People with coerced debt generally experience or have survived domestic abuse and have also been financially abused. You might have coerced debt if you answer “yes” to any of the following questions:
- Has an intimate partner ever pressured you to borrow money or buy something on credit when you didn’t want to?
- Did someone ever threaten to harm—or actually harm—you or your children if you didn’t agree to take out a loan for something or buy something on credit when you didn’t want to?
- Have you ever found out about debt or bills that an intimate partner put in your name without you knowing?
- Has an intimate partner ever kept financial information from you?
- Have you ever stayed longer than you wanted in a relationship with someone who was controlling because of concerns about supporting yourself or your children?
- Did an intimate partner ever convince you to put household bills in your name?
I am not in a relationship where there is domestic abuse. Could I still be a victim of coerced debt?
Yes. Coerced debt can exist outside of a domestic abuse relationship. For example, elderly people or people with disabilities who are victims of financial abuse may have coerced debts.
If you are in an intimate relationship with someone who financially abuses you, but there is no other physical or emotional abuse, you could still be considered a victim of coerced debt.
Just like with victims of domestic abuse, other victims of abuse have tools to challenge debts that were taken out through fraud, threat, or force. If you are in this situation, resources in the guides of this toolkit could help. You may also want to reach out to an attorney for legal help. Go to our List of Domestic Abuse and Legal Resources for a list of free and low-cost legal help.
