Controlling access to money and financial information

Definition

Restricting the target's ability to obtain, use, or understand joint resources and financial information.

How it operates

Withholding access to bank accounts, cash, or cards. Requiring the target to ask for money or account for every expenditure. Hiding statements, passwords, or financial information. Monitoring or dictating all spending.

Function

Eliminate independent access to resources and force dependence on the abuser for ordinary needs.

Harm

The inability to meet basic needs without the abuser's permission and the loss of knowledge required for independent financial decision-making.

Why this is coercive control

Ordinary joint budgeting or shared financial planning conducted without coercion or concealment. The conduct here eliminates independent access to resources and force dependence on the abuser for ordinary needs.

Constructed example

“I'm going to control the finances. You can have a budget for groceries, but anything else, just tell me and I'll handle it.”

Fictitious. Written to illustrate the behavior. Not a case.