A victory for survivors of abuse in debt

We’re thrilled to share some brilliant news - following a campaign led by Money Wellness, the £318 fee for a ‘persons at risk of violence’ (PARV) order is to be scrapped from 17 November.

This is a huge win for survivors of domestic and economic abuse who are trying to rebuild their lives while dealing with problem debt.

Why this change matters

For many survivors, escaping abuse isn’t just about finding safety - it’s also about trying to regain financial stability.

According to Surviving Economic Abuse, six in ten people who suffer coercive control are forced to take out debt by their abuser. And for a quarter of women who experience abuse, the financial control doesn’t stop once they leave.

When survivors need a fresh start, some turn to insolvency options like debt relief orders, individual voluntary arrangements or bankruptcy.

But here’s the problem - these debt solutions involve adding a person’s details, including their address, to a public record called the Individual Insolvency Register.

That meant there was a real risk of abusers tracking down their victims.

The obstacle in the path of financial relief

There has always been a way to protect survivors’ addresses - by applying for a PARV order. But until now, there was a huge barrier in the path of survivors – a £318 fee.

For many, that fee was the final obstacle stopping them from getting the debt solution they needed.

How our campaign made a difference

That’s why, over the past year, we’ve been calling for urgent change.

We put forward a number of options that would boost protections for abuse survivors:

• making the Individual Insolvency Register private
• bypassing the court process by empowering debt advisers to decide when addresses should be withheld
• scrapping the PARV order fee

Thanks to growing support from across parliament - including MPs Emily Darlington, Sarah Russell and Alicia Kearns - and strong backing from partners and the public, the government has listened.

This week, it’s been confirmed that the PARV order fee will be removed, meaning survivors can now keep their addresses private without paying a penny.

‘A life of peace, not fear’

Minister for courts and legal services Sarah Sackman KC said:

“Women who experience domestic abuse can spend their lives on the run. They deserve protections. The publication of victims’ personal details on the Insolvency Register must not be another tool perpetrators can use to torment their victims.

“This simple change can be the difference between a life of peace and one of fear. I hope that abolishing this fee gives some degree of relief to the people who need it.”

The decision builds on the government’s wider commitment to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, alongside initiatives such as Raneem’s Law - a UK pilot that embeds domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms to improve police responses to domestic abuse calls - and the rollout of stronger domestic abuse protection orders.

Recognition from Surviving Economic Abuse

Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said:

“Until now, survivors have been forced to pay extra just to stay safe and avoid having their names and addresses published on a public insolvency database.

“Removing this cost is an important step towards ensuring survivors can seek protection without taking on yet more financial burden when trying to resolve coerced debts.

“We commend Money Wellness for their work in securing this vital change.”

What’s next

We’re incredibly proud of the part we’ve played in today’s decision, but there’s more work to be done. Although it’s great that there’ll no longer be a fee for PARV orders, just the process of applying for one can be problematic. This is because survivors are required to submit an application form, a witness statement and supporting evidence – forcing them to recall harrowing details of their past abuse. With this in mind, we’ll continue pushing for the insolvency register to be made private, so that no one has to take extra steps or relive trauma to stay safe.

This victory shows what’s possible when survivors, campaigners, charities and policymakers work together - and it’s a powerful reminder that financial systems can, and should, protect those most at risk.