Spousal Support
If you are married or having been living in a relationship together for two years or more, it does not matter in British Columbia for the purpose of spousal support. Spousal support is not guaranteed. If you are thinking about leaving your spouse, contact a lawyer at Bislaw to determine what you obligations and entitlements are before you commit to leaving your spouse.
The objectives of spousal support are found in section 161 of the Family Law Act:
In determining entitlement to spousal support, the parties to an agreement or the court must consider the following objectives:
- (a) to recognize any economic advantages or disadvantages to the spouses arising from the relationship between the spouses or the breakdown of that relationship;
- (b) to apportion between the spouses any financial consequences arising from the care of their child, beyond the duty to provide support for the child;
- (c) to relieve any economic hardship of the spouses arising from the breakdown of the relationship between the spouses;
- (d) as far as practicable, to promote the economic self-sufficiency of each spouse within a reasonable period of time.
The factors used to determine spousal support in British Columbia are found in section 162 of the Family Law Act. The amount and duration of spousal support, if any, must be determined on consideration of the conditions, means, needs and other circumstances of each spouse, including the following:
- (a) the length of time the spouses lived together;
- (b) the functions performed by each spouse during the period they lived together;
- (c) an agreement between the spouses, or an order, relating to the support of either spouse.
Get a consultation with a lawyer at Bislaw to find out how much money spousal support will be in your specific circumstance. Changes to your income can have a significant impact on how much money spousal support will cost and for how long.