Economic abuse continues after separation when one party controls money, assets, disclosure, housing, or legal funding. In family proceedings, this can prevent the other party from getting advice, challenging non-disclosure, seeking protection, or negotiating a fair settlement.

Survivors should not have to fight the system as well as the abuse.

UK evidence shows 1 in 7 women has experienced economic abuse from a current or former partner, and specialist evidence reports economic abuse in around 95% of domestic abuse survivor cases. Laws alone are not enough if financial control prevents survivors from accessing justice and fair outcomes. 

Legal aid may not provide a practical route to representation, and public funds should not be the default where family resources exist but are controlled by one party. A Legal Services Payment Order, as is used in England and Wales, would give courts in Scotland a discretionary, evidence-based and proportionate tool to prevent financial control from blocking justice, while protecting children, families, courts and publicly funded legal support.

This petition is calling to introduce legislation creating Legal Services Payment Orders in Scottish family law, so courts can stop financial control or economic abuse from preventing fair access to legal advice, representation, and justice. 

Please support this petition so that no one is denied legal advice in family proceedings because the other party controls the money.

Stop financial inequality and economic abuse from undermining justice for families by voting via this external Scottish Parliament link: PETITION