Whitney St. John and James B. Fairchild’s acrimonious divorce began in 2011, and the couple has been fighting over how to divide their fabulous collection of art and antiques ever since. With no amicable resolution in sight, last week, a Suffolk County judge ordered the couple to liquidate their possessions and equally divide the proceeds.
How to Find Hidden Jewelry
PROBLEM:
Your debtor has a taste for fine jewelry and you suspect that she’s recently purchased and hidden some expensive pieces.
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SOLUTIONS:
If you have access to your debtor’s bank records, they are a great place to begin looking for evidence that your debtor
has some jewelry stashed away. You may not find something
Finding Hidden Antique Cars
PROBLEM:
Your debtor has loved the Aston Martin DB5 ever since James Bond drove it across the silver screen in 1964. He has wanted one for years, and you suspect that he finally took the plunge and bought one the minute you moved out of the house.
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SOLUTIONS:
As we have explained in previous
How We Find Hidden Fur: Stolen Stoles Discovered
PROBLEM:
You know that your debtor has a taste for the finer things in life, but, above all she adores furs. Occasionally, a new mink would suddenly appear on the first wintry day of the year. If you asked about it, she would shrug it off, explaining that she bought it years ago. You
Finding Collections of Rare Things
PROBLEM:
The debtor is a big collector, whether of coins, stamps, toys, or comic books. You ask about the collection but get no response, or else you are told it was “lost” or sold for much less than you were always told it was worth. You need answers about what happened to it.
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Anchors Away: Tracking Down a Hidden Boat
PROBLEM:
The debtor has chosen to hide his beloved boat to avoid having to relinquish it or sell it to pay off debts. Or he decides to liquidate some cash by purchasing a boat and storing it out of sight from his creditors.
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SOLUTION:
There is no nationwide vessel identification system for
Put a Cork In It: Hiding Wine
PROBLEM:
The debtor has a taste for the finer things in life, and we suspect that among his most valuable assets is an extensive (and expensive) collection of fine wine. But how much the collection is worth and where it’s located remain unknown.
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SOLUTION:
Every oenophile knows that proper storage is vital to preserve
Wedding China: Advance Notice Gives You an Edge
The Judge Judy lawsuit over some very expensive china and flatware has apparently settled. Former model Patric Jones had alleged that her ex-husband sold the expensive goods to Judge Judy Sheindlin of television fame for far less than the goods were worth.
This, despite the fact that the china was community property in California –
Something Old: Finding Antiques
PROBLEM:
In some cases, debtors have time to prepare for an asset search. For example, they might decide to decrease the amount of cash they have on hand by investing in antiques. The antiques remain hidden so as not to arouse suspicion. After the case is settled, the antiques are sold, most likely at a
Take Off: Finding Aircraft
PROBLEM:
Not only do you have to worry about offshore bank accounts, but sometimes debtors go visit their offshore accountants in planes you don’t know they own. Planes are expensive and good things to seize if you can track them down.
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SOLUTIONS:
U.S. planes have to be registered with the Federal