Family violence advocates are making progress in criminalising coercive and controlling behaviours, which is often prevalent in relationships characterised by family violence.
However, a new term, “paper abuse” is being coined.
What Is Paper Abuse?
Paper abuse is referred to as the use of legal proceedings by a perpetrator to financially burden victims with a bombardment of litigation and legal correspondence. Many legal professionals tell you this has been happening for a long time, but it is only recently that researchers have turned their attention to it.
Paper abuse is a seemingly legitimate way for perpetrators to target victims when they are most vulnerable and usually in relation to their children.
Threats by an abusive partner of sole custody are often made through letters, Court applications, and verbally. They often allege that their victims are mentally unwell and subpoena confidential information held in medical records. Some perpetrators will go as far as going making false report to Family and Community Services.
In many cases, mothers with young children are in a compromised financial position often due to being the primary carer of young children and acutely feel the financial stress that prolonged litigation can bring.
Paper Abuse On The Rise
Dr Gillian Stanfield, a domestic and family violence counsellor in the USA, says it is occurring more as abusive parents realise Family Courts are a legitimate way to control their former partners.
Constant denigration, intimidation and threats towards the mother can add to her fear, anxiety and vulnerability, which lead to the victim often feeling abused all over again.
Many women will give into the demands of ex-partners, especially in relation to financial settlements, and often feel coerced to accept a less than equitable offer to bring the legal proceedings to an end.
Paper abuse is used as a vehicle to inflict coercive control for ongoing power and control over a victim through ongoing intimidation, threats, humiliation and denigration.
Dr Stanfield says without properly educating legal personnel, paper abuse will continue to thrive. We need greater education of judicial officers, greater penalties for perjury, and more detailed and further assessments of a case when domestic violence is involved.
Once abusive behaviour is identified, there is help available.
If you are thinking of escaping an abusive relationship, we are here when you need us.
