The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG) are the framework used across Canada to calculate spousal support amounts and duration. Published in final form in July 2008 by Professors Carol Rogerson and Rollie Thompson, they provide mathematical formulas that produce a range — Low, Mid, and High — rather than a single fixed number. While not legally binding in the way the federal child support tables are, the SSAG are used by virtually every family court judge and family lawyer in Canada as the starting point for spousal support analysis.

This article explains what the SSAG are, how the range framework works, the two formulas, duration rules, and how courts apply discretion within and outside the ranges.

Entitlement Comes First

The SSAG do not determine whether a spouse is entitled to spousal support. That is a separate legal question, governed by the Divorce Act (for married couples) or provincial family law legislation (for common-law partners). Entitlement is typically established on one or more of three grounds:

Only after entitlement is established do the SSAG formulas determine how much and for how long. If there is no entitlement, the SSAG produce no result — the question never reaches the formula stage.

The Low/Mid/High Range

Both SSAG formulas produce a range, not a single number. The range has three reference points: Low (the floor), Mid (the mathematical midpoint), and High (the ceiling). The range exists because spousal support involves discretionary factors that a formula cannot capture — the strength of the compensatory claim, the recipient's path to self-sufficiency, the standard of living during the marriage, and many others.

In practice, courts and lawyers use the range as a negotiation framework. A case with strong compensatory factors (long marriage, significant career sacrifice) may warrant the upper end. A case with weaker entitlement or a recipient who can quickly become self-sufficient may settle at the lower end. The mid-point is often used as a starting point for negotiation.

The Two Formulas

The SSAG use two entirely different formulas depending on whether there are dependent children:

The without-child formula is simpler — it operates on gross income and scales linearly with relationship length. The with-child formula is more complex because it must account for child support (calculated first), taxes, government benefits, and the circular dependency between spousal support and the tax system. For a detailed breakdown of both formulas with worked examples, see our article on combined child and spousal support.

Duration — How Long Does Support Last?

The SSAG provide duration ranges alongside amount ranges. Duration rules differ between the two formulas:

For a deeper discussion of duration rules, indefinite support, and the rule of 65, see our article on duration of spousal support.

When Courts Depart from the Range

The SSAG identify several categories of cases where the standard ranges may not produce appropriate results. These "exceptions" allow courts to go above or below the calculated range:

Departures are not common, but they are not rare either. The SSAG authors themselves acknowledged that the guidelines are "a starting point, not a straitjacket." Courts retain full discretion to set support at whatever level the facts of the case warrant.