How Long Does Spousal Support Last?

"How long will I have to pay?" or "How long will I receive support?" — it's usually the first question after "how much?"

The answer isn't simple. Duration depends on how long you were married, how old the recipient is, and whether you have children. And in many cases, the answer is "indefinitely"—which doesn't mean forever, but feels close enough.

Here's how duration actually works in Ontario.

The Duration Formula

The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines (SSAG) provide a formula for duration, just like they do for amount.

Without Children (or Children Are Adults)

Duration ranges from 0.5 to 1 year of support for each year of marriage.

With Dependent Children

When there are dependent children, duration is typically indefinite (but subject to review). The logic: the custodial parent's ability to work is limited while children are young, so setting a hard end date doesn't make sense.

However, this doesn't mean support lasts forever. Once children are independent, the recipient's ability to work typically improves, and support can be reduced or terminated.

The Two Triggers for Indefinite Support

Two situations automatically push duration to "indefinite":

Trigger 1: The 20-Year Rule

If you were married (or cohabiting) for 20 years or longer, support duration is indefinite regardless of anyone's age.

The logic: after 20+ years, the economic lives of both spouses are so intertwined that a clean break isn't realistic. The lower-earning spouse's career was shaped by the marriage. Setting an arbitrary end date doesn't reflect reality.

Trigger 2: The Rule of 65

Add the recipient's age at separation plus the years of marriage. If that number is 65 or more, and the marriage lasted at least 5 years, support is indefinite.

For more detail on the Rule of 65, see our full article on Rule of 65.

What "Indefinite" Actually Means

Indefinite is the word that scares everyone. But it doesn't mean what most people think.

What Indefinite Means

• No automatic end date built into the order or agreement
• Support continues until someone goes back to court or you agree to changes
• The onus is on the payor to seek a variation if they want support reduced or ended

What Indefinite Doesn't Mean

• It doesn't mean the amount stays the same forever
• It doesn't mean support can never end
• It doesn't mean you're trapped with no options

Think of indefinite as "until further notice" rather than "until death."

What Actually Ends Spousal Support

Whether support is time-limited or indefinite, several events can reduce or terminate it.

1. The Recipient Becomes Self-Sufficient

If the recipient's income increases substantially—through employment, inheritance, or other means—the payor can apply to reduce or terminate support. Self-sufficiency is the ultimate goal of support, and achieving it can end the obligation.

What counts as self-sufficient? There's no fixed number. Courts look at whether the recipient can maintain a reasonable standard of living without support, considering their age, health, skills, and the marital standard of living.

2. The Recipient Remarries

Remarriage doesn't automatically end support, but it's often grounds to reduce or terminate it. A new spouse can contribute to household expenses, reducing the recipient's need.

The payor needs to apply for a variation—support doesn't just stop because the recipient got married.

3. The Recipient Cohabits

Living with a new partner in a marriage-like relationship can affect support, similar to remarriage. However, cohabitation is more case-by-case. Courts consider:

• How long they've lived together
• Whether they share expenses
• The nature of their financial relationship

4. The Payor Retires

Retirement is a "material change in circumstances" that allows the payor to seek a variation. When your income drops from working salary to pension income, continuing to pay the same support amount often isn't feasible.

The catch: Retirement doesn't automatically reduce support. You need to apply to court. And courts consider whether the retirement is "reasonable":

• Are you at or near normal retirement age?
• Did you retire for legitimate reasons (health, employer pressure, normal career end)?
• Or did you retire early specifically to reduce support?

If courts think you retired strategically to avoid support, they may impute income at your pre-retirement level.

5. Significant Health Changes

If the payor becomes seriously ill or disabled and can no longer work, support can be reduced or terminated. Similarly, if the recipient's health dramatically improves (allowing them to work when they previously couldn't), that's grounds for variation.

6. Death

Spousal support typically ends when either party dies. However, separation agreements sometimes include provisions for support to continue from the payor's estate. If this matters to you, address it explicitly in your agreement.

