Understand the financial obligations before you agree

Support can affect your household budget for years. You may be trying to understand a proposed payment, obtain missing income information or find out what a change in circumstances means for an existing arrangement.

Thomas J. MacLennan helps clients assess child and spousal support, review financial disclosure and negotiate terms or resolve disputes in court. He has practised law in Ontario since 1989. You work directly with Thomas.

Request a consultation or call 416-591-1354.

Child support: income, parenting arrangements and expenses

Child support is generally assessed under the applicable Child Support Guidelines. Income, the number of children and parenting arrangements affect the calculation. Special or extraordinary expenses may also need to be addressed, such as qualifying child-care, health, education and extracurricular costs.

Thomas helps you understand the calculation and the information behind it, including proposed contributions to children’s expenses and arrangements for ongoing financial disclosure.

Spousal support: entitlement, amount and duration

The first question is whether a spouse is entitled to support. The roles during the relationship, its length and the parties’ financial circumstances may be relevant. An income difference alone does not settle that question.

Where entitlement is established, the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines suggest ranges for amount and duration. They are advisory rather than law. Thomas helps you assess the proposed terms, including review or termination provisions, and how they fit with the other financial issues arising from separation.

Start with reliable income information

Self-employment, business ownership, bonuses and disputed income can make support calculations more complex. A proposal needs to be considered alongside the records supporting it.

Thomas can help you:

• Review tax returns, notices of assessment and other income records.
• Identify missing disclosure and questions about reported income.
• Assess self-employment income and corporate earnings, with financial experts where needed.
• Understand proposed support calculations and negotiate payment terms.
• Review support provisions in an agreement or court order.

Existing orders, unpaid support and changes

If circumstances have changed, get advice about the existing agreement or order and the process for seeking a change. Do not assume that a change in income automatically changes the payment required.

Thomas also advises on enforcement when payments are not being made and on claims concerning support for past periods. Bring the current document and explain what has changed, what has been paid and what remains disputed.

Preparing for your consultation

Have any proposed or existing agreement, court order, recent tax returns and notices of assessment available. Include income records and details of children’s expenses where relevant. If either person is self-employed or owns a business, mention this when booking. Tell the office about any court date or response deadline.

Arrange a consultation

Consultations are one-hour paid meetings with Thomas, available by telephone, Zoom or in person. See consultation details and request an appointment, or call 416-591-1354.