Spousal Support Vs Child Support: What’s the difference?
If a relationship between two partners ends, one partner may be entitled to spousal support. Generally, if one partner is in a better financial state than the other, they are required to pay spousal support.
This allows the partner who is in need of support to maintain the standard of living with which they are accustomed to, have access to finances while they search for employment, and pay tuition fees for education or training in order to become self-sufficient. Entitlement to spousal support is based on the obligations of each spouse to support themselves and each other if they have the means to do so.
If children are present during divorce, child support takes precedent over spousal support. This ensures that parents continue to provide for their children, as it is the child’s legal right to be supported by both parents. Generally the parent who is granted primary custody of the child, the custodial parent, is the one handling the expenses involved with raising the child.
Noncustodial parents are legally required to pay the child support if their children are under the age of majority, or cannot live independently due to factors such as illness, disability, and education fees.
Both spousal support and child support are established by the Divorce Act and the Family Law Act. In terms of spousal support, the Divorce Act pertains to couples who were previously married, and the Family Law Act applies to common law couples.
In terms of child support, the Divorce Act applies to legally married couples in the process of divorce or who are already divorced, and the Family Law Act pertains to couples who are legally married and are becoming separated rather than divorced. Also, spousal support may be deducted on the payer’s income tax return and is considered taxable to the recipient spouse, whereas child support is not. Also, spousal support has no automatic entitlement once a person becomes a “spouse”.
Our main hub for British Columbia is located in the heart of Vancouver. That said, we serve the entire province of BC. We have the infrastructure to work with any of our clients virtually — even the furthest regions of British Columbia.
Call 778-452-0221 [toll free 1 (877) 402-1004] to get routed to the best representative to serve you or contact us online for general inquiries.
We also have a dedicated intake form to help you get the ball rolling. Our intake team will review your specific case and advise you on the next steps to take as well as what to expect moving forward. That’s the best way to schedule an appointment
Our offices are generally open 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m., Mon—Fri.
Harkeerat Singh
FAMILY LAWYER
Harkeerat is committed to providing personalized and effective legal solutions. He has handled all aspects of Family Law, including parenting, child support, spousal support, relocation, property division and child-related matters. He also has experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution including Mediation.
The Legal Review Process by Spectrum Family Law
- Spectrum strives for high-quality, legally verified content.
- Content is meticulously researched and reviewed by our legal writers/proofers (usually local law students).
- Details are sourced from trusted legal sources like the Family Law Act.
- Each article is edited for accuracy, clarity, and relevance.
- If you find any incorrect information or discrepancies in legal facts, we kindly ask that you contact us with a correction to ensure accuracy.