Coerced Debt

The Coerced Debt Toolkit, a project of Texas Appleseed and the Texas Coalition on Coerced Debt, combines several guides detailing steps to take if an abusive partner has forced you into debt against your will, without your knowledge, or both.

The organizations recommend reviewing each of the guides to understand how to identify coerced debt and to find available tools and strategies to address it.

The toolkit can be found at FinancialAbuseHelp.org.

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What is coerced debt?

First, understand coerced debt. Learn about coerced debt and whether it affects you.

I am worried an abusive partner might take out debt in my name.

Second, learn how to protect yourself from future financial abuse.

I suspect that my abusive partner took out debt or opened accounts in my name.

Third, discover if you have coerced debt.

I was denied credit, housing, or a job based on my credit history.

Fourth, learn how to dispute different kinds of coerced debt and block it from appearing on a credit report.

A debt collector called or contacted me about a debt that I didn’t take out.

My abusive partner took out debt in my name without my knowledge or forced me to take out debts in my name.

Finally, learn how to defend yourself. Learn what to do if you are sued for a debt that isn’t yours.

Introduction: Know your rights.
Step 1: Find out the details about the debt that was taken out in your name.
Step 2: File an identity theft report. Give the report to the lender or debt collector. This may prevent a debt collection lawsuit.
Step 3: Dispute the debt and other information that you think is incorrect with the consumer reporting agency that is reporting it.
Step 4: Dispute the debt with the furnisher.

I was sued for a debt that I never took out or that my abusive partner forced me to take out.

Respond To The Lawsuit.
File An Identify Theft Report. Send a copy to the debt collector.
Why Is It Important To Respond To A Debt Collection Lawsuit?
What Happens After I File My Answer?
What Happens If I Get A Default Judgment Issued Against Me?

Related Resources

A Guide to Representing Yourself in Family Court

By xavier@tolenfoundation.org, August 8, 2017