My Husband Locked Me Out Of Our Bank Account

Summary

The Ramsey Show Highlights

Episode: My Husband Locked Me Out Of Our Bank Account
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Ramsey Network (Financial Advisor 1 & Financial Advisor 2)
Guest: Divorced Business Owner (Caller)

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Overview

This episode centers around a caller—a recently separated businesswoman and mother of three—who is navigating both a contentious divorce and severe financial struggle. She shares how her husband, co-owner of their multi-million dollar manufacturing business, has locked her out of company finances and access, leaving her with minimal temporary support while the legal process drags on. The Ramsey advisors dissect her situation, probe for critical details about her financial standing and legal strategy, and offer both tough love and practical advice for pressing forward.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Caller’s Situation—Financial Free Fall

• [00:06–01:25]
  • The caller describes a daunting life reset: recent divorce, three children, former business co-owner, suddenly cut off from the family business and finances due to alleged abuse and control by her husband.
  • She details having gone “from a lot of money down to just nothing.”
  • Now homeschooling her children and recently moved into her first rental property after always previously owning homes.

2. Locked Out of Finances and the Business

• [01:25–03:33]
  • Court has granted her only minimal support: "$2,500 a month" [02:31], down from “$20,000 a month” she was used to [02:38].
  • She’s a 50% owner “on paper” of the LLC manufacturing business, but her husband has taken complete control—locking her out of accounts, withdrawing all company funds, and accusing her of embezzlement.
  • Her lawyers and the court have not secured access for her; legal process is stalled ("We don't have a hearing...mediation in February" [03:50]).

3. Legal and Procedural Gridlock

• [03:33–05:46]
  • Despite attorney intervention and “59 counts of contempt of court on his side” [02:12], little practical recourse has materialized.
  • Judge’s focus is on custody, not finances: "Our focus is on the children. There's really nothing we can do until y'all get to divorce court" [05:15].
  • The advisors question the competence of her legal representation: “Your attorney sucks. If this is the status quo, you need somebody else.” [04:22]

4. Surviving the Interim

• [05:46–07:12]
  • The caller is generating additional income via piano lessons and baking, but is struggling to meet expenses.
  • She reports a monthly income of “right around $5,000,” combining court-awarded support and side hustles [06:42], with $1,750 going to rent [07:01].
  • She has no personal debt; business debts are supposedly her husband’s responsibility per court order.

5. Unresolved Assets & Delays

• [07:13–08:20]
  • She cannot access equity from the marital home (her name is on it, but her husband controls it), and the forced sale is being delayed.
  • Financial Advisor 2 warns her: “I’m not convinced that your lawyer is great. I feel like you’re at the disadvantage when you shouldn’t be… find you an attorney that understands you’re the one with the upper hand, not him.” [08:20]

6. The Path Forward

• [08:20–08:42]
  • Advisors stress survival—covering her “four walls”—until the legal process ends.
  • Encouragement to keep advocating for herself, prioritize essential expenses, and possibly seek stronger legal counsel.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:25] Caller:
  “I just got assigned very, very little pay from him...I went from a lot of money down to just nothing.”

• [02:38] Financial Advisor 2:
  “What were you used to living on?”
  Caller: “$20,000 a month.”

• [02:57] Financial Advisor 1:
  “What do you mean you got locked out?”
  Caller: “He is claiming that I embezzled, and he is able to take control of the company because I left the home because of the alleged abuse.”

• [04:22] Financial Advisor 1:
  “Your attorney sucks. If this is the status quo, you need somebody else.”

• [05:15] Caller:
  “On paper, I’m 50% legal owner of it, but you have to go through a court process. Like anybody can accuse you of anything. So he was able to lock me out of the building, took all the money out of the account, and he was just able to just block me from any system that I ever created.”

• [08:20] Financial Advisor 2:
  “I’m not convinced that your lawyer is great. I feel like you’re at the disadvantage when you shouldn’t be… find you an attorney that understands you’re the one with the upper hand, not him. And that’s the best advice I can give you. Luckily, nothing's on fire financially. You're just going to have to keep going until the divorce proceedings cover your four walls.”

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Key Timestamps

• 00:06 — Caller introduction and context (divorce, business, financial reset)
• 01:25 — Locked out of bank/business, minimal court-ordered support
• 02:36–02:38 — Previous lifestyle: "$20,000 a month"
• 03:00–03:33 — Details of business lockout and accusation
• 03:42–03:55 — Mediation date; hearings delayed
• 04:22 — Advisors criticize caller’s legal counsel
• 05:15–05:46 — Court inaction; detailing business lockout
• 06:42 — Surviving on $5,000/month, rental expenses
• 07:50–08:13 — Issues around selling the marital home
• 08:20–08:42 — Advisor urges stronger legal action, focus on essentials

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Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is intensely empathetic but firm, challenging the realities of the legal process, the importance of strong legal counsel, and the practicalities of cash flow under duress. The advisors alternate between compassion for the caller’s situation and direct, sometimes blunt advice—especially about legal representation and setting boundaries for survival.

