When Identity Theft is Perpetrated by Your Spouse

12.04.19

While two people are married, one spouse may take a back seat to the financial decisions another spouse is making. Usually, it doesn’t become important while the parties are together, and perhaps both parties are benefitting from the choices. But many years later, during a divorce, one spouse may find out they are a victim of identity theft. In an unprecedented step, New York State passed a law to add identity theft to the list of offenses that can serve as a basis for a protection order. In September, a new Texas law took effect amending its definition of identity theft to include cases in which an abuser compelled a victim to take on debt through force, threats or fraud. A recent survey of women who called the National Domestic Violence Hotline confirmed more than 70% of domestic violence victims said their partners had hidden financial information from them. Although Pennsylvania does not have a statute which specifically provides relief for identify theft, there are remedies in family court. If you have issues of identity theft, you should contact your family law attorney to discuss your options.

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Valerie Lyons
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