Frequently asked questions

Enter the payor’s gross income, the number of children, and the province. For shared custody, enter both parents’ incomes to calculate the offset. Treat the result as an estimate only — not as a court order or legal advice. Always verify with a lawyer before using a calculator’s output in an agreement.

Yes. Shared parenting does not eliminate child support. Each parent’s table amount is calculated, and the higher-income parent pays the difference to the lower-income parent using the offset method.

Child support is the child’s legal right. A court will only approve an amount below the table amount if there are special provisions that clearly benefit the child, and the judge must provide written reasons for departing from the Guidelines.

Register your order with your provincial Maintenance Enforcement Program as soon as payments are missed. MEPs can garnish wages, seize bank accounts and tax refunds, suspend licences, and pursue contempt proceedings. Contact them early — do not wait.

If both parents agree, draft a consent agreement and file it with the court. If only income has changed, consider using a provincial recalculation service (available in BC, AB, SK, MB, NL, and ON). If there is a dispute, file a Motion to Change. Never adjust payments informally — arrears will accumulate based on the original order.

Child support does not end automatically at 18 or 19. It continues if the child is still dependent — typically because they are in full-time post-secondary education or have a disability. The payor must obtain a formal agreement or court order to end support. Stopping unilaterally creates arrears.

No. Child support is based on the payor’s income only. A new spouse or partner’s income is not included in the table calculation. Very limited exceptions may apply in undue hardship claims.

No. It is the child’s legal right, not the parent’s to waive. Courts will not approve agreements that eliminate child support unless there are exceptional circumstances that clearly benefit the child.

At minimum: three years of tax returns and Notices of Assessment from CRA, recent pay stubs, and receipts for any Section 7 expenses. Self-employed parents also need business financial statements. A complete financial statement may be required for court applications.