CHILD SUPPORT LAWYERS: EQUITABLE SOLUTIONS FOR CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT

Child Support in Alberta

When you and your spouse or partner decides to separate, there are lots of unknowns. If you have children, one of the primary concerns is how to provide for the kids. Both parents want to ensure an equitable solution is found that will allow the children to continue to engage in all those activities they loved to do before their parents decided to go their separate ways. Child support in Alberta is designed to provide a fair solution, ensuring that children continue to enjoy the same quality of life, including participating in the activities they loved before their parents’ separation.

Getting to the right number sometimes takes some digging. People’s work situations are sometimes complex. When people are self-employed, work on farms or do work “under the table”, it is not going to be enough just to look at line 150 of a tax return to figure out what the appropriate guideline income should be for child support purposes.

Understanding Child Support Guidelines

Determining the right amount of child support can be complex. Many factors influence support calculations, including income, living arrangements, and additional expenses. The child support guidelines help establish fair payments based on each parent’s financial situation. However, when individuals are self-employed, work in agriculture, or receive unreported income, determining the appropriate amount requires a deeper financial review. It is not always enough to rely solely on tax return figures.

At Gunn Law Group, our child support lawyers work closely with clients to ensure agreements are reasonable and enforceable. We help parents navigate financial complexities and create sustainable solutions that align with Alberta’s legal standards while prioritizing the child’s best interests.

Spousal Support: Ensuring Fair Financial Agreements

Of course, the children are not the only ones affected by a separation or divorce. If one spouse has spent more time than the other staying at home, looking after the children or helping to further the other spouse’s career, spousal support is an issue that will likely need to be explored. Entitlement is always the threshold issue to be explored.

Key factors in determining spousal support include:

The duration of the relationship
Financial contributions and sacrifices made during the marriage
Any existing written agreements regarding financial arrangements

If there should be spousal support paid from one party to the other, coming up with the appropriate amount is much more akin to an art than a science. The child support lawyers at Gunn Law Group take a personalized approach, ensuring that financial agreements are equitable and sustainable for both parties.