Child & Spousal Support
Equitable Solutions for Child and Spousal Support
When you and your spouse or partner decides to separate, there are lots of unknowns. If you have children, one of the primary concerns is how to provide for the kids. Both parents want to ensure an equitable solution is found that will allow the children to continue to engage in all those activities they loved to do before their parents decided to go their separate ways. Child support in Alberta is designed to provide a fair solution, ensuring that children continue to enjoy the same quality of life, including participating in the activities they loved before their parents’ separation.
Getting to the right number sometimes takes some digging. People’s work situations are sometimes complex. When people are self-employed, work on farms or do work “under the table”, it is not going to be enough just to look at line 150 of a tax return to figure out what the appropriate guideline income should be for child support purposes.
Understanding and Fair
Together, we help you come up with a parenting order that allows your children to continue to flourish even though the family structure has changed. The drafting of a good parenting order takes time, effort, patience and sensitivity but your children are well worth it.
The overhaul of the federal Divorce Act took effect in January 2020 and, in keeping with the new approach being promoted by various levels of governments and our courts, we strive to ensure that our language parallels that of the developing legislation and jurisprudence. In addition, we at Gunn Law Group agree that “custody”, “access” or “visitation” rights made children sound like property to be fought over. Shifting the focus to parenting time and decision-making reinforces that the two parents, while maybe no longer together, will hopefully function as a parenting team to their children in the future.
Understanding Child Support Guidelines
Determining the right amount of child support can be complex. Many factors influence support calculations, including income, living arrangements, and additional expenses. The child support guidelines help establish fair payments based on each parent’s financial situation. However, when individuals are self-employed, work in agriculture, or receive unreported income, determining the appropriate amount requires a deeper financial review. It is not always enough to rely solely on tax return figures.
At Gunn Law Group, our child support lawyers work closely with clients to ensure agreements are reasonable and enforceable. We help parents navigate financial complexities and create sustainable solutions that align with Alberta’s legal standards while prioritizing the child’s best interests.
Spousal Support: Ensuring Fair Financial Agreements
Of course, the children are not the only ones affected by a separation or divorce. If one spouse has spent more time than the other staying at home, looking after the children or helping to further the other spouse’s career, spousal support is an issue that will likely need to be explored. Entitlement is always the threshold issue to be explored.
Key factors in determining spousal support include:
- The duration of the relationship
- Financial contributions and sacrifices made during the marriage
- Any existing written agreements regarding financial arrangements
If there should be spousal support paid from one party to the other, coming up with the appropriate amount is much more akin to an art than a science. The child support lawyers at Gunn Law Group take a personalized approach, ensuring that financial agreements are equitable and sustainable for both parties.
