The Impact of Economic Abuse in Custody Cases

Economic (or financial abuse) is a pervasive form of power and control, with research showing that it occurs in 99 percent of domestic violence cases. The outcomes of economic abuse are devastating for survivors, including making legal representation inaccessible, impacting how courts determine what is in the best interest of the parties’ children, and affecting the ability of survivors to comply with court orders and requirements. This session will provide an overview of different forms of economic abuse, how economic abuse affects the safety of survivors and their children, and its potential impact on custody determinations. Attorneys who recognize and address economic abuse in their custody cases are better positioned to promote equity, protect survivors, and demonstrate to courts how doing so is in the best interests of the parties’ children.