Spousal support is money that is sometimes paid by one spouse to the other after their relationship ends.
A very common misconception is that spousal support is mandatory after a breakup. In reality, spousal support is not guaranteed in every case. The spouse seeking spousal support must first prove they are entitled to spousal support.
The two most common reasons why a spouse could be entitled to support are:
because of financial need, or
because of sacrifices the spouse made during the relationship that impacted that spouse’s career or ability to earn an income.
Once entitlement is established, the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines provide guidance on the potential amount and duration of support that could be owed. There is also a free online spousal support calculator.
There are a lot of different factors that determine whether or not a spouse is entitled to spousal support, as well as the amount and duration. We invite you to book a consultation with one of our lawyers to see how spousal support could affect your situation.
Did you know?
Unlike child support payments, which have no tax consequences for either spouse, spousal support is taxable as income for the recipient and tax deductible for the payor if made in monthly payments.