Divorce changes people, and you shouldn't presume to know how your partner will react once the process starts. Don't assume that you are safe from the effects of your partner's financial habits just because they have been honest with you since the day you met. Here are three reasons even "good" people may dabble in financial fraud during divorce:

Bad advice

You wouldn't believe how much advice, both positive and negative, people get when they are going through a divorce. Some of the pieces of advice may be solicited, but the unsolicited ones will be numerous too. Unfortunately, some of the advice your partner may receive may involve tricks on how to reduce your share of the marital assets.

Your partner's colleagues, friends, boss, and even family members may advise your partner to open an overseas account, "loan" out cash (that they can later recover) or report lower revenues for their businesses. Amid all the hurt of getting divorced, you shouldn't be too surprised if your partner actually follows this advice.

Perceived Opportunity

According to some schools of thought, even "good" people are likely to commit a crime when they see an opportunity. In this context, an opportunity is perceived as the ability to commit fraud and get away with it. Your partner may hide assets or "forget" to report some of their earnings if they believe they will get away with it.

For example, your partner may theorize that since you are green in matters concerning art, they can keep the expensive paintings and you won't know anything about their value. This is especially true if you never bothered to know more about the painting while you were married.

Rationalization

The third factor that may cause you a financial headache is rationalization by your partner. As a "good" person, your partner may find it difficult to engage in fraud without some form of rationalization. Rationalization allows your partner to deal with their guilt and convince themselves that they are doing the right thing.

For example, your partner may justify their actions by reasoning that you're your pre-divorce behavior mean you deserve what's coming for you. This is especially likely if they are convinced you caused the collapse of the marriage. Another possible justification is that the money you will be getting will still be "enough" for your needs even if your partner hides some assets.

Therefore, don't rely on your spouse's good nature if you want a fair divorce settlement. Rather, consult a divorce lawyer and use their advice, even if you don't expect any tricks from your spouse; you can never be too careful during a divorce. An attorney like Cassanda T. Savoy, Attorney at Law can help you protect your assets throughout the process.