Tools

Spousal Support Assessment Wizard (Ontario)

Answer a series of guided questions to help identify the factors that commonly affect entitlement to spousal support in Ontario — a starting point before speaking with a lawyer.

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BA, JD Site Managed by Ryan Manilla
15+ yrs At Ontario Bar

This tool provides an educational starting point only, not legal advice. It does not produce a binding legal result, replace advice from a qualified lawyer, guarantee what a court might order, or create a legally enforceable agreement. Your real situation may involve factors this tool cannot account for.

About This Tool

This wizard walks through the factors that commonly affect spousal support in Ontario — such as the length of the relationship, income differences, and roles during the relationship — and organizes your answers into a summary to review.

It assesses general factors only. For an estimate of a possible support range or amount, see the Spousal Support Estimator calculator instead.

Spousal support depends heavily on individual circumstances and is not automatic. See the guides linked below for more on how spousal support generally works in Ontario.

Highly searched questions

Frequently Asked Questions About the Spousal Support Assessment Wizard

Answers to the questions people ask most often about this tool — general information only, not legal advice.

01 Who is generally entitled to spousal support in Ontario?

Entitlement generally depends on factors like the length of the relationship, roles during the relationship, and any resulting economic advantage or disadvantage from separating. See Spousal Support Eligibility.

02 Is spousal support automatic after separation?

No. Unlike child support, spousal support is not automatic — entitlement has to be established based on the specific circumstances of the relationship.

03 Does the length of the relationship affect entitlement?

Yes, it's generally one of the most significant factors, along with roles taken on during the relationship and the resulting financial impact of the separation on each spouse.

04 Can a stay-at-home parent claim spousal support?

Often yes — taking on a primary caregiving or homemaking role that affected career or income is a commonly recognized basis for spousal support entitlement, though it still depends on the full picture.

05 Does this wizard tell me how much support I'd receive?

No — this wizard assesses general entitlement factors only. For a possible range or amount, use the Spousal Support Estimator instead.

06 Can spousal support be waived in an agreement?

Sometimes, though courts can still override a waiver in certain circumstances, especially if it would create real hardship. See Separation Agreements.

07 Does adultery or "fault" affect spousal support?

Generally, no — Ontario and federal family law is largely "no-fault," meaning conduct like adultery generally isn't a factor in support decisions, with narrow exceptions for very extreme misconduct.

08 Can common-law partners claim spousal support?

Yes — common-law partners can generally claim spousal support under family law, even though property division rules differ. See the Common-Law Rights Calculator.

09 Does remarriage end spousal support?

Not automatically — it can be a relevant factor, especially for support tied to need, but it doesn't automatically cancel an existing support obligation in every case.

10 What should I do after completing this assessment?

Use your results as a general orientation, then speak with a family lawyer to discuss entitlement in more depth. See Spousal Support for the fuller guides.

Free Consultation Available
BA, JD Site Managed by Ryan Manilla
15+ yrs At Ontario Bar
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If you have family-law related questions and would like to speak to an Ontario family lawyer for a 30-minute free consultation, please fill out this form.

Submitting this form does not create a lawyer-client relationship. A participating Ontario family lawyer will contact you to arrange your free 30-minute consultation.