2. Protect yourself from financial abuse 

It can be hard to know that you're being financially abused. Here are some things you can try to do to help yourself, if it's safe for you. 

Be aware and tell others 

Becoming aware of the abuse is the first step. Often the abuse starts slowly, and you may not notice it.

Your abusive partner may take small steps to start controlling you and your money. They, for example, may offer to keep your important documents safe or suggest that you deposit your pay cheques into their bank account.   

If you're new to Canada, your abusive partner may make you feel like they know more about how things work in Canada.  They may tell you that you should trust them to decide things for you. 

Your abusive partner may try to keep you away from family and friends. But it's important to stay connected to support networks.  

Your family and friends may make you aware of what's happening when you tell them things. But be careful who you talk to. Make sure they will not go back and tell your partner what you said.  

Make copies of documents 

If you can, keep originals of your and your children's important documents. Or make copies of them. For example, keep documents like:  

• Social Insurance Number cards  
• debit and credit cards  
• household bills  
• bank documents, like mortgage documents 
• birth and marriage certificate 
• tax returns  
• identity documents like your driver's license, health card, or passport  

Keep these documents in a safe place where your partner will not find them. You can also keep them with a person you trust. 

You can also take photos of important documents with your phone. Send them to a person you trust and ask them to keep them for you. Then delete the photos from your phone. 

Try to read any document your partner asks you to sign and try to make a copy of it.  

Save some money 

Save any extra cash when you can and hide it somewhere your partner cannot find it. You can ask a person you trust to keep the cash for you.  

Or open your own bank account if you can. You need identity documents to do this, so always try to keep your own documents.  

Ask for your bank account to be paperless. This means that the bank will send you bank statements and documents by email instead of mail. Set up a new email account that your partner does not know about. Keep the account information and password safe. Give the bank your new email address. 

This way you have some money if you decide to leave your partner.