to think my friend is being criminally blackmailed

[lascar]

My friend split from her DP recently. They weren't married, have 2 kids and shared a house. He has always been emotionally abusive and manipulative. She had an affair with their mutual friend. On Friday he made her sign a document agreeing to split the proceeds of their house sale unequally in his favour, instead of 50/50. He told her if she didn't sign he'd show her text messages to her lover to her lover's wife, who doesn't yet know about the affair. My friend's DP got hold of these messages by getting access to my friend's phone without her permission. AIBU to think this is criminal blackmail? My friend signed the document. Advice please...

This post was edited by MNHQ

Stay out of it

She should talk to a solicitor and her boyfriend should tell his wife.

She’s crazy to have signed it. Will it stand up in court? She should deny having signed it.

Yes. She needs to speak to a lawyer and/or the police.

Yes. She is. Regardless of who cheated on who, tell her to report report it to the police...or at the very least consult a solicitor.

It's blackmail. She should see a solicitor. Or better still, she should tell her lover to tell his wife about the affair, as her Ex will be doing so.... then there is no reason to blackmail her.

He could still tell the other betrayed spouse...even if he gets the assets.

She's rather foolish to sign... I'm not sure it would stand up in court without being witnessed by a lawyer anyway...but she needs legal advice.

I hate pp saying stay out of it when you ask a question.

Thanks all. I'm going to delete this post because it might be identifiable, but thanks for the input. She needs to talk to a solicitor at the very least.

In any event the house isn't sold... she doesn't have to give him 75%.

She has 2 kids...why would she give him more.

Actually...I just remembered a case where a similar thing happened. The ex made her sign rights to child support away, or he would tell all and her lover was a married public figure.

Except he then agreed to help her with money, to prevent his wife and community knowing.

Affairs are messy.

She's being blackmailed and should seek advice.

She should not be having affairs.

Karma ....

Does the man she had an affair with know about the ex's threats? If not, I'd tell him and see if he wants to deal with it - after all he's the one who has the most to lose.

I'd also report it to the police. Blackmail is taken seriously.

Documents like that would need to be witnessed by a solicitor or else he could just sign it himself and say it was her.
Tell her to avoid situations sheer she is alone with him.

OP, before you go, it's very, very unlikely that her boyfriend will stay with her. It's really in her financial interests to see a solicitor so that that agreement is void.

The ex made her sign rights to child support away
This is legally impossible.

Good advice. Thank you

If she gives him anything more than he is entitled to, then he'll know he has "power"

Her moral compass aside, she needs to front him out and shag partner needs to come clean

It's definitely blackmail, she needs to contact her solicitor and the police.

Coercive control is now a crime.