Spousal Support in New Brunswick

Spousal support (sometimes called alimony) may be payable by one spouse to the other after separation. It's designed to address economic disadvantages arising from the marriage or its breakdown.

Entitlement depends on factors like: income disparity between spouses, length of the relationship, roles during the marriage (e.g., if one spouse stayed home), and economic disadvantages from the relationship.

The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines provide a framework for calculating amount and duration. Generally, longer marriages mean longer support periods. The amounts depend on both spouses' incomes and the recipient's needs.

Support can be varied if circumstances change materially - like job loss, retirement, or the recipient becoming self-sufficient. Support typically ends at retirement age or when the recipient can reasonably support themselves.