Financial infidelity: what it is and how to avoid it

The subject financial infidelity has become increasingly common in courts, so much so that it has been used as an allegation in divorce cases.

In general, the accusations are related to the loss of assets due to the partner's omissions, or even financial scams.

But do you know what financial infidelity really is? If your answer is no, don't worry, because today we're going to talk about exactly that.

So, if you want to know how to protect yourself from possible financial scams in marriage, keep reading!

What is financial infidelity?

You have certainly heard of countless cases where someone left a marriage without any rights whatsoever.

In general, in this type of situation one of the parties is harmed because they only discover during the divorce that their partner placed all the assets in their own name, with a regime of total separation of assets in the marriage.

When we talk about financial infidelity, this situation can be used as an example, since one of the parties manipulated things in order to harm the other financially, aiming only for their own benefit.

But, contrary to what many believe, financial infidelity does not only occur in serious cases, and can even occur in simple things, such as withdrawals made from a joint account without the partner's consent.

So, this term refers to the conduct of hiding or manipulating information from a partner in order to gain financial advantage over the other within a married life.

Is financial infidelity a crime?

As we saw previously, we can consider financial infidelity to be any practice that aims to hide information related to money or assets from the partner.

And, we also show that many people are harmed by marriages due to this practice, as they lose their assets because they are only in the name of their ex-partner.

This raises a question: after all, is financial infidelity a crime?

Well, there is no specific crime with this description, but if we consider that the crime of fraud concerns using lies or omissions to obtain financial advantage or in negotiations, we can say that the practice of financial infidelity can be described as a type of fraud.

In addition, there are specific crimes related to attempted scams in marriages and romantic relationships.

However, it is important to clarify that the configuration of a crime depends on the type of practice, after all, the simple fact that you are not aware of your partner's salary is not a crime.

Therefore, the criminal assessment of the practice depends on an official judgment, so that those who suffer from this evil must take the situation to justice.

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Signs of Financial Infidelity 

By now you already know what financial infidelity is, so you must have already thought of countless examples that you have observed in your life.

But did you know that the signs of this problem are not always obvious? In most cases, the practices are subtle, so much so that the injured partner does not even suspect it.

In this case, the injured party only realizes the evil of the separation attitudes when they realize that their account has been emptied due to withdrawals by their ex-partner, or even their assets in the name of third parties.

Therefore, it is important to know each sign of this problem in order to prevent it. See some examples below.

1. Your partner doesn't give you access to their accounts 

It is very common for a marital relationship to have one person responsible for finances, who has access to all data and accounts.

In general, this occurs by consensus, that is, the parties agree that someone is primarily responsible for this sector, and so far, there is no problem.

But if you have no access to any accounts at all and don't even know how much your partner earns, that's a red flag.

This is especially true in cases where your partner refuses to provide information. After all, why would someone deny you information about their own finances?

2. All assets are in the name of the spouse or even third parties 

In a marital relationship, the acquisition of assets is natural, whether they are vehicles, real estate or even investments.

And, considering that assets are acquired during the union, it is strange that they remain in the name of only one of the parties.

After all, if you bought the property together, why should only one of you be considered the owner?

An even more serious case is when this asset is placed in the name of third parties, such as in-laws, brothers-in-law, or even friends.

It is very common for one of the parties to put the car in the mother's name, for example, so that, in the event of a divorce, the partner will not have rights to it.

3. Large-value withdrawals without justification and without your authorization 

If you have a joint account in your relationship, it is natural for both parties to make withdrawals and transactions with the balance.

However, if your partner often withdraws large amounts without telling you, and then refuses to give a reason, it's worth being alert.

This is because, as it is a joint account, both parties must have free access to what is done with the amount, and when this does not happen, it could be an indication of problems.

4. Purchase of goods without your participation

Does your partner often buy cars or even properties without telling you?

The idea may even be to surprise you, but if these assets are only in his/her name, it is not a good sign.

A couple's accounts should consider the benefit of both parties, and not just serve the whims and desires of one of them.

Remember that this asset in the partner's name will not be divided in the event of a divorce with total separation of assets.

Tips to avoid financial infidelity

If you have read the previous topics carefully, you already know how to identify signs of financial infidelity.

But we still need to talk about prevention. After all, how can this type of problem be avoided?

We must remember that no one comes with an assessment on their forehead, so simply telling them to choose the right partner is useless.

Now see some tips that really work.

1. Talk to your partner about your finances 

It may seem obvious, but most couples with financial problems find themselves in this situation due to a lack of communication.

In general, these people do not talk about their finances, leaving it to the famous “let life take me” or “we’ll look at it later”.

Therefore, if you want to avoid problems, talk to your partner and clearly define how everything will work during the relationship.

2. When purchasing goods, make sure to have things in your name too. 

With the bombardment of information and opinions on the internet, today we have the impression that demanding that something be put in our name is also practically a crime, or “something for smart people”.

However, if you live with the person and help pay the bills, you should be entitled to have your name included on the purchase of goods.

This way, in the event of a divorce, both parties will be entitled to the property, meaning that no one will be harmed.

3. Don’t accept third-party involvement in your finances 

If your partner comes up with the idea of buying a motorcycle and putting it in his brother's name, never accept it.

In general, this type of proposal arises when someone tries to avoid the loss of assets due to default, or other problems,

But don't accept this. The couple's finances should remain between the couple, so don't put the beach house in your mother-in-law's name or the rent in your sister-in-law's name.

Finally, now you know how to identify and prevent cases of financial infidelity, so talk to your partner to ensure the safety and well-being of both parties!

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