SPOUSAL SUPPORT

Spousal support obligations for individuals who were not married are triggered where they have lived together as a couple:

• Lived together in a romantic relationship for at least three years; or
• Lived together in a “relationship of some permanence,” and had a child together.

 If an individual is entitled to spousal support, the amount of the spousal support payment is determined by the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, which provides a range of potential support payments by taking into account the parties’ income, the parties ages, the length of the relationship, the number of children, and the nature of their income, among other things. There is a certain situation where the court does not apply the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, although this needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The advisory Spousal Support Guidelines are intended to assist in determining the amount and duration of spousal support and take the following factors into account:

• the age and health of the couple;
• available employment and training opportunities;
• the family’s standard of living before separation; and
• the time it will take for the person to become self-sufficient.