How can I stop illegal diversion of my online store payouts?

Retail & Point of Sale

Topic summary

Co-owned Shopify store “Garden like a Girl” reports that, amid a divorce, one owner is diverting Shopify Payments payouts to an unauthorized bank account in violation of court orders. The requesting owner asks Shopify to freeze the account until the legal matter is resolved.

  • Support guidance: A Shopify representative explains that account-specific issues cannot be handled on the public forum. They direct the merchant to the Help Center to contact live Support, providing step-by-step instructions. Once connected, Support will coordinate with Shopify Payments and legal teams.

  • Context: Shopify Payments payouts are disbursements of store sales deposited to a merchant’s bank account.

  • Update: The original poster followed the Help Center process and reports being closer to a solution, though no final outcome is shared.

  • Additional perspective: Another participant claims a similar negative experience, alleging funds were held without explanation.

  • Status: Unresolved/ongoing. Next steps are through Shopify’s live Support and internal Payments/legal review; no confirmation of an account freeze or restitution yet.

Summarized with AI on January 24. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Garden like a Girl is owned by: 51% - Mary Garlock and 49% Thomas Garlock. We are divorcing and against court orders, Thomas Garlock is diverting Shopify payouts to an unauthorized bank account. I am requesting the Shopify account be frozen until this matter is resolved - legally. I look forward to your response. Mary Garlock

2

How do I get Shopify to freeze this account?

3

Hi there, @MMoose .

I can definitely share some information with you about your inquiry.

For any matters related to your Shopify Payments payouts, you will need to get in touch with our live Support team through the Help Center. We aren’t able to provide account-specific support through the Shopify Community forums (aka the site that we’re posting on now). Rather, the Shopify Community provides discussion forums for merchants, partners, and experts, as well as those looking to learn more about Shopify. You can take part in business conversations, receive support for technical questions from other community members, and learn more about Shopify in general.

As mentioned, for your inquiry, you’ll need to get in touch with us through the Help Center. When it comes to reaching out to our live Support line, I’ll provide some steps here to make it easier.

  1. Head over to this link: Contact Shopify Support · Shopify Help Center
  2. Log in (recommended) or Continue without logging in
  3. Use the Search Bar to look into your current issue, such as “Issue with payout” or “Request callback”
  4. Scroll down to where it says Get support and click Continue
  5. Choose one of the available support options

Once you get connected with a Support Advisor, you can explain your situation and they will work with our Shopify Payments and legal teams to see what can be done for you.

I hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any more questions!

4

I’ve done exactly as instructed and am now closer a solution.

1 Like
5

Another victim here they will play with your money then give you no reason as to why