Spousal Support & Alimony

Wednesday’s Video Clip: Top 5 questions about spousal support in Ontario, Canada

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTRRFwCNBdk?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360]

Wednesday’s Video Clip: Top 5 questions about spousal support in Ontario, Canada

In this video we review the top 5 questions about spousal support in Ontario, Canada.

Spousal support – which is sometimes called “maintenance” or (especially in the U.S.) “alimony” – is money paid from one spouse to the other after the dissolution of the relationship. The obligation to pay spousal support is a legal one, and may arise either from a marriage, or from a common-law relationship. Either spouse can make a claim for it, provided:

• the spouses have lived together in a “marriage-like relationship” for at least three years; and

• the claim for spousal support is made within one year of couples’ separation.
The obligation for one spouse to pay spousal support to the other does not arise automatically from the fact that the parties had a relationship together (whether formally married or common law). Rather, the spouse who is claiming spousal support must prove an entitlement to it.

We examine:

1) What is spousal support? 

2) What is the legal basis for obtaining spousal support? 

3) What factors dictate the duration and amount of spousal support? 

4) How does the spouse’s behaviour affect spousal support entitlement? and  

5) What happens if there is a change in circumstances?

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About the author

Russell Alexander

Russell Alexander is the Founder & Senior Partner of Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers.