Basics of Family Law
Spousal Support Who has to pay spousal support?
If you are married
As soon as you marry, you are legally responsible for financially supporting your husband or wife, if that support is needed. (Support might be needed for any number of reasons - because one of you stayed home to look after the children, for example).
That legal responsibility will continue even after you separate or divorce, regardless of how many years you were married.
If you are not married
If you are in a common-law relationship (opposite- or same-sex), you have the same legal responsibility to support your spouse, but it takes effect at a different time, after you have been living together for at least two years.
That means, if you decide to separate before you have been living together for two years, you do not legally have to support your former spouse.
If you live together more than two years, however, then you are legally responsible for financially supporting your spouse, if that support is needed.
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