Exposing Coercive Control in Child Custody Disputes
Why Subtle Abuse Is Often Missed and How to Prove It
Coercive control can be the hidden force driving high-conflict custody cases. Often misunderstood or minimized, this form of abuse extends far beyond physical aggression. It involves manipulation, isolation, intimidation, and other tactics designed to exert total power over a partner or co-parent. Because coercive control is nuanced, it frequently goes unnoticed by evaluators and the courts.
Common Signs of Coercive Control
- Financial Restrictions: Limiting access to funds or sabotaging a partner’s work to create dependency.
- Isolation: Discouraging or preventing contact with friends, family, or support systems.
- Emotional Manipulation: Gaslighting, guilt-tripping, or using fear to maintain dominance.
- Monitoring & Surveillance: Tracking a partner’s location, phone usage, or social interactions.
Why It’s Overlooked
Evaluators and judges may focus on overt aggression or tangible evidence, such as physical injuries or police reports. Coercive control, by contrast, is subtle and often documented only through patterns over time. As a result, victims can appear “anxious” or “uncooperative” if the evaluator doesn’t recognize the signs.
Building a Strong Case
- Detailed Documentation: Keep a journal of incidents, texts, emails, or financial records that illustrate the pattern.
- Third-Party Observations: Neighbors, friends, or coworkers might have noticed controlling behaviors. Their statements can help corroborate your claims.
- Expert Review: Forensic psychologists trained in identifying coercive control can highlight omissions or biases in custody evaluations.
If you suspect coercive control is influencing your custody case, consider a Work Product Review. This process identifies where evaluators might have overlooked or misunderstood critical evidence, ensuring the court sees the full picture.
Need help exposing coercive control in your case?
- Call: 561-429-2140
- Email: [email protected]