Hi, my name is Annette. I am originally from Germany, and I came to the United States 25 years ago for my studies. Before I finished my degree, I got married. I have three children, ages 12, 14 and 16. I was a stay-at-home mom for most of the time. I have been married for almost 20 years.

Almost immediately after I married my husband, I experienced abuse on multiple fronts. He controls the finances in our family and accrued piles of debt in my name through mismanagement, gambling, and cheating. Pervasive throughout these experiences was emotional abuse as he would gaslight me into dismissing these wrongdoings.

After years of this abuse at his hands, I decided I had had enough. I told him I wanted to divorce him after the financial and emotional abuse – and, worst of all, the sexual coercion.

That was four months ago. He has made no moves to free me from the torture I’ve been experiencing at his hands for 19 years. In fact, he has made sure that I cannot. He cut off all my finances. I cannot leave the house, both because I cannot afford it and because I need to protect my children. My credit cards are maxed out. I cannot make minimum payments, pay for gas, medicines, nor care for my children. He has effectively ensured that I cannot pay for a lawyer in my fight to be free of him.

My only glimmer of hope is that I have returned to school. I will receive my BA in December. As I am on the road to regaining control of my life through my degree, the final step is liberation from my marriage – for myself and my children. Please help me. I appreciate any assistance you can provide. Thank you.