What are the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines?
The federal Department of Justice published draft Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines on January 28, 2005 in an effort to make calculation of spousal support more predictable. The Guidelines do not deal with the question of whether a spouse is entitled to support. Once this is decided, the Guidelines can help to determine how much support should be paid, and for how long. Unlike the Child Support Guidelines, spouses, lawyers, and judges are not required by law to follow the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, but may choose to do so.
