Spousal Support In Canada
When a couple gets divorced or becomes separated under Canadian law one party will usually have to pay spousal support to the other. Depending on how amicable the breakup has been the amount of spousal support can be agreed upon by the couple or if they cannot come to an agreement than the courts will decide the amount. Spousal support in Canada is granted to assist one partner until they are financial stable or to compensate for a loss.
Some of the more important factors that come into play with spousal support in Canada are how long the couple was married, whether it was a traditional marriage, and the lifestyle that the couple led. You will usually find that the higher earning spouse will be ordered to pay spousal support in Canada to their partner for a specific amount of time as this will help the other party adjust to their new life.
Another thing you should be aware of with spousal support in Canada is that after the amount has been set by the courts either party can apply to have the spousal support increased or decreased if something significant has happened in their lives. Some typical examples of where an application to change the amount of spousal support in Canada are if one party has lost their job, or if the person receiving spousal support has obtained better employment or remarried. If you are dealing with spousal support you should speak with a family lawyer as soon as possible. You can find a local family lawyer in our free legal directory located here.
