Hi I need advice for a relative. She is 33 yrs, Australian born. She lived with another family member (carer) from age about 4 to 21 due to her parents incarceration.There was a lot of physical abuse in the home with he natural children. At 21 she left Australia suddenly to live with her mother overseas. She returned to Australia this year back to the careers house. She found out the carer has been operating a company in her name for the past ten years with to financials returned. They won’t give her any info about the operations. Distraught she reached out to me and I arranged alternate accommodation for her. Feeling safe she has now disclosed the carer emotionally manipulated her into marrying an immigrant and that was the reason she left at 21 yrs, despite she was a reluctant participant she was paid 2K for the marriage. She has no idea what happened after that if a visa was granted to the guy ect. She is iemotionally destroyed, trying to start a new job and move forward. She is on a very low wage. She feels ashamed, embarrassed and displays all the symptoms PTSD. I am not equipped to provide advice, other than I told her perhaps she should consider closing the company, and bank account and when ATO ask about the returns she can tell them her story. It’s heartbreaking to see the level of emotional control and abuse she endured and the consequences she is facing. Telling her story to defend herself will be a major milestone for her. Please advice what expertise of legal practice she should be looking for and if closing down the company is the best idea to put this material into the correct authorities?
