Financial abuse can trap survivors of domestic violence in debt long after the relationship ends. The Consumer Rights Unit (CRU) protects and defends survivors facing debts they did not create and could not control.
Recently, the CRU represented a survivor of domestic violence who was sued over a credit card debt she did not incur. In addition to the stress of the lawsuit, the client was also navigating serious safety concerns related to the abuse she had experienced.
Her CRU attorney discovered that the credit card account had been opened and used by her abusive former partner without her full knowledge or consent. Over time, he accumulated thousands of dollars of debt in her name while controlling access to account information and statements. This form of financial abuse, often called “coerced debt,” is a common tactic used by abusers to exert control over survivors.
At the same time, GBLS’s Family Law Unit helped the client secure legal protections that documented the pattern of abuse and coercive control underlying the debt. Working together across practice areas, GBLS attorneys used this evidence to successfully defend the client in court. The case was dismissed, relieving her of responsibility for the debt and helping her move toward greater financial stability and safety.