Mother accuses father of financial coercion in proceedings for parenting orders – which case won? – Divorce

case a – The case for the mother

case b – The case for the father

• My children’s father used money to exert power and control
  over me.




• I didn’t work during most of our marriage, and when I did,
  he retained the income and told me that it was his job to take care
  of the finances.




• After a family holiday to Europe and Thailand in late 2011, he
  returned to Australia, while I stayed on longer in Thailand with
  the children. He left us there without funds and I had to obtain
  money from my family to meet my own needs and those of my
  children.




• Just before we separated for good in 2012, he took my purse and
  removed and destroyed my bank card. I tried to grab my purse from
  him, but he pushed me and I fell, hurting myself. I screamed at him
  then that I could not remain living with him any longer because I
  feared for my safety. Then I left our marriage for good.




• After we separated, he failed to pay child support.

• I have never used money to exert power and control over my
  children’s mother.




• She says that I did not allow her access to our funds, but she
  always had access to our joint bank account by using the bank card
  that I had provided for her.




• During our first separation between June 2004 and October 2006,
  when she took our child to live in Thailand, I transferred $10,943
  to her bank account to support them.




• In October 2011, just a couple of months before our European
  holiday, she showed me her savings account, with a balance of about
  $6,000.




• I acknowledge that I grabbed her handbag, but I did not push
  her and I did not take her bank card from her. Rather, as she was
  screaming at me, she took her bank card out of her purse, threw it
  at me and said she didn’t want my money anymore.




• I didn’t pay child support because I couldn’t afford
  it, but I have since paid the arrears. My children’s mother was
  never without money after separation, since by then she had around
  $9,000 saved.

Cast your judgment below to find
out