Financial control is a form of domestic abuse which is illegal and 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, or subordinate to their partner, isolating them from friends and family, controlling their day-to-day activities and restricting their freedom of action.

Scottish Family Law firm Johnson Legal has reported that 1 in 5 of their clients are experiencing some form of financial abuse and that it’s present in 99% of domestic abuse cases.

Beverley Johnson, Head of Family Law and Director of Johnson Legal Family Law, said: “We see a lot of clients who are in financially controlling relationships and it’s much more common that you think. The law recognises the role that financial abuse plays in exerting control and preventing victims from leaving.

“We have worked with a number of clients who 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 in a relationship?

Beverley continued: “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.

“This abuse deprives a partner of their financial autonomy and can have a significant impact on their mental health by leaving them feeling isolated, lacking in confidence and trapped. This can have lasting effects where victims feel extreme guilt when spending money.”

5 examples of financial control

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. “We recently had a client who was only given £5 a day from her own wages to cover everything she needed, including travel to work and food. Another new client who hadn’t been allowed to buy any new clothes for years despite her husband having a well-paid job.

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 have 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, savings, and their ability to access alternative safe accommodation.”

3. Sabotaging your career

The 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 them or their children or to do a particular job which is below their earning potential. The abuser’s career is then able to flourish and 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 if you don’t have access to your own accounts and your partner is withholding the log in details, this is another dangerous example of financial control.

Beverley said: “We’ve worked with many clients who don’t have access to their own bank accounts or don’t know how much their household bills are and they’re simply told that ‘money is tight’. It’s really important to make sure that you speak to your bank in order to maintain access and control of your own account.”

5. A double standard on spending

Johnson Legal also highlighted that many abusers often 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 and regular “lads” holidays,” Beverley said. “In strong relationships, you’re able to talk about money and ensure that there’s fairness in the division of finances, particularly if one partner has taken a career break to look after children.”

How to stop financial control

Beverley urged people who think they might be in a financially controlling relationship to contact a Family Lawyer or the police to seek advice: “If you’re married, 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, recovering bank statements and obtaining child maintenance. This applies whether you’re married or not.

“The problem with financial control is that it can build gradually over time. If you think you are experiencing any aspect of financial abuse, seek professional advice and constructive measures will be put in place to protect you.”

If you would like to ask Johnson Legal a free, anonymous question about financial control, visit their anonymous Q&A platform the Johnson Legal Family Law website.