Who Pays The Bills During A Separation?
Who Pays The Bills During A Separation In Alberta?
When couples are separated, they remain legally married. This means the Family Law Act still applies, including section 5 which says that spouses must live separate and apart for one year before being eligible to apply for a divorce. While spouses are separated, they continue to be responsible for all of the expenses that came with the marriage, such as rent and/or any joint loan payments (such as a mortgage). Listed below are more examples of joint financial obligations:
- Maintenance costs (such as heat and hydro or cable);
- Capital expenses (such as major repairs or appliance replacement) that benefit both parties;
- Day-to-day expenses (such as food, transportation, insurance, etc.); and
- Care of the child(ren) of the marriage/relationship.
When married couples decide to separate, the spouses must determine how they will support themselves and their children. Traditionally, the obligation to financially support a child shifted from parents when a child reached the age of 18. In today’s society, many parents still continue to provide financial support for adult children well beyond that age. Child support is usually paid by one parent to the other until a child reaches majority (the age at which he or she becomes an adult under the law in Alberta) or until a court orders otherwise.
What Happens When One Spouse Can’t Pay?
When people separate, it can put a lot of financial strain on them. One spouse might ask a judge for temporary support from the other as the couple tries to sort out their finances. The judge generally decides whether to grant this kind of request based on each spouse’s needs, ability to pay and length of time they’ve been married.
Generally speaking, a judge will order “temporary spousal support” if either spouse needs money right away — because the payment due date is coming up or bills are due. If you need help paying expenses related to your home, such as your mortgage or housing costs, a judge might order temporary help with these payments too.
Does The Husband Have To Pay The Wife During A Separation In Alberta?
Many people wonder ‘does the husband have to pay the wife during separation in Alberta?’. Well, it depends on the person’s individual circumstances.
Everyone knows that the legal process for a divorce is both long and expensive. When you’re in the middle of a divorce, it can be difficult to make ends meet. If you’re a breadwinner and supporting your spouse, as well as your children, it may be difficult to cover your basic monthly expenses such as housing, food and other necessities. In addition to covering your own necessities, many spouses are responsible for providing an allowance for their children during the divorce process.
The best thing you can do during a separation is come to terms via a written agreement, many couples find that using a divorce mediator to help negotiate terms is both a useful and cost effective way to come to an agreement about finances.
The Takeaway
When a couple separates or divorces, the division of time and costs associated with their children often becomes the most emotional, stressful, and contentious issue. It’s easy to get swept up in anger and hurt from a separation. One of the best ways to avoid this problem during separation disputes is to draw up an agreement for parenting time, child support and any other spousal support payments, as well as coming to an agreement about divorce financial responsibilities
