Financial Control in Relationships: The Red Flags You Might Miss
Not all control in relationships looks like control. Sometimes it sounds like “I’ll handle the money” or “You don’t need to worry about that account.” At first, it can feel like care but over time, it can become something more serious: financial control, or what the law now calls economic abuse.
What’s Changed in the Law
Under the Family Law Amendment Act 2024 (Cth), which takes effect from 11 June 2025, the law now explicitly recognises financial and economic abuse as a form of family violence.
This doesn’t create a new concept. Courts have long been able to consider financial control when deciding parenting and property matters. But the amendments make that recognition clearer and stronger, spelling out what kinds of behaviours can amount to economic abuse and how they can influence property settlements.
The Act provides examples, including:
Controlling a partner’s money or assets, including superannuation.
Withholding financial support for reasonable living expenses.
Sabotaging employment or income.
Forcing someone to take on debt.
Coercing money, assets or other items as dowry.
These examples reflect how financial control can impact independence, earning capacity, and long-term financial security.
How It Affects Property Settlements
The amendments also make it clear that courts must consider the effect of family violence, including financial abuse, on a person’s ability to contribute to the relationship and their future needs. The court now has a clear legislative pathway to recognise when coercive financial behaviours have affected someone’s capacity to contribute or build financial stability over time.
This reflects what cases like Kennon v Kennon (1997) established decades ago; that violence and control can diminish a person’s contributions. The law now puts that principle on firmer, statutory footing.
What Financial Control Looks Like Day to Day
Financial control can start quietly. It could encompass a range of conduct, such as:
Restricting access to accounts or income.
Monitoring or criticising spending.
Making major financial decisions without consultation.
Refusing to share information about debts or assets.
Over time, those actions can isolate someone financially, making it harder to leave or rebuild after separation.
Awareness as Protection
If you’re in the early stages of separation, awareness is one of your best forms of protection:
Know where your money is. List all bank accounts, loans, and super funds.
Keep clear records. Bank statements, emails, and correspondence matter.
Seek early advice. Legal and financial help can prevent small issues becoming bigger ones.
Financial control isn’t just about money, it’s about autonomy. And the law now makes clear that its effects deserve to be recognised.
