Coerced Debt: A Domestic Violence Tactic

This fact sheet provides an overview of coerced debt. Domestic abusers may try to wield power over their partners by controlling their partners' finances. When a person takes out debt in their partner's name without their partner's knowledge, that's coerced debt. It's also coerced debt when an individual threatens or forces their partner to take out debt. Because coerced debt is a form of identity theft, survivors can challenge it through legal means.

This resource was created by Texas Appleseed, an organization focused on social, economic, and racial justice for Texans, in partnership with the Texas Coalition on Coerced Debt. It lists domestic violence resources available in Texas.

The resource is also available in Spanish.

Coerced debt exists where there is domestic abuse. Domestic abuse can be physical, emotional, or financial. Coerced debt is one type of financial abuse. Abusers use coerced debt to control their victims.

• AUTHOR: Texas Appleseed in Partnership with the Texas Coalition on Coerced Debt