My Girlfriend is in Hell

Scott,

My girlfriend is stuck in financial hell. Her estranged husband, who lives upstairs, is a gambler and has lost it all, a couple of times. The house they live in is in held in trust by his parents. She has started her own business (cleaning) and is doing well. She has the income … until he steals it. Who does she go to? She has no assets, just cash hidden. She wants to run, but can't. He has taken out loans in her name in the past. So how can she get a loan to buy a house?

Tom

Hi Tom,

Intense! And … a little bizarre.If things are as bad as you say they are, you should encourage her to leave and start the process of a formal separation. She should also immediately shut down any joint accounts she has with him. If there’s a silver lining it’s that she’s in a slightly better situation than some women, in that she’s earning a decent income that will hopefully tide her over (in a rental property) until her situation becomes clearer.

Scott