Lawyers
Identifying and preventing economic violence in the family
What is economic violence?
A woman* who is in a marital relationship in which her partner has unilateral control of all shared funds, while she is excluded from receiving information or access to the shared funds freely, she is very likely to suffer from economic violence. Despite the fact that this violence does not result in physical harm to the woman, it violates the basic rights of every person, which are the rights to dignity, property, and freedom.
- It is our regret to mention ‘woman’ (we cannot correct the Hebrew language, and this page is translation from the Hebrew language) and we are aware that there will be some men who feel that women are preferred. There are certainly instances in which men are subjected to financial violence by their spouses, and our office recognizes and handles such cases, however most often, it is women who experience such violence.
מאת עו״ד ונוטריון יגאל מור
דיוק בייעוץ המשפטי. מצויינות בליווי המשפטי.
A means of denying freedom through economic violence
People manage their daily routines according to their financial decisions, which are determined by the amount of money they possess and their goals regarding short- and long-term savings.
Every day is shaped by the choices we make, including what clothes to purchase, what food to consume, what bed to sleep in, and many other factors. An individual who does not have control over his financial resources is effectively denied the right to shape his or her life. Thus, economic violence is defined as the control of one partner over the financial means of another partner. Physical violence violates a woman’s right to her own body as well as her right to peace and security, and economic violence violates her right to dignity, freedom, and property. Those interested in learning more about the various forms of family violence or violence between spouses should contact a divorce attorney. We have a legal department that handles family law and divorce matters, and you are welcome to schedule a consultation with us for more information.
It is a phenomenon that crosses sectors
Similarly, economic violence is not limited to a particular sector or to couples with specific income levels. Couples with low socioeconomic status as well as those in the upper deciles of society are prone to this phenomenon.
So economic violence between spouses is not limited to transferring money from the hands of the husband who controls the joint fund to his wife. If you would like more information about economic violence, it is advisable to contact a divorce lawyer.
Being careful not to be too general, Assume that one of the partners controls all financial matters and prevents his spouse from interfering, expressing an opinion, or using the funds on her own. It would be considered “economic violence” in this scenario. Dependency on the spouse for financial support.
There are many forms of economic violence, including:
- Refraining from providing money to your spouse, thereby preventing him or her from being able to purchase essentials such as food, medicine, and clothing.
- The spouse is denied the right to work and/or receive work-related education and/or professional training (in order to create financial dependence on the spouse).
- A prohibition from going to work or, alternatively, a requirement to go to work while the other spouse cancels and takes over the income of the working spouse.
- Unreasonably requiring a working spouse to earn more income
- Exploitation of the spouse’s financial resources by using only his income. (While maintaining a private account with the earnings of the exploiting spouse.)
- It is only one spouse who makes financial decisions (taxes, health, children’s education, general shopping, investments, insurance, pensions, etc.)
- It is the spouse’s responsibility to report every expense, regardless of how small it may be.
- A refusal to contribute economically to the household, a refusal to work.
- Opening a private bank account is prohibited
- Through various means, including threats, the partner creates a threatening atmosphere and a sense of financial crisis.
- Avoiding joint discussion of financial information related to one of the spouses or hiding financial information related to the other spouse.
- The use of fraud in order to gain control of shared assets
Generally, there is a lack of awareness regarding economic abuse. Violence is sometimes viewed as the “stinginess” of the partner, and the controlled party may not realize that it is illegal.
It is no less challenging to deal with economic violence than any other type of violence.
The control of the bank account and the credit cards
The main characteristics of economic family violence are control of the bank account and control of the credit card. Economic violence is considered to exist in homes where the woman is not authorized to operate the account, has no access to the joint bank account and has to obtain cash from the account through her husband alone.
It is also true for households in which the wife is prohibited from obtaining a credit card, or for households in which the spouse possesses a credit card but scrutinizes, criticizes, and resents every expenditure she makes. A divorce lawyer can provide you with more information about the characteristics of economic violence between spouses.
By denying occupational independence, economic control can be achieved
The denial of occupational independence is another characteristic of economic violence. Women who are denied employment have a built-in gap between them that her economically violent partner exploits by withholding employment from her. As a result, the woman is perceived as spending money that she did not earn through her employment. Due to this, her partner has exclusive control over her expenses.
Using financial restrictions as a form of punishment
Women who are financially abused are frequently punished by their violent husbands by controlling their finances and preventing them from accessing them. Thus, in the event of a quarrel or dispute, the abuser takes advantage of his access to financial sources and prevents his wife from realizing her financial wishes, as if it is a punishment that a parent imposes on his child.
The combination of economic violence and physical violence
Often, the denial of a woman’s right to property and freedom is accompanied by a violation of her right to body security. No matter whether the victim is involved in a divorce proceeding or not, the victim of economic violence with a physical component may file a complaint with the police or obtain a protection order in accordance with the law. A divorce lawyer can provide you with more information about protective orders.
The Breakup of a Violent Relationship
In the past, women were not condemned for the man’s sole control over the household’s financial resources. Nowadays, economic violence is becoming more and more prevalent, and many women are aware that their unequal situation is unacceptable. It is advisable to contact a divorce lawyer for guidance in the divorce process from an economically abusive spouse in order to implement the change.
Transitioning from external control to economic independence
In contrast to a marital relationship based on economic violence, where the man takes control over his partner’s life by denying access to the money they share, the law determines the division of property in the event of a divorce, a law which requires an equal distribution of the shared resources, except in a few exceptional cases. .
Because of this, the decision to initiate divorce proceedings against an economically abusive spouse should be based on the recognition that the spouse holds an equal share of the joint assets. Divorce lawyers who specialize in this field are recommended in order to assist women in properly exercising their rights during a divorce proceeding.
Stopping economic violence is possible
First and foremost, economic violence must be recognized as a problem. Whenever the problem cannot be resolved, it is advisable to contact an experienced divorce attorney for optimal guidance. Mor & Co. is an experienced and professional law firm that provides the highest level of support to those who are suffering from economic violence.
We have extensive experience handling cases involving family violence.
If you are experiencing a divorce crisis, we can assist you
Using the most appropriate method for you.
Contact us if you would like legal advice regarding solutions to economic violence between spouses. We guarantee professionalism and discretion.
Mor & Co. Law Firm
WhatsApp: 050-811-6181
