Examples of Financial Abuse
- Takes, steals or hides money, property titles, possessions
- Makes partner ask for money, including money for groceries, transportation, and other household necessities
- Spends significant sums of family money without talking it over with partner or refuses to let partner participate in financial decisions
- Misuses credit or ruins partner’s (or couple’s) credit
- Interferes/causes problems with partner’s job, job training program, or other educational pursuits
- Makes partner account for and sometimes explain all money they spend (providing receipt, exact dollar amounts spent, etc.)
- Withholds – or forces partner to barter/trade for -- money for household expenses (including rent/mortgage payments, food, personal care items, baby/child care items, utilities, clothing, etc.)
- Forces partner to work or prevents their partner from working
- Takes out and uses a card in their partner’s name without permission (identity theft)
- Refuses to include partner’s name on lease/mortgage, bank account(s), credit card(s), car title, and other family assets
- Refuses to pay bills that are solely in their partner’s name
- Takes sole control of finances