Where you fall in the SSAG range is determined based on the needs, means, and circumstances of the parties involved. Understanding these factors helps explain why similar cases might result in different support amounts within the guidelines.

You would find yourselves higher in the range if there's a strong compensatory claim, if the recipient has limited income and earning capacity, or if the recipient has a strong need for support. Other factors that push toward the higher end include when the recipient is older and unlikely to become self-sufficient, when the recipient is unable to completely be self-sufficient due to health concerns, or when the recipient wants to retrain and will be using a portion of the support to become self-sufficient.

Additional circumstances favouring higher support include when the recipient has primary care of the children, especially if the children are young or have special needs, when you want to balance lifestyles between your homes in a shared parenting arrangement, when there's not a lot of property to distribute, or when there is significant debt owed by the recipient.

You may find yourselves in the lower end of the ranges if there's a weaker compensatory claim, if the payer has limited income and limited capacity to earn or pay more, or if the recipient is working and has manageable expenses.

Lower support is also more likely if the recipient is remarried or living with another person, if the recipient is younger and has potential to become self-sufficient, if the recipient keeps more of the family property or keeps significant excluded property, if the payer is taking on a sizeable debt after separation, or if the recipient is healthy and able.

As an example, a healthy young person with a nursing degree and reasonable earning potential will likely receive less support for a shorter period of time than an older spouse who's been out of the workforce for 20 years and has a recent diagnosis of MS.

Judges, lawyers, and separating couples can adjust within (or even beyond) the SSAG range based on special circumstances, like:

Spousal Support is rarely one-size-fits-all. The SSAGs provide a trusted, fair starting point, but you still have flexibility to customize your agreement based on your real-life situation.

You can use the two ranges as independent dials to find the right balance. Think of them like treble and bass sliders on a stereo. Maybe you'll go a little higher on the amount of support, but you'll go less for the period of time. Or you could stay low on the amount of support and have it be paid for a longer period of time. You can go up and down within the ranges until you find the right balance for you.

You and your former spouse can discuss going up and down within those ranges until you find the right balance and can find an agreement. Once you find that balance, if you want to look at what a lump sum calculation would look like, you can run it on that particular amount and duration of support.