2.2.5 Spousal & Child Support

Many survivors need child or spousal support after separation to maintain self-sufficiency and household well-being. However, abusive former partners are much less likely than non-abusive partners to pay child support.1  They often stop paying support to force the victim to return to the relationship or to punish them for leaving. The effects of abuse, including the trauma of abuse and the employment disruption often associated with abuse, can also make it difficult for survivors to quickly get or maintain employment and to build long-term financial security.

• 1Lundy Bancroft, et al., The Batterer as Parent: Addressing the Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Dynamics 156 (2d ed. 2012).