The Canadian Law of Spousal Support

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the challenges of defining the appropriate role for spousal support in the context of modern family law. It shows how Canadian law has met these challenges and sets out the legislative and jurisprudential framework for spousal support in Canada. The article describes the Canadian law of spousal support in practice, with attention to the problems an expansion in this area has generated, leading to an interest in guidelines. It concludes by exploring the feasibility of introducing some form of spousal support guidelines to provide greater structure and certainty to the law.

Keywords: Canadian law, spousal support, guideline, certainty