Everything moves so fast, suddenly. Elsa organises a lawyer when she realises Hans has cleared out their bank accounts. She has no idea what she's doing, but she just wants to stop Hans from taking anything more. They have to settle. They have to.
She doesn't want him to take her child away.
Of course, she admits bitterly to Anna one day, he's not going to be interested in a daughter anyway. Elsa will forever have that burden on her back. She was so desperate, she gave up everything for a child she can't even sustain.