"We were only together for three years — do I really owe spousal support?" The answer depends on entitlement, income disparity, and whether there are children. A short marriage does not automatically mean zero spousal support. Under the SSAG, the formulas produce smaller amounts and shorter durations for shorter relationships — but a large income gap can still produce a meaningful obligation, and the presence of young children can extend the minimum duration well beyond what the marriage length alone would suggest.

Entitlement Still Matters

Before the SSAG formulas produce any number, entitlement must be established. For short marriages, entitlement can be harder to establish on compensatory grounds (the economic sacrifices during a short relationship are typically less severe) but may exist on needs-based grounds if one spouse became financially dependent during the relationship — for example, by leaving employment for a maternity or parental leave, relocating for the other spouse's career, or giving up educational opportunities.

Without-Child: The Short Marriage Numbers

Under the without-child formula, both amount and duration scale directly with the length of the relationship:

At a $100,000 income gap (e.g., payor earns $130,000 and recipient earns $30,000), a 3-year relationship produces $4,500 to $6,000 per year ($375 to $500/month) for 1.5 to 3 years. This is not trivial — but it is far less than the same income gap would produce after a 15-year marriage ($22,500 to $30,000/year for 7.5 to 15 years).

With Children: School Milestones Override Marriage Length

When there are dependent children, the with-child formula's duration floor is anchored to children's school milestones, not just marriage length. The minimum duration is the longer of half the marriage length or the time until the youngest child starts full-time school (age 6). For a 2-year relationship with a newborn, the marriage-based minimum would be just 1 year — but the school milestone minimum is 6 years. The school milestone wins.

This is one of the most surprising aspects of the SSAG for short-marriage parents. A relationship that lasted only 2 years can produce a minimum spousal support duration of 6 or more years if the children are very young at separation.

Common-Law Relationships

The SSAG apply to common-law relationships as well as marriages, though entitlement rules vary by province. In some provinces, a common-law partner must cohabit for a minimum period (typically 2-3 years) before spousal support obligations arise under provincial legislation. Under the Divorce Act, only married couples can divorce — but many provinces extend spousal support rights to common-law partners through provincial family law statutes.

For a short common-law relationship, the threshold question is often whether the cohabitation period meets the provincial minimum. If it does, the SSAG formulas apply the same way as for a marriage of the same length.