YWCA Fresh Start start 3:Layout 1 - YWCA Canada

YWCA CANADA | A TURNING POINT FOR WOMENmuch and for how long. Generally, the law expects the two spouses tobecome economically independent from one another if at all possible.Whether or not this is possible for you will depend on a number offactors, such as:• The length of your relationship• Who had primary financial responsibility during the relationship• What roles each of you played (for example, if you stayed home toraise the children while your partner’s earning capacity increased)• Your age• Your ability to re-enter the workforce.Child supportBoth parents have a legal responsibility to contribute to the financialsupport of their children. Generally, the parent who does not haveprimary responsibility for the children pays child support to theparent who does. Provincial, territorial and federal governments haveimplemented child support guidelines that set out how much supportthe payer parent is required to provide. This amount is determinedbased on the payer’s income and the number of children.The base amount of child support may be increased if the child hasspecial needs or decreased if the payer can show that he isexperiencing undue hardship.Child support is generally paid until children are 18 years old. It maybe ended earlier if the child leaves home or continued longer if thechild remains in school full-time or has a disability that means she orhe must continue to rely on the parents for support.The amount of child support being paid can be varied if the incomeof the payer increases or decreases.Child support in families where the children spend roughly equalamounts of time with each parent or where some of the children livewith the mother and some with the father is calculated differently.Child support is enforced in each province and territory by agovernment agency that has considerable power to ensure the payermeets his obligations. Even if your partner leaves the province orterritory where you live, these agencies cooperate with one another totry to find him and get your support to you.70