In today’s digital age, where most financial information is maintained electronically, it is more important than ever to integrate advanced knowledge of computers and software in order to gain access to information and also to analyze this information in the most cost efficient manner. At Valuation Forensics, we offer this essential skill set to our clients allowing us to offer what we believe to be the highest level of service, investigative talent and efficiency in the valuation and forensic community.
We are sure that it comes as no surprise to you that people hide money in a divorce. It is quite common in divorce litigation for people to delete files or to attempt to hide and/or alter information. Failure to uncover this information could lead to an understatement of assets or income available for support purposes. Sound computer forensic techniques can often times discover this information and provide you with data that could change the course of your case.
Our computer specialists can provide our clients with valuable resources for use in your litigation designed to allow you to uncover, preserve and analyze digital data. The following is a partial list of services:
- Consulting regarding methodologies for obtaining digital data
- Professional imaging of computer hard drives
- Searching computers for deleted or moved files
- Identification of deleted or moved files
- Recovery of deleted or moved files. Many people are under the impression that deleted files are not recoverable when in fact there are many cases in which they still reside on a portion of a hard drive and can be recovered.
- Proper preservation of the chain of custody for digital data. This is an essential, but often overlooked, step in computer forensics relating to the admissibility of information obtained as evidence in court.
- Advanced searching of hard drives, backup drives and other computer hardware for files of a certain nature (such as files containing certain names, file extensions, and key words) in order to perform a targeted and efficient search for the information (hidden or unhidden) relevant to your case.
- The ability to segregate data discovery to comply with court orders. This procedure would include the ability to identify and report on certain data and to exclude other data if those parameters are established by the court or by agreement of the parties.
- Preparation of professional report communicating findings of investigation.
- Integration of computer forensics and software expertise with business valuation and forensic accounting investigations to create a higher level of discovery.
- Testimony in court or at depositions relating to procedures performed and investigation findings.
