Ancillary Relief

Ancillary relief is a judgment for payment in a divorce which is beyond the request for divorce. Ancillary relief can include maintenance payments for a spouse, debt payments, child support payments and division of property. Either spouse can request the order for ancillary relief for themselves or for a child.

Before considering the order for ancillary relief, the court will consider the income, earning capacity, property and other financial resources of each spouse, the financial needs, obligations and responsibilities each spouse has now and in the future, the standard of living experienced by the family prior to the dissolution of the marriage, the duration of the marriage, the age of each spouse, the physical and mental status of each party, and the contributions of each spouse now and in the future to the family. Prior to making their decision the court will also need information about each spouse's financial position including their incomes, assets, debts, liabilities and the transfer value of each parties' pensions.