Types of Economic Violence:
Financial Control: Controlling your spouse’s access to your income, bank accounts, or credit cards, or making financial decisions alone.
Forced to Borrow: Your spouse forces you to borrow money or pay his/her debts without his/her consent.
Deprivation of Basic Needs: Your spouse prevents you from accessing basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, or medical care.
Attack on Property Rights: Your spouse damages or destroys your property rights, such as your home or car.
Social and Economic Isolation: Your partner controls your relationships with family and friends or isolates you from social and economic activities.
The Effect of Economic Violence on Divorce Cases:
Economic violence allows you to file for divorce due to severe incompatibility as stated in Article 166 of the Turkish Civil Code. If you can prove the economic violence your spouse inflicts on you, the court may decide on a divorce and protect your rights, including financial compensation.
Evidence Collection:
To prove economic violence, you can collect various documents such as:
Bank statements: Documents showing money transfers that are under your spouse’s control or made without your consent.
Credit card bills: Invoices showing expenses made without your spouse’s consent.
Invoices and receipts: Invoices and receipts that show your spouse does not provide you with your basic needs.
Witness statements: Statements of people who can witness the economic violence your spouse inflicts on you.
Police reports: Police reports that your spouse has been violent towards you.
Ways of Protection:
If you are experiencing economic violence, there are many things you can do to protect your rights:
Get Support: Get support from your family and friends or non-governmental organizations.
Get Legal Advice: Learn about your legal rights from a divorce lawyer.
Ensure Your Financial Security: If possible, open your own bank account and access your own income.
Avoid Debt: Do not borrow money without your spouse’s consent.
Find a Safe Place: If necessary, go to a safe place to protect yourself and your children.
Divorce Steps:
If you want to divorce due to economic violence, you can follow the steps below:
Contact a Divorce Lawyer: A divorce lawyer can provide information about your legal rights and help you file for divorce.
Collect Required Documents: Collect documents proving economic violence.
File a Petition for Divorce: File a petition for divorce with your Family Court.
Attend the Case: Attend the hearings on the dates determined by the court.
Court Order: The court will make a decision regarding your rights, including divorce and financial compensation.
