The short answer
If you think your spouse is hiding bank accounts, pensions or other assets in a divorce in England and Wales, the main legal route is full financial disclosure, usually on Form E, which your solicitor can test and, if necessary, ask the court to enforce. A private investigator such as Private Detectives Corporation (PDC) can add lawful, independent information about property, company interests and lifestyle that your solicitor can use to ask targeted questions.
PDC is a London-based private investigation firm, established in 2003, working across the UK for private clients and their solicitors. We work alongside your legal adviser: the investigation provides information, while disclosure applications, negotiation and any court orders remain matters for your solicitor.
What the disclosure rules already require
In financial remedy proceedings each spouse must give full and frank disclosure of their finances, usually on Form E. That covers bank and savings accounts, property, pensions, business interests, debts and income. Your solicitor can raise written questions, ask for documents and, where disclosure is incomplete, ask the court to order more.
Concealment often shows up as a gap between what has been declared and what the wider record suggests: a property not listed, a company interest left out, or spending that the declared income cannot support. Independent enquiries are most useful when they are aimed at those gaps.
What PDC can lawfully check
- Land Registry title records for property linked to the right person or company.
- Companies House directorships, shareholdings, filings and changes made around the time of separation.
- Business connections, trading names and associated companies.
- Open-source information about lifestyle, assets and activity that may not match the declared means.
- Where proportionate and lawful, observation of specific activity, recorded with dates and times.
- International connections, flagged at the outset because records and lawful options differ by country.
Each finding is reported with its source and the date it was checked, and we separate a confirmed record from a possible connection so that your solicitor can judge what to put to the other side.
What no investigator should do
Private bank balances, pension values and account statements are not public records. Obtaining them without consent or a lawful basis is a criminal offence under section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018, and PDC does not do it. Those details come through disclosure.
Do not take, copy or log in to your spouse’s private documents, emails or accounts without permission before speaking to your solicitor. It can be unlawful and can harm your position.
Pensions and high-value matters
Pensions are often among the largest assets in a divorce, and their values are disclosed through the financial disclosure process. An investigation can identify employment history, directorships and businesses that suggest pension or other arrangements your solicitor may want to ask about. The government’s Pension Tracing Service helps people find their own pensions; it does not give information about someone else’s.
Where companies, trusts or overseas holdings are involved, we agree a staged scope with you and your solicitor. Complete offshore holdings are not routinely visible, and we explain the limits before work starts. See also our support for high-net-worth individuals and family offices.
What to prepare
- Your spouse’s full name, date of birth if known, and current and previous addresses.
- Known companies, properties, employers and countries involved.
- The disclosure provided so far, or your solicitor’s summary of the gaps.
- Key dates, including separation and any deadlines in the proceedings.
- Your solicitor’s contact details if they will direct the work.
Fees are quoted and agreed in writing before work starts. A first stage with a defined budget and review point is often the sensible way to begin.
Questions you may have
How can I find out if my ex is hiding bank accounts or pensions in our divorce?
In England and Wales both spouses must give full and frank financial disclosure, usually on Form E, covering bank accounts, property, pensions and business interests. Your solicitor can raise questions and ask the court to order further disclosure. A private investigator can add lawful, independent information, such as property and company interests or spending that does not fit the disclosure, to support those questions.
Can a private investigator get my spouse’s bank statements?
No. Obtaining someone’s bank, pension or telephone records without their consent or a lawful basis is a criminal offence under section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018, and PDC does not do it. Account details and balances are normally obtained through the disclosure process, which your solicitor manages.
What can a private investigator lawfully check in a divorce?
Public and lawfully available sources: Land Registry title records, Companies House directorships, shareholdings and filings, business connections and open-source information. Where it is proportionate and lawful, observation can show lifestyle or business activity that does not match the means a spouse has declared. Each finding is reported with its source and date.
Can I look through my spouse’s emails or papers myself?
Speak to your solicitor before you do. Taking, copying or accessing a spouse’s private documents, emails or accounts without permission can be unlawful and can damage your case. Your solicitor can advise on the proper route to the information through disclosure.
How much does asset tracing in a divorce cost?
It depends on the questions to be answered, the number of people, companies and countries involved, and the reporting your solicitor needs. PDC quotes fees in writing before work starts and can stage the enquiry, with a first stage that has a defined budget and review point.