Spousal support is a serious issue and a reasonable support agreement may make the difference between living with economic hardship or in a reasonable lifestyle. Even though each spouse is expected to make his or her best efforts to become self sufficient, one spouse may need a period of training to ensure long term financial security. In long term, traditional marriages, where one spouse remained a full time homemaker and the other supported the family, spousal support obligations may be substantial and ongoing.

Sometimes a spouse, who would otherwise be entitled to ongoing spousal support, decides that a lump sum settlement of spousal support best suits his or her needs. Often, the payment of a lump sum amount of spousal support releases the paying spouse from future obligations to pay support.

Your family lawyer can review your particular circumstances and suggest the options open to you, whether you are the "paying" or "receiving" spouse. Legal advice and financial planning at the time you separate can help you and your spouse to assess your rights and obligations to each other.