Self Employment

Self-Employment Income and Child or Spousal Support Payments

In order to set child and/or spousal support payments, the payor’s Guideline Income must first be determined. If a payor is an employee, often his/her Guideline Income will be the amount found on Line 150 of his/her previous year’s income tax return. However, if a payor is self-employed, the amount …

Financial Disclosure

Financial Disclosure Obligations During Separation

When going through a separation, understanding your financial disclosure obligations is crucial for ensuring a fair division of property, debts, and determining appropriate support payments. Upon separation from your spouse, you are entitled to financial disclosure documents in order to determine what support may be payable (either child support, spousal …

Same Sex Divorce

Same-Sex Divorce for Non-Residents of Canada

The Civil Marriage Act of 2005 changed Canadian law to allow same-sex partners equal access to marriage for civil purposes on the basis that every individual has the right to equality without discrimination. Since 2005, thousands of same-sex couples have accessed the rights afforded them under the Civil Marriage Act …

Retroactive Child Support: Payor Beware!

In 1996, the Federal Government introduced the Federal Child Support Guidelines (the “Guidelines”). The purpose of the Guidelines was to promote consistency and fairness in child support payments. The Guidelines provide for two classes of payment. First is “Section 3” child support, which is based on the payor’s income as …

Same Sex Divorce

Same-sex divorce bill for non-residents of Canada to pass

Alberta residents may remember that in June 2013, the House of Commons agreed to pass a bill before the summer recess that would enable same-sex married couples who were wed in Canada but currently live out of the country to receive divorces from Canadian courts. If it receives royal assent …

Court Order

What Happens if a Court Order is Ignored?

A court order is legally binding; however, in some instances, people will refuse to comply with a court order. This marks the beginning of a new set of worries for many Albertans who are in the midst of a family law dispute, and the compliant spouse may wonder what consequences …

Child Custody

How child support and custody impacts separated parents’ taxes

There are many things parents need to consider after separating from their significant other. Among the many considerations are changes to one’s tax status. The tax situation of a newly single parent can vary greatly depending who maintains child custody, who is paying child support and how child care expenses …