Jill K. Addison

The court determined costs following a family law motion where success was divided between the parties.

Applying the general principle that costs follow the event but considering the mixed outcome, the court concluded that neither party achieved sufficient success to justify a costs award.

Each party was therefore ordered to bear their own legal costs of the motion.

The applicant brought a family law motion seeking multiple forms of relief relating to child support, section 7 expenses for a child attending university, spousal support arrears, and life insurance security for support obligations.

The court declined to order an ongoing reduced guideline payment during the academic year but required the respondent to pay the full guideline amount during summer months and two additional months while the child returned home.

The request to increase the respondent’s proportionate share of section 7 expenses from 60% to 70% was denied due to insufficient evidence and the voluntary nature of the applicant’s proposed income reduction.

The court also established accounting principles for determining any spousal support arrears and ordered the respondent to maintain life insurance coverage to secure support obligations.