As already mentioned, non-married partners in a common-law relationship may be eligible for spousal support in Calgary, as well as married partners. However, the fact that one partner earns more income than the other does not always entitle the lower-income partner to spousal support. Judges in Calgary will consider both compensatory or non-compensatory claims: Compensatory spousal support: this is awarded because of an economic disadvantage to one partner caused by factors like the respective partners' roles in the marriage (as per the caregiver/full-time worker example outlined above) or lost earning capacity after the relationship breakup. Non-compensatory spousal support: this is where one partner requires support to meet basic needs after the separation or where their living standards decline dramatically after the marriage.