The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG) are intended to provide a fair and standardized approach to spousal support, but they are not one-size-fits-all. There are several scenarios where deviations from the norm are permitted. This post will delve into several exceptions to the SSAG, including cases involving high or low payor income, compelling interim financial circumstances, debt payment, and more.

Income determination is a pivotal process in family law, particularly in the calculation of spousal support. It is an often intricate procedure that, while borrowing significantly from the child support guidelines, features its unique complexities. This article aims to shed light on three central aspects of income determination for spousal support: the role of the recipient spouse's income, the concept of asset equalization, and specific income determination issues unique to spousal support.