What to do next
Serve a formal request for what is required
Most provinces prescribe a financial statement plus supporting documents - returns, assessments, pay statements, bank and investment records, corporate financials. Start with the prescribed list rather than an informal ask; it establishes the record.
Document what is missing and why it matters
A general complaint that disclosure is inadequate achieves little. Identify the specific document, why it is required, and what it would show. Courts respond to precision.
Watch for the recognisable patterns
Income deferred until after settlement, expenses run through a corporation, transfers to family members, cash businesses under-reporting, and cryptocurrency holdings. Bank records over time usually reveal more than any single document.
Use the court's tools
Orders for production, questioning, adverse inferences and imputed income are all available, and costs consequences for non-disclosure can be substantial. Where assets may be moved, a preservation order may be available urgently.
Bring in a valuator or forensic accountant where warranted
For private companies, self-employment or complex holdings, the accounting evidence usually decides the outcome. Weigh the cost against the amount genuinely in dispute.
Frequently asked questions
What if they simply refuse to disclose?
Courts can order production, impute income, draw adverse inferences and award costs. Persistent non-disclosure tends to damage the non-disclosing party's position considerably.
Can an agreement be set aside for non-disclosure?
Yes - it is one of the most common grounds. That risk cuts both ways, which is why full disclosure protects the person providing it as much as the person receiving it.
They own a business - how is income determined?
Income for support purposes can differ from reported income. Corporate financials, retained earnings and personal expenses paid by the company are all examined, often with a valuator involved.
What lawyer handles this?
A family lawyer, with a forensic accountant or business valuator where a company or self-employment is involved.
This is general information, not legal advice. Laws vary by location and every situation is different — speak with a qualified lawyer about your specific circumstances.