A Frozen Account as a Single Parent
When the account that feeds and houses your children is frozen, here is how to act.
Sources checked 2026-09-17 to 2026-09-29
You are the only one holding things together
A frozen account is frightening for anyone. For a single parent, it may be the account that pays for food, rent and school.
You may be the only earner and the only carer. That pressure is real, and there are practical steps you can take.
A freeze has time limits
A freeze under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) has time limits. A s44 freeze ends after 90 days if you are not charged. A seizure order under s52A lapses after 18 months if you are not charged or no prosecution is started [f2].
That does not pay this month’s bills. A lawyer can tell you which limit applies to you.
Asking for money for your children
Can some money be released so your children can eat, keep their home and stay in school? There is a route. AMLA 2001 s44A lets the account holder apply in writing to the enforcement agency that made a section 44 freeze to release money for reasonable living or business expenses [f1].
The application is made in writing to the agency that froze the account. Show clearly what your household needs each month and why. A lawyer can prepare the application and gather the records that support it.
Keeping the essentials going meanwhile
While the application is pending, put your energy where it counts. Make a simple list of what cannot wait, such as food, rent and school fees, and what can hold for now.
You do not have to decide everything alone. Asking trusted family or friends for practical help is sensible, and a lawyer can help you prioritise.
Getting legal help on one income
Worry about legal costs is understandable. The Legal Aid Department may give help at low or no cost to those who qualify on income [f3]. Tell them early that you are a sole provider.
You also have the right to consult a lawyer. Article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution guarantees the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of your choice [f4].
What to keep ready
Keep records of your household’s essential costs: groceries, rent, utilities and school fees. They make the need easy to show.
Also keep every document about the freeze, including dates, letters and anything the bank sent you. Ask someone you trust to help you sort them if you can.
Moving quickly without panic
A freeze that reaches your children’s daily needs is urgent. Acting early is right, but acting in panic leads to poor choices.
Get advice, apply to release money for essential needs, and ask which time limit applies to your freeze. If you are considering legal representation, request independent lawyer contact on WhatsApp with a brief, general message and no documents.
Sources
Need a Lawyer for Your Frozen Account Case?
Request Lawyer ContactFor people seeking legal representation. For general information, use our guides and tools.
Independent information resource, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. Where appropriate and with your consent, we can connect you with an independent lawyer. Availability and acceptance of a case are not guaranteed. How referral works
My account is frozen and I have children to feed. Can I get some money released?
Possibly. AMLA 2001 s44A lets the account holder apply in writing to the enforcement agency that made a section 44 freeze to release money for reasonable living or business expenses. Food, rent and school fees for your children are the kind of costs this is meant for. A lawyer can help you explain the need and gather proof.
How long can the freeze last?
Not forever. An AMLA s44 freeze ends after 90 days if you are not charged. A seizure order under s52A lapses after 18 months if you are not charged or no prosecution is started. That does not ease this month's bills, so asking early for living expenses still matters.
I am the only earner. How do I cope in the meantime?
Write down what your children need every week and keep proof. Then list what cannot wait, such as food, rent and school, and what can. A lawyer can help you apply for release of funds so you are not deciding everything alone.
I cannot afford a lawyer on one income. What now?
The Legal Aid Department may give help at low or no cost to those who qualify on income, so ask early and say you are a sole provider. You also have the right to consult a lawyer of your choice. Asking for help you are entitled to is sensible.
Related pages
If your situation is a little different, these pages cover the closest topics.
Need a Lawyer for Your Frozen Account Case?
Request Lawyer ContactFor people seeking legal representation. For general information, use our guides and tools.
Independent information resource, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. Where appropriate and with your consent, we can connect you with an independent lawyer. Availability and acceptance of a case are not guaranteed. How referral works