Your own bank account
Open a new bank account, at a different financial institution, in your name only. Use a new PIN that your partner will not guess.
If you have direct deposit, inform your employer about your new account once it is safe to do so.
Utility bills
Photocopy utility bills for the previous several months and keep them somewhere safe.
RESPs
Talk to your financial institution about whether you can move any RESPs
to a new bank. This may not be possible if both your and your partner’s names are on the RESP.
Your financial information
Take your tax returns, pay stubs and other financial documents from the past several years and store in a safe place: at work, with a trusted friend
or family member or in a safety deposit box at your new bank.
Your partner’s financial information
If you can do this safely, look through your partner’s financial documents (bank statements, pay stubs, tax returns, mortgage documents, investment reports, etc.) and make photocopies.
Put the photocopies in a safe place away from home: at work, with a trusted friend or family member or in a safety deposit box at your new bank.
Mortgage/line of credit
Talk to your bank or mortgage broker to ensure your partner cannot add to the mortgage/line of credit without your in-person consent.
Credit cards
Get a new credit card in your name only from a different credit card company than any cards you have now. Use a new PIN that your partner will not guess.
Revenue Canada (federal taxes)
Contact Revenue Canada as soon as you have a new address.
Complete and submit change of information form with Revenue Canada.
Money in joint accounts
You have a legal right to half the money in any joint accounts, so you should remove that money and put it in an account in your own name. Do this as soon as possible after you leave so your partner does not take all of the money, but do not do it before you leave in case he checks the bank balance and sees that half the money is gone.
Banking
Tell your bank once you have left the relationship and discuss financial considerations.