Spousal Support in British Columbia

In BC, both married spouses and common-law partners (after 2 years of cohabitation) can claim spousal support. Entitlement is based on three factors: compensatory (one spouse sacrificed career opportunities for the family), non-compensatory (one spouse has needs and the other has the ability to pay), and contractual (any agreements between the spouses).

BC courts use the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG) to calculate the amount and duration of support. The SSAG provide ranges based on income disparity and length of the relationship. For example, in a 15-year marriage where one spouse earns $150,000 and the other earns $40,000, the SSAG might suggest support of $2,500-$3,500/month for 7.5-15 years. These are guidelines, not rules — courts can deviate based on individual circumstances.

The general rule of thumb is 0.5-1 year of support for each year of marriage/cohabitation. A 10-year relationship might result in 5-10 years of support. Very long relationships (20+ years) may result in indefinite support, particularly if the recipient is near retirement age.