Spousal support, also known as alimony or maintenance, is a financial payment that one spouse may be required to make to the other after a separation or divorce. The purpose of spousal support is to provide financial assistance to the lower-earning or non-earning spouse to help them maintain a similar standard of living to what they were accustomed to during the marriage.
There are two ways spousal support is calculated in Ontario: spousal support without child support and spousal support with child support. The calculation for spousal support is not straightforward and depends on many factors, such as how long you were married, the age of the children, each spouse’s obligations, etc. There are also special rules when it comes to low-income and high-income individuals.
Spousal Support Example
Here is an example of a couple where one spouse makes 100k/year salary, the other spouse does not work. They were married for 10 years. They have one child who is 4 years old and lives with the second spouse who doesn’t work. Here is a breakdown of three scenarios:
There are many things to consider when you or your spouse have to pay spousal support. The most important factor is ensuring the calculation is done correctly and that the spouse making the payments is able to pay it. The courts take spousal support and child support very seriously; if not paid, it could lead to consequences like wage garnishment or suspension of your driver’s license.
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