Extending Time-Limited Support

What if support is set to end, but the recipient still needs it?

When Extensions Happen

Courts may extend support beyond the original end date if:

• The recipient made genuine efforts toward self-sufficiency but hasn't achieved it
• Circumstances beyond the recipient's control prevented independence (illness, job market collapse, caregiving responsibilities)
• Ending support would leave the recipient in serious hardship

When Extensions Don't Happen

Courts are less sympathetic to extensions when:

• The recipient made little effort toward self-sufficiency
• The recipient declined reasonable employment opportunities
• The recipient chose not to retrain or upgrade skills
• The support period was already generous

Review Orders vs. Termination Orders

When courts set time-limited support, they can do it two ways:

Termination Order

Support ends on a specific date. Period. The recipient can apply to extend, but there's no automatic review.

Review Order

Support is set for a period, but there's a built-in review date. At the review, the court looks at current circumstances and decides whether support should continue, be modified, or end.

Review orders are more common when:

• There are young children and future circumstances are uncertain
• The recipient is retraining or returning to work and progress is uncertain
• Either party's circumstances are expected to change significantly

The "Step-Down" Approach

Instead of a hard end date, support sometimes decreases gradually over time.

Step-down arrangements work well when:

• The recipient is expected to increase their income over time
• Both parties want certainty about the path forward
• A sudden end to support would be too disruptive

Duration When You Have Children

Children complicate duration calculations.

The Initial Period

When children are young, spousal support is typically indefinite (subject to review). The custodial parent's work options are limited—childcare is expensive, school schedules are inflexible, sick days happen.

As Children Age

As children become more independent (school-age, then teenagers, then adults), the recipient's ability to work typically improves. This can trigger support reductions.

After Children Are Independent

Once children are adults and no longer require primary care, courts often expect the recipient to be more fully employed. Support may be reduced or, if the marriage was shorter, terminated.

Negotiating Duration

Duration is often negotiable, just like amount. Here are the trade-offs:

Payor's Perspective

• A clear end date provides certainty for planning
• May be worth paying higher monthly amounts for shorter duration
• Indefinite support creates ongoing uncertainty and potential legal costs

Recipient's Perspective

• Longer duration provides more security
• Indefinite support provides protection if circumstances don't improve as hoped
• A clear end date creates pressure to become self-sufficient on a timeline that may not be realistic

Restructuring: Trading Amount for Duration

You can negotiate higher monthly payments for a shorter period, or lower payments for longer. The total value stays roughly the same, but cash flow and certainty differ.

See our SSAG Range Explained article for more on restructuring.

What This Means For You

If You're the Payor

• Check the triggers: Are you at 20+ years of marriage? Does the Rule of 65 apply? Know whether you're facing time-limited or indefinite support.
• Plan for retirement: If support is indefinite, you'll need to apply to vary it when you retire. Budget for legal costs.
• Monitor changes: If the recipient's circumstances change (new job, new partner, inheritance), you may have grounds to reduce support.
• Consider negotiating certainty: An agreement with a clear end date may be worth paying more monthly.

If You're the Recipient

• Don't assume support lasts forever: Even indefinite support can be reduced or terminated. Plan accordingly.
• Make efforts toward self-sufficiency: Courts expect reasonable efforts. Documented attempts to work, retrain, or improve employability help if there's ever a variation application.
• Watch the end date: If your support is time-limited and you'll still need it, apply to extend BEFORE it ends.
• Remarriage/cohabitation has consequences: Understand that a new relationship can affect your support.

Try the Calculator

Want to see what duration might apply in your situation? Our calculator estimates both amount and duration based on your inputs.

The calculator will tell you whether support would be time-limited or indefinite based on the Rule of 65 and length of marriage.

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Related Articles

• The Rule of 65 Explained — When support becomes indefinite
• Why Is My SSAG Range So Wide? — Amount calculations and restructuring
• Grey Divorce — Retirement and support after 50
• Strategic Moves Before Filing — Timing decisions that matter

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