of the most common sneaky divorce tactics, discussing how to spot them and what you can do to fight back when your family’s future is on the line.

Hiding Assets

How to Spot It

One of the most common unethical tactics is hiding assets. Your spouse may suddenly “forget” about certain bank accounts, underreport income, or transfer funds to friends or relatives to make it look like they have less than they actually do. If you notice unusual withdrawals, missing paperwork, or a sudden change in your spouse’s financial behavior, those are red flags. Some spouses even go so far as to delay bonuses, commissions, or promotions until after the divorce is finalized, hoping to keep more for themselves.

You might notice things that just don’t make sense based on what you know about your spouse’s finances. You could see unusual withdrawals from accounts, missing or clearly inaccurate financial statements, or a sudden change in your spouse’s spending habits. Your spouse could suddenly claim a financial hardship that never existed before, or they might become uncharacteristically defensive when you ask questions. These and similar actions can be red flags. When you see a red flag during your divorce, do not convince yourself that it is not important. Instead, use your lawyer to conduct further investigations.

Example Scenario

Imagine your spouse owns a small business. Suddenly, business seems slower than it’s been in a very long time, and income appears much lower than it’s ever been on previous tax returns. But at the same time, they’re taking expensive trips or buying luxury items. Your spouse may be attempting to manipulate financial records to reduce their reported income during divorce.

How to Counter It

Don’t rely on trust alone—rely on documentation. Your attorney can use discovery tools to request more specific financial records and subpoena bank statements, as well as hire forensic accountants to track down hidden money. Florida law requires full disclosure of assets from both spouses so the court can equitably divide marital property. Hiding resources is unethical. In short, it is cheating.

The good news is that with help, such cheating can be uncovered and remedied. First, the judge can impose penalties for lying to the court. What’s more, if your spouse attempts to hide assets and gets caught, this will usually cause the judge to take a more skeptical view of their character. In the end, such actions will hurt their case. By staying vigilant and partnering with a skilled lawyer, you can bring hidden assets to light and ensure a fair property division.

Dragging Out the Process

How to Spot It

Some spouses deliberately drag out the divorce, hoping to wear you down emotionally or financially. They may miss court dates, fail to provide required documents, or constantly request continuances.

Example Scenario

Imagine waiting months for your spouse to hand over financial records, only for them to miss yet another deadline. Each delay costs you money in legal fees and prolongs the stress. Their likely goal is to push you into accepting an unfair settlement just to move on.

How to Counter It

Your lawyer can file motions to compel your spouse to produce documents, or they can request sanctions. Judges do not look kindly on parties who play games with the court’s time. By staying patient and letting your lawyer push the case forward, you avoid falling into your spouse’s trap.

Rushing the Process

How to Spot It

While some spouses drag out the divorce to exhaust you, others try to rush it. Their goal is to pressure you into signing agreements quickly before you have time to think, consult a lawyer, or realize the terms are unfair. They may say things like:

• Let’s just get this over with for the kids.

• Why waste money on lawyers when we can do this ourselves quickly?

• You don’t need to read all the fine print; it’s just standard paperwork.

  
  

The urgency can be a red flag. Divorce is a major legal process, and you should never be forced to make life-altering decisions under pressure.

Example Scenario

Imagine your spouse puts a proposed settlement before you and insists you sign it that day, claiming “it’s the fastest way to move on.” The agreement gives them the house and most retirement funds while limiting your time with your child. In your exhausted state, you may feel tempted to sign just to end the stress. But giving in to such an unfair agreement could hurt you for years.

How to Counter It

Slow down. Insist on having every agreement reviewed by your attorney. There is too much at stake, and a fair divorce settlement takes time to negotiate and should never be rushed. If your spouse pressures you, see it as a signal that the terms likely favor them—not you. Judges recognize the importance of fair negotiations, and rushing can backfire on the spouse pushing too hard.

At the Jarbath Peña Law Group, we know how overwhelming divorce can feel, especially when your spouse is playing games with your future. Lead divorce attorney Fritznie Jarbath has more than a decade of experience handling both straightforward and highly-contested divorces. She has seen every trick in the book and knows how to push back against them. Don’t let manipulation cost you your financial stability or peace of mind.

Call us today at (305) 615-1005 or contact us online to schedule your consultation. Let us help you move from this stressful chapter to the new beginning you deserve.