The Twitterverse was abuzz this week amidst news that Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger and Napanee’s own Avril Lavigne were engaged after secretly dating for six months.
The marriage will be the second for Lavigne, who famously wed Sum 41 lead singer Deryck Whibley in 2006, and the first for Kroeger, who lived with girlfriend Marianna Goriuk for almost seven years prior to their split in 2009.
Since Kroeger and Goriuk parted ways, the rocker has been paying his ex $10,000 per month in
spousal support. However, Goriuk claims that the lavish lifestyle she enjoyed while with
Kroeger warrants considerably more. Specifically, Ms. Goriuk, a horse
trainer, has claimed that she is entitled to almost $95,000 per month
to maintain the standard of living she previously enjoyed.
In light of her claim, a British Columbia Supreme Court Judge increased
the monthly support payable by Kroeger to $25,000 per month, deeming the
$10,000 per month amount “unreasonable in all the circumstances”.
In Ontario, persons living in a common law relationship obtain the right
to spousal support after three years, or where there is a child, if the
couple is in a relationship of some permanence.
With respect to the amount of support payable, the court will likely determine
the amount in accordance with the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines,
a set of unlegislated guidelines that are regularly relied upon by the
courts in making determinations around spousal support.
In accordance with the Guidelines, the court will consider each partner’s
assets, income, health, age and standard of living. In addition, the court
will consider such factors as the means of the payor, the needs of the
party receiving the support, the length of the relationship and the function
performed by each party during the relationship.
With respect to the newly engaged Kroeger and his one-time love Ms. Goriuk,
a review of the particular factors strongly suggests in favour of increased
support payable to the rocker’s ex-girlfriend. Particularly compelling
factors that weigh in Ms. Goriuk’s favour are the length of the relationship,
the significant disparity in the partners’ incomes – he reportedly
earns $9.7 million to her $12,000 – and the standard of living Ms. Goriuk
enjoyed during the relationship, from jetsetting around the world to building
homes in Abbotsford, British Columbia and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The matter was set to go to trial August 15, 2011. To date, no further
information has been released.