Main Takeaway:
The caller, facing extreme adversity, needs to secure strong legal advocacy, prioritize immediate needs, and steadily push through the drawn-out court process to ultimately reclaim her fair share and rebuild her financial stability.

Transcript

[Narrator]

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[Divorced Business Owner]

I'm going through a complete reset in my early 30s. I have three children and I'm trying to figure out how to restart financially after having owned a multi million dollar company and going through a divorce. So I think that that's the hardest thing that I'm working through right now.

[Financial Advisor 1]

Wow. Yeah, that's enough hard things. I think we're good on that. So where does this stand? Is the divorce finalized?

[Divorced Business Owner]

No, it started back in June. I had to leave because abuse and control. So I left for a week and it kind of started to snowball worse. And this is a company that we built together. And then he just. That kind of started taking over everything and then started saying that I embezzled from him and that's why he has to do it.

[Financial Advisor 1]

So are there lawyers involved now? What's going on?

[Divorced Business Owner]

There are. There are lawyers involved. He has two and I have one. We don't even hit mediation until February. And right now I just got assigned very, very little pay from him until we can kind of everything can go out. But like I said, I went from a lot of money down to just nothing. Like, I've had to rebuild my own. I don't even have anything. I had to just work my way into what I have. And I recently just got my first rental. I've always bought homes. There's just like, I'm in the middle of a serious, wow, what do I do? But I'm trying my best because I also homeschool my children.

[Financial Advisor 2]

So the court didn't issue you to have nothing. Has he just essentially locked out of all of the money? Is that what's taking place?

[Divorced Business Owner]

That's correct.

[Financial Advisor 1]

And the attorneys have done nothing to reverse any of this.

[Narrator]

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[Divorced Business Owner]

I'm the spender.

[Financial Advisor 1]

I'm definitely the saver.

[Narrator]

Now that they budget with every dollar, they're on the same page. Money is definitely one thing we do.

[Financial Advisor 1]

Not ever fight about.

[Divorced Business Owner]

Having the budget gave me the permission to spend.

[Financial Advisor 1]

Knowing that the money is in each category.

[Narrator]

It just allowed us to work together better. Now that's what we call a win win.

[Divorced Business Owner]

Now we just have to pick paint colors.

[Narrator]

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[Financial Advisor 1]

And the attorneys have done nothing to reverse any of this?

[Divorced Business Owner]

There hasn't. We haven't gotten a mediation, and we have 59 counts of contempt of court on his side. But it's just been A slow process because the goal is really custody with the children at this point. And right now I'm primary and he gets a couple days a week. But I think right now I'm being awarded $2,500 a month for just custody issues until we can even figure that out, which is very little to live on.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Sure. What were you used to living on?

[Divorced Business Owner]

20,000Amonth.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Okay.

[Divorced Business Owner]

Yes. Yes, ma'. Am.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Okay.

[Financial Advisor 1]

And you're still both a part of this company that's still running?

[Divorced Business Owner]

My name is 50% on it. It's an LLC. It's a manufacturing company. Yes.

[Financial Advisor 2]

So.

[Divorced Business Owner]

And I'm not working it now. I got locked out. I can't even get unemployment because he won't get me.

[Financial Advisor 1]

What do you mean you got locked out?

[Divorced Business Owner]

I. I don't understand how that's possible, but he is claiming that I embezzled, and he is able to take control of the company because I left the home because of the alleged abuse. And I took off for a week. And it just.

[Financial Advisor 1]

Like I said, so no more direct deposit paychecks. Nothing.

[Divorced Business Owner]

Nothing. He started taking it into his account.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Who is saying that, though? Is it just him or are your lawyers agreeing? Like, who is. Who is corroborating this? Is this just his story and he's doing it and you're not allowed in, or are lawyers saying. Yes. Okay, so can you go to your lawyer and say, hey, I'm 50% of this company. I am being locked out? What's. What happens when you do that?

[Divorced Business Owner]

We have the paperwork. We've tried to show it in court, but court keeps saying, we're going to try this in the divorce hearing. We're going to try this in the.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Okay, when is the divorce hearing?

[Divorced Business Owner]

We don't even have one set because of mediation. He. They want us to get to mediation.

[Financial Advisor 1]

Which is in February.

[Divorced Business Owner]

Correct.

[Financial Advisor 1]

So how are you supposed to float yourself if he's locked you out of your own paycheck and is giving you two grand a month?

