Toronto Sun: Divorce Support Amid Rising Costs - Featuring Alyssa Bach, Shulman & Partners

As the cost of living continues to rise, separated and divorced families across Ontario are facing increasing financial pressure. In a feature with the Toronto Sun, Alyssa Bach, Associate Lawyer at Shulman & Partners LLP, discussed how economic pressures are contributing to disputes over support payments. She explained why maintaining two separate households can create significant financial challenges and how changing circumstances may lead individuals to request adjustments to their support obligations.

“With the recent rapid increases in costs of daily living, we’re receiving requests to lower support payments just as we’re receiving requests to increase support payments.”
— Alyssa Bach, Associate Lawyer, Shulman & Partners LLP  

Alyssa discussed how inflation and broader economic uncertainty are placing financial pressure on both individuals receiving support and those responsible for making payments. For support recipients, higher costs for groceries, housing, and other necessities may create a greater need for financial assistance. Meanwhile, those paying support may be struggling with their own increasing expenses, leading them to seek reductions in their existing obligations.

She described this situation as a difficult financial balancing act, with both parties often needing more money to maintain their households. One of the most significant challenges following separation is the cost of maintaining two homes instead of one. Expenses that were previously shared, including housing, utilities, and everyday household bills, must now be managed separately. For parents sharing parenting responsibilities, the costs of raising children across two households can add further strain.

Alyssa noted that Ontario law provides mechanisms for reviewing support obligations, although the considerations involved can differ between spousal support and child support. While spousal support adjustments may offer greater flexibility depending on the circumstances, changes to child support can involve additional considerations, including a parent's ability to pay and differences in household living standards.

These competing financial pressures can make support disputes particularly challenging. As living expenses continue to place pressure on household budgets, requests to revisit existing payments may become an increasingly frequent discussion. 

Read the full Toronto Sun article here (subscription may be required). 

This media appearance is part of Shulman & Partners LLP’s ongoing contributions to Canadian family law discussions. Explore more of our media features in our In the Media  archive.