If there are children of the relationship, their needs must be covered first through child support. If you have been in a long-term relationship, you will need to decide whether either of you is eligible for spousal support (also called alimony).
Spousal support is not mandatory. It is perfectly acceptable to give up all rights to spousal support. If you and your ex can come to an agreement about spousal support outside of court, that may be what is best for you.
If you cannot agree, the courts will generally award spousal support within the Spousal Support Guidelines, which can be looked up online.
The Guidelines take into account the following:
- Each spouse’s income
- Each spouse’s age
- The length of the relationship
The Guidelines will give you a range of possible support, from low to high end. Which end you fall into will depend on a number of factors, including:
- Your health
- Any sacrifices made during the relationship, such as taking time off work to take care of the children
- Your ages
If spousal support is part of your final agreement, you will also need to decide how long it will go on, whether it will be paid on an ongoing basis or as a lump sum, and whether there will be clauses in your agreement to recalculate spousal support if necessary.
Claudia Bordes 