April/May 1998

Litigation Services

Don't Try Another Divorce Case Involving Separate Property Without This Book!

This May after almost two years in the making, I have finished my book on Asset Tracing. The book, "Accounting Guide to Asset Tracing", is an accounting guide to establish or refute the existence of separate property in a Colorado marital dissolution.

O.K., you're probably thinking, why would anyone take the time to write a book on Asset Tracing? As it turns out, I have been fascinated by the concept of asset tracing for many years. It all started, years ago, when an opposing attorney told me that it would be impossible for me to prepare a comprehensive and detailed tracing of separate property over a ten year marriage. Well, that attorney did not know it at the time, but his statement was like waving a red cape in front of a highly competitive and compulsive bull. To me, his challenge was no different than leaving my house in Aspen at 5:00 a.m., mountain biking to Crested Butte for lunch, and returning to Aspen fifteen hours later the same day. It's not for everyone, but it can be done.

What I discovered years ago in accepting my attorney friend's asset tracing challenge, was a lack of guidance for accountants and attorneys in how to conduct an asset tracing accounting. What I have learned about asset tracing in the intervening years is a direct result of working with many fine attorneys and, to use another mountain biking analogy, the indirect result of a lot of "bushwhacking" along the way. I sincerely hope that the contents of this book will mark the trail and give practical and theoretical guidance to attorneys and expert accounting witnesses who are called upon to produce an asset tracing accounting.

The Book

The book is a complete "how to" guide, laying out asset tracing theory with applicable statutes and case law and includes extensive detailed asset tracing case studies. Topics include commingling, transmutation, fungibility, entity vs. aggregate issues, asset tracing standards, how CPAs and Attorneys can successfully work together, strategic planning, discovery, expert witness professional standards, and report writing standards. The book includes an eight hour optional (additional processing fee) self-study continuing education course for CPAs and Attorneys)

The Seminar

"What Attorneys Need to Know About Asset Tracing"

Date: September 25, 1998

Location: The Inn at Aspen

Time: Registration 8:00 a.m.,

Seminar 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,

Lunch Provided

Cost: $195 (Includes Accounting Guide to Asset Tracing Book)

CLE Credits Applied For

Designed for: Attorneys who are called upon to produce an asset tracing to establish or refute the existence of separate property in a Colorado marital dissolution.

Objective: To learn how to properly prepare an asset tracing in accordance with Colorado Statutes and case law using generally accepted accounting methodologies and techniques.