Most important step for me: counseling at domestic abuse shelter to plan and prepare myself psychologically.

I was a stay at home mom and one of my kids is comprehensively disabled. So I started a business selling rummage sale stuff and thrift store stuff online.

I started "worrying" about how PayPal might grab into our family checking account over some dispute with a customer. He ordered me to open a checking account in my name only to protect our family assets.

I didn't make much money online but it gave me cover for the financial stuff. Good thing because the first thing he did when we left was drain our checking account and close credit cards.

That's all I can really say here. Probably the most important thing I did was plan it with my counselor.