[Divorced Business Owner]

I am an entrepreneur by heart, so I started doing piano lessons, doing baked goods.

[Financial Advisor 2]

That's great. But my point is, you shouldn't. That's good that you're doing that, but I want you to push on this really hard because February is a long way from now. And that's not even. Like you said, that's not even the hearing. That's just for mediation to begin. Right?

[Financial Advisor 1]

Yeah. Your attorney sucks. If this is the status quo, you need somebody else.

[Divorced Business Owner]

I don't know what to say about. About any of that. I've really been pushing for this. But they keep saying, my priority, obviously, is to have the kids.

[Financial Advisor 2]

It is, but it shouldn't be at the. You haven't done anything wrong, so it shouldn't be at the detriment of you not earning your income. I mean, obviously, if you're not working anymore, you're no longer earning an income. But figuring out how that works with you being part owner of the company is the part that. Because why can't you lock him out? Is all I'm saying. Like, why, if you're 50. 50, you know, you have just as much power as he has, so why is he holding. Do you not have keys to the company? Do you not have, like. I just am trying to understand. I understand how that balance power happened.

[Divorced Business Owner]

So on. On paper, I'm 50% legal owner of it, but you have to go through a court process. Like anybody can accuse you of anything.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Sure.

[Divorced Business Owner]

So he was able to lock me out of the building, took all the money out of the account, and he was just able to just block me from any system that I ever created. We get to court, the court says we, well, we can try this in divorce. Our focus is on the children. There's really nothing that we can do until y' all get to divorce court. And we've gone to the judge multiple times on this, and the judge is saying the exact same thing. You're just going to have to pay her this in the meantime. And I wish I could understand that more, but that's what I keep getting told. Understood.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Okay, so help. How can we help you today?

[Divorced Business Owner]

Well, I guess my question is I'm going to have to try to find a path of not being able to work with him. That's just not possible at this moment. And in the future, it's not going to be possible. I guess I don't know how to move forward because I don't even know if I ask for a portion of the company monthly, I know he's not going to be able to pay for it. Pay me outright for the 50%?

[Financial Advisor 2]

Yeah.

[Financial Advisor 1]

It'll likely be some kind of structured payout or over time.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Yeah.

[Financial Advisor 1]

Get profits of the company until you're paid up to 50% of the value that you guys all decide on with the lawyers and whoever else is involved. But for now, we just need a plan to, like, survive right now. So you are in a rental. You have the kids a majority of the time, and you have $2,500 coming in from him, plus whatever you can make on the side.

[Divorced Business Owner]

Yes. So it ends up being right around 5,000, which I've been able to do, but it's still. I'm just. I'm just struggling. I'm struggling with that.

[Financial Advisor 1]

You have your own bank accounts now. You've separated from him completely on that side.

[Divorced Business Owner]

I've had to do all complete separation. He's not even allowed to contact me.

[Financial Advisor 2]

And how much are you paying for the rental out of the 5000?

[Divorced Business Owner]

1750, which is really high for me.

[Financial Advisor 2]

And then when you do your budget, is there any margin whatsoever? No. Okay.

[Divorced Business Owner]

There's no margin.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Do you have any debt that you're on the hook for that you feel like, hey, this is what's eating my lunch right now? Or is it simply the fact that, you know, I'm on a shoestring budget and this just really sucks right now? What's the thing that's like eating your lunch right now?

[Divorced Business Owner]

I have no debt outside of the business. The court has told him he has to cover everything. But between the mortgage, homeschooling, my children like my Tahoe is a 21 Tahoe. It's paid for, but I'm driving 30 minutes four times a week to meet up with him back and forth. That gas is so expensive.

[Financial Advisor 1]

Can you sell the house that you're not living in?

[Divorced Business Owner]

That's the problem. He. He has the house too. I left. That's the problem with divorce.

[Financial Advisor 1]

But is your name on is? Okay, so you're gonna have to force the sale of the house as part of this divorce and that's again, something for your attorney to fight for.

[Divorced Business Owner]

Yes. And the judge has told him he needs to do it. Well, he is delaying the process. And they can delay the process in a million dollar house.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Sure.

[Divorced Business Owner]

And that's not. I'm not even going to be able to look at that until probably a year, year down the road. That.

[Financial Advisor 2]

Right, right. That's going to be a ways down the line. I'm not convinced that your lawyer is great. I feel like you're at the disadvantage when you shouldn't be. This is the, the guy that was abusive and this is the guy that you had to flee from. So find you an. An attorney that understands that you're the one with the upper hand, not him. And that's the best advice I can give you. Luckily, nothing's on fire financially. You're just going to have to keep going until the divorce proceedings cover your four walls.

[Financial Advisor 1]

And if you can't pay the mortgage on the house he's living in, tough cookies.

[Narrator]

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