Calculating SSAG Amounts

[Ontario_Dad_41162]

Previously, my ex's lawyer used Divorcemate to produce the SSAG summary page. However, she is now self-represented and at Thursday's hearing, the judge correctly stated that the calculations need to be re-run as older salary figures were being used. My ex then went to the duty counsel (as per the judge's and the FLIC recommendation) to get them rerun.

She has since provided the revised summaries to me, but what I noticed is that the duty counsel used the a website (MySupportCalculator.ca) to run the calculations, not DivorceMate.

This brought up a question in my mind - how accurate/reliable is MySupportCalculator? Anyone know? My sense is that it is good for a ballpark amount but maybe isn't as accurate as DivorceMate. The values seem to calculate about the same as DivorceMate, but I'm just not sure if there's a risk at accepting those numbers.

[torontonian]

I just compared the DIvorceMate sheets from my lawyer with the website numbers. They are within a few dollars of each other, both with CS and without CS. Just make sure the data is entered correctly i.e. with/without CS, who the kids are living with etc...

[LastTime]

I understand that Desperate_Dad has done a great deal of work which shows that the Divorcemate results are not comprehensive nor accurate enough.

Q: Does anyone know of a software program or have information about specific adjustments regarding calculating & deducting tax on wages earned in Quebec where the province of residence is Ontario?

Thanks in advance....

[Ontario_Dad_41162]

I understand that Desperate_Dad has done a great deal of work which shows that the Divorcemate results are not comprehensive nor accurate enough.

Q: Does anyone know of a software program or have information about specific adjustments regarding calculating & deducting tax on wages earned in Quebec where the province of residence is Ontario?

Thanks in advance....

Hmm, thank you - I had assumed that DivorceMate is the defacto standard. Regardless, in my case, it's probably not going to make a huge difference one way or the other as the SSAG guidelines for our case are so low ($230-$320).

I'm probably much better investing my time in preparing my arguments that she's not entitled - or at least with limited duration - as opposed to spending too much time on the actual $ values.

[winterwolf7]

If you're savvy enough skip using Divorcemate or a website and do the math yourself by reading the SSAG. Important things that frequently result in higher SS...

SS is based on NET income, NOT GROSS like Child Support is. You are allowed to deduct many things from the amount including private insurance premiums for health/dental/life and of course taxes and CS. In fact you can deduct any and all family expenses that you are still covering. Don't forget actual or estimated section 7 CS expenses, such as daycare.

Based on the numbers you will get a range of SS. If you comply as soon as you can and have made good faith is establishing SS there's rarely any compelling reason to pay more than the bare minimum.

Do not forget to add any and all government benefits related to the children to the other parties side if they are the CP. This can make the difference of several hundred dollars a month in SS.

[Walter]

I did a bit of research, and it seems that MySupportCalculator does replicate DivorceMate results, for the simple situations which MySupportCalculator handles.

The Ontario government Attorney-General website directs people to mysupportcalculator.ca on this page : Spousal Support - Ministry of the Attorney General

Having worked in the govt, I don't think that they'd endorse it without confirming the accuracy first.

See also this post by JP Boyd, a family lawyer/blogger who compared the MySupportCalculator and Divorcemate results for the same facts : BC Family Law Resource Blog: Search results for mysupportcalculator.ca

[winterwolf7]

Agreed, MSC and DM are usually the same or very close for simple situations. But, garbage in means garbage out. Make sure you understand the SSAG yourself well enough to be able to argue them with your lawyer (or the other parties) when it comes to income that should be excluded from the SS calculation.