Spousal Support Lawyers in NW Calgary

The assistance of an experienced lawyer is important to establish a fair and workable spousal support or alimony arrangement. You need a lawyer who understands the legal criteria and the subtle nuances of spousal support that may come into play during a divorce. Dukeshire Law Office works to fully protect our client’s rights and interests. Our spousal support lawyer in Northwest Calgary can help you get the spousal support rights or obligations in your best financial interests. 

There are several factors that the courts look at in deciding whether to award spousal support. A good legal counsel will help you understand all these factors so that you move towards a smooth transition. Contact us to speak with a Calgary spousal support lawyer.

What is Spousal Support?

A divorce may be the end of a marriage, but it doesn't necessarily end your responsibilities for your spouse. You might be eligible to receive spousal support or alimony to establish a new, post-divorce life for yourself. The court might provide you with financial assistance determined by a divorce decree in the form of spousal support. This support helps the dependent spouse achieve financial independence. There are different kinds of spousal support depending on the needs and status of the dependent spouse.

• Contractual support – This kind of spousal support comes into play when couples have a prenuptial, cohabitation, separation agreement in place specifying that one spouse is to receive support.  The payor will have to pay the contractual obligations in this case.
• Compensatory support – When one of the spouses makes sacrifices in career or education to fulfill their duties in the relationship, compensatory support comes into play.  As the name suggests, compensatory support prevents one spouse from bearing a disproportionate financial burden due to the relationship.
• Non-compensatory support –  When one spouse has to go through a significant economic hardship due to the divorce, this support helps the spouse maintain a certain standard of living. The idea here is to help them become self-sufficient.

Unmarried couples or common law partners have the same rights to spousal support as married couples as long as they fulfill either or both of the following conditions:

• Must be living together for at least three years
• Have child/children together and have been living together in a relationship of some permanence

Am I Eligible for Spousal Support?

Spousal support is not mandatory and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Applying for spousal support can be difficult and quite complex. A good spousal support lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and obligations and help you to create the best possible case. It is advisable to get legal help in such cases in order to get what you deserve. 

You might be entitled to spousal support if you are a spouse with low income and need financial help to:

• Compensate for sacrificing some power to earn income during the marriage
• Compensate for the ongoing care of children
• Help to learn job skills or education to become self-sufficient

The court considers several factors before deciding whether or not you are eligible for spousal support. Hiring a good spousal support lawyer in Northwest Calgary who understands Alberta’s laws can be of great help. Your lawyer can present your unique case and situation in the best possible way to help you.

Factors that Determine Spousal Support

There is no hard and fast rule on who should get spousal support. There are several factors that the judges consider when deciding if a spouse should get support after a divorce. These factors include:

• Financial means and needs of both spouses
• Length of the relationship
• Roles that each spouse plays in the relationship 
• Effect of the divorce on both spouses' current financial positions
• Care of the children
• Encouraging the recipient spouse to be self-sufficient
• Any orders or agreements already made about spousal support

Reach out to our team at Dukeshire Law Office in Northwest Calgary and we’ll be happy to help!