What do you think of when you hear the words “domestic abuse?” Most people think of one spouse or partner cowering in a corner while the other partner rains blows down on them.
While that might be the stereotypical view of domestic abuse, if you are in a relationship, your partner could accuse you of another form of abuse — financial.
What constitutes financial abuse?
This term is more nuanced and harder to prove, as there are no bruises or black eyes to bear witness to violence. Instead, your spouse or partner could accuse you of leaving them impoverished, without money or resources to live or leave.
Financial abuse is perceived as a form of control and manipulation, and alleged victims can tell tales of woe of being left without access to cash, debit or credit cards. They might accuse you of doing this so they don’t have the means to leave the relationship.
Defenses to such allegations
In many marriages or relationships where the money is commingled for household expenses, one partner is deemed to be the one managing the household bills. This could be for convenience or simply because one spouse is a budget wiz while the other tends to spend recklessly or can’t balance a checkbook.
If your partner decides to leave the relationship or divorce, they may try to get an edge by saying they have no access to joint funds. Showing receipts can prove that you were being fiscally responsible by assuring that the family’s needs were met because your partner failed to manage the money responsibly.