Historically, spousal support in
Ontario was reserved for individuals who were or had been married.
However, recent changes to the Ontario Family Law Act (FLA) have
broadened the scope. Under the FLA, the definition of a ‘spouse’ now
includes those who are married, were previously married, or, in
certain situations, were never married but lived together in a
marriage-like relationship. Importantly, the Divorce Act’s
definition of a ‘spouse’ remains limited to married couples.
For those who were never married, eligibility for spousal support in
Ontario requires meeting specific criteria:
1.Cohabitation for at least three years, or
2.Cohabitation in a marriage-like relationship while being the
natural or adoptive parents of a child.
In these cases, spousal support is
considered due to the FLA's recognition of the contributions made
and economic impacts experienced by the spouses during their time
together. If you need expert guidance on navigating these complex
issues, consulting a
spousal support lawyer in Toronto ,
spousal support lawyer in richmond hill or spousal support lawyer in
thornhill like Sourena Sarbazevatan, who is experienced as both an
Iranian spousal support lawyer in Toronto
and a Persian spousal support lawyer in Toronto, can be immensely
helpful.
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