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For women

What is financial abuse?

You may have been subjected to financial abuse during your relationship, and it may be continuing now that you have left.
This kind of abuse is common, and can take many forms, including:

Your partner controls the money and makes all the spending decisions
He gives you a spending allowance and you have to account for the money you spend by providing him with receipts
The bank accounts and debit cards are in his name only
He does not give you any information about the family’s financial situation
You do not have any control over the credit cards
He steals money from you
He runs up debts that your family cannot afford to pay
His income tax is in serious arrears
He forces you to work and takes all the money you earn
He won’t let you work and uses this as an excuse not to let you have any money

Common post-separation financial abuse tactics

Your ex-partner maxes out the line of credit without your knowledge or consent or continues to accumulate debt in both your names
He refuses to provide you and the children with any financial assistance
He cuts off your access to any joint money (or empties joint bank accounts)
He uses banking information to try to find you
He interferes with your job in the hope you will lose your job and return to him because you have no money

Steps to take to protect yourself
There are some steps you can take,

Read more

How can I co-parent safely with an abusive ex-partner?

To maintain their control, abusers often seek shared custody of the children when the relationship ends.
Today’s Parent interviewed Luke’s Place Legal Director, Pamela Cross, and other Canadian experts on ways to co-parent with an abusive-ex-partner.
These include:

Making a safety plan
Creating a safe child exchange
Avoid contact with the abuser
Don’t take the bait
Focus on self-care
Parent separately
Document everything

Read the full article on the Today’s Parent website.

What is the Hague Convention and how can it help if my ex-partner takes our children out of Canada?

The Hague Convention is a tool to assist in having children returned who have been wrongfully removed from one jurisdiction that has signed the Convention to another that has also signed it.
It is an international treaty, the full name of which is the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction,

DomesticShelters.org spotlight on Luke’s Place: The only center of its kind in Canada and the U.S.

DomesticShelters.org is the largest searchable directory of domestic violence services in Canada and the US. This site is full of helpful tools and information for people who are subjected to or are working to end intimate partner abuse.
On December 6, 2017, Luke’s Place was spotlighted for our unique focus on family law issues.

How can I explain the family court process to my client?

A family court case can be confusing to anyone who is not familiar with the process. For a woman who is dealing with trauma as a result of past and ongoing abuse by her partner, it may be completely overwhelming.
She may need to apply for legal aid. She needs to figure out what issues she needs to resolve.

What is child support?

The law requires both parents to contribute to the financial support of their children regardless of who is living with the children. Most commonly, the parent with whom the child lives will receive child support from the other parent. Step-parents may be required to pay support for a child if they have acted in the role of a parent while living with the child.

What are restraining orders? How can I get one?

Many abusive men engage in ongoing strategies of harassment and intimidation against their partner even after they separate. Restraining orders are an important tool of the family court to help keep women and their children in these situations safe. A family court judge can issue a restraining order if the applicant provides sufficient evidence that she is fearful her partner or former partner will hurt her or her children.

What is child protection and the CAS?

The Child and Family Services Act (CFSA) is the Ontario law dealing with child protection. Its purpose is to promote the best interests, protection and well-being of children.
The CFSA authorizes children’s aid societies (CAS) to:

investigate allegations or evidence that a child may be in need of protection
protect,

My partner and I are common law. Do I have the same rights as a married person?

Many women in common-law relationships believe they have exactly the same legal rights as women who are married. While there are many commonalities, there are some important differences, especially with respect to the way in which property is divided if the relationship ends.
Living common law as opposed to being married has no impact on issues relating to children if the relationship ends.

What is spousal support and am I eligible?

The goal of spousal support is to encourage the financial independence of both spouses as appropriate in the circumstances of the relationship. For example, where one spouse stayed at home to raise the children or had to change jobs frequently because of demands of the other spouse’s employment, spousal support would be likely.