Detecting and Documenting Financial Abuse

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. For confidential support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

What is Financial Abuse?

Financial abuse is a common but often overlooked form of domestic violence. It involves controlling a person's ability to acquire, use, and maintain financial resources. This tactic is used to create dependency and make it difficult for a survivor to leave an abusive relationship. Financial abuse occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases and is a primary reason many survivors feel trapped.

Common Signs of Financial Abuse

Financial abuse can be subtle at first and escalate over time. Here are some common signs:

• Controlling Your Spending: Your partner gives you an "allowance," requires you to account for every penny you spend, or puts you on a strict budget without your consent.
• Interfering with Your Employment: Your partner prevents you from going to work, sabotages your job opportunities, or demands that you quit your job.
• Restricting Access to Resources: Your partner withholds money, credit cards, or bank account information from you. They may also withhold basic necessities like food, clothing, or medication.
• Exploiting Your Financial Information: Your partner opens credit cards in your name without your permission, takes out loans in your name, or forges your signature on financial documents.
• Damaging Your Credit: Your partner intentionally ruins your credit score by not paying bills, running up debt on your credit cards, or filing for bankruptcy without your knowledge.

How to Document Financial Abuse

Documenting financial abuse is a critical step in preparing to leave, seeking legal protection, and rebuilding your financial future. If it is safe to do so, begin gathering evidence of the abuse.

What to Document

• Incidents of Abuse: Keep a detailed, dated journal of all incidents of financial abuse. Include what happened, when it happened, and who was present.
• Financial Statements: Collect bank statements, credit card statements, and any other financial documents that show the abuser's control over your finances.
• Pay Stubs and Tax Returns: Gather your pay stubs and copies of your tax returns. These can be important for legal proceedings.
• Emails and Text Messages: Save any emails or text messages that contain threats, demands for money, or other evidence of financial abuse.
• Photographs: Take pictures of any property that has been destroyed or any other physical evidence of abuse.

How to Document Safely

• Use a Safe Computer: Only use a computer that the abuser does not have access to, such as at a public library or a trusted friend's house.
• Create a Secret Email Account: Set up a new email address that the abuser does not know about. Use this to send and receive information about your situation.
• Store Documents Securely: Keep all physical documents in a safe place outside of your home, such as with a trusted friend, family member, or in a safe deposit box.
• Scan and Save Documents Online: Scan important documents and save them to a secure cloud storage account (like Google Drive or Dropbox) that is protected by a strong, unique password.

Using Your Documentation

Your documentation can be used in several ways:

• To Obtain a Protection Order: In many states, you can use evidence of financial abuse to obtain a protection order that may include provisions for temporary financial support.
• In Divorce or Custody Proceedings: Documentation of financial abuse can be crucial in divorce settlements and custody disputes.
• To Report Fraud: If the abuser has committed financial fraud, you can use your documentation to report it to the proper authorities.
• To Rebuild Your Finances: Your documentation can help you dispute fraudulent debts and begin the process of rebuilding your credit.

Remember

You have the right to live a life free from abuse, including financial abuse. Taking steps to document the abuse is a powerful way to reclaim your financial independence and build a safer future for yourself and your children.