Here are five signs that you might be in a financially controlling relationship, according to a Scottish Family Law firm.
The law firm has reported that 1 in 5 of their clients is experiencing some form of financial abuse and that it’s present in 99% of domestic abuse cases.
Financial control is a form of domestic abuse which is illegal and according to Johnson Legal Family Law, it’s often a “hidden crisis” that goes on behind closed doors.
The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 states that abusive behaviour can include making someone dependent on their partner, isolating them from friends and family or controlling their day-to-day activities.
Beverley Johnson, Head of Family Law and Director of Johnson Legal Family Law, said: “Financially controlling relationships are much more common than you think.
“A number of our clients don’t have access to their own bank accounts or don’t know how much their household bills are.
"I also recently met with a client who hasn’t been allowed the money for a haircut in years.”
What is financial control?
“Financial control is part of coercive control, and it can be used to prevent a victim from having access to funds or from being able to rehouse themselves and any children," Beverley continued.
“This abuse can leave them feeling isolated, lacking in confidence and trapped. This can have lasting effects where victims feel extreme guilt when spending money."
1. Unreasonable limits or allowances
The Family Law firm highlighted that if your partner demands to see all receipts or is monitoring your bank account, this is a clear example of financial control. “One of our clients was only given £5 a day from their own wages to cover travel to work and food.
“I worked with another client in her eighties whose husband would charge her the equivalent of a bus fare if he ever took her in his car whilst spending the majority of their income in the pub,” Beverley said.
2. Controlling or spending your money
Johnson Legal also flagged that a common example of financial control is when household bills are put in the victim’s name and assets are placed in the abuser’s name. Beverley added: “We’ve had cases where our client has been compelled to pay all of their salary into a joint account for household use, controlled by their partner, and their partner has kept their own income, in whole or in part, for themselves.
“If the abuser is also running up debts on their partner’s credit card, this will impact on their credit score and their ability to access alternative accommodation.”
3. Sabotaging your career
The law firm flagged that many abusers often try to affect the victim’s career which can be a subtle and underhand form of abuse. Beverley continued: “Financial abusers might insist their partner takes a career break to look after their children or to work in a job which is below their earning potential. If the relationship ends, the partner is left in a considerably worse career position.”
4. Limiting access to accounts
The Family Law team emphasised that another example of financial abuse is if you don’t have access to your own accounts and your partner is withholding the log in details.
Beverley said: “We’ve worked with many clients who don’t have access to their own bank accounts and they’re simply told that ‘money is tight’. It’s really important to speak to your bank in order to maintain access.”
5. A double standard on spending
Johnson Legal also highlighted that many abusers have a double standard when it comes to spending money on themselves.
“We’ve supported clients who were only allowed to shop in charity shops while their partner had golf club memberships,” Beverley said. “In strong relationships, you’re able to talk about money and ensure it’s fairly divided, particularly if one partner has taken a career break to look after children."
How to stop financial control
Beverley also urged people who think they might be experiencing financial control to contact a solicitor or the police to seek advice.
She continued: “A Family Lawyer can seek spousal maintenance called aliment from the court to ensure that you receive a set sum of money to cover essential expenditure if you can prove that you need this.
“Your solicitor can also help you with separating your finances, getting access to bank accounts and obtaining child maintenance. This applies whether you’re married or not.
“Seek professional advice and constructive measures will be put in place to protect you
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