Coercive Control Laws in CA –
For decades, California divorce courts focused on physical violence—but a groundbreaking 2025 law now recognizes that psychological abuse can be just as damaging. At Hayat Family Law, we’re at the forefront of using coercive control laws to protect clients trapped in marriages dominated by manipulation, isolation, and financial sabotage. Here’s how these new protections work.
What Qualifies as Coercive Control Under California Law?
The legal definition now includes patterns of:
✅ Financial Domination – Withholding access to accounts, ruining credit
✅ Social Isolation – Blocking family/friend contact, monitoring communications
✅ Psychological Manipulation – Gaslighting, threats to take children
✅ Digital Abuse – Spyware on devices, social media humiliation
Real Case: We helped a Beverly Hills wife prove her husband installed keylogger software on her laptop to monitor divorce research.
How This Changes Divorce Proceedings
1. Spousal Support Adjustments
Judges now consider:
– Lost earning capacity from career sabotage
– Therapy costs as measurable damages
– Debt reimbursement for coerced credit card abuse
2. Custody Determinations
Evidence of coercive control can:
– Restrict abusive parent’s decision-making rights
– Mandate supervised visitation
– Require psychological evaluations
3. Property Division
Courts may award:
– Larger asset shares to victims
– Reimbursement for drained accounts
– Punitive damages in extreme cases
3 Critical Types of Evidence We Use
1. Digital Paper Trails
– Text messages demanding obedience
– GPS tracking history
– Social media deletion patterns
2. Financial Forensics
– Sudden credit score drops
– Unauthorized loans
– Strange bank withdrawals
3. Third-Party Testimony
– Therapists documenting anxiety
– Coworkers noticing work disruption
– Friends witnessing isolation
Why Los Angeles Cases Are Different
Our judges see sophisticated coercive tactics like:
– “Luxury Control” – Allowing lavish spending but monitoring every purchase
– Industry Blacklisting – Spreading rumors to harm entertainment careers
– Immigration Threats – Forcing compliance via visa status manipulation
Landmark Ruling: Our client received 70% of community property after proving her tech CEO husband deliberately stalled her green card process for 8 years.
How We Build Coercive Control Cases
1. Emergency Document Preservation (Before phones/computers are wiped)
2. Expert Witness Coordination (Forensic accountants, psychologists)
3. Strategic Restraining Orders (Including digital privacy protections)
You shouldn’t have to endure invisible chains. Call (310) 917-1044 to discuss your rights under California’s coercive control laws.
