FAQ Child Support

Q: What are Federal Child Support Guidelines?

• The Federal Child Support Guidelines are tables of the base amount of child support to be paid based on an individual’s gross annual income, legislated by the Federal Government of Canada.  The calculation and amount of child support to be paid can vary, depending on your parenting arrangement.  For information on child support see http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/fl-lf/child-enfant/guide/toc-tdm.html.  For the Child Support Table Look-up see http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/look-rech.asp.

Q: Do I have to pay child support or accept child support?

• Yes.  Child support is for your child.  It is your child’s right to receive child support.  By law both parents are required to financially support their children.

Q. Is the amount of child support the same when parents have a shared custody arrangement as when one parent has primary care?

• No. When parents have a shared custody/parenting arrangement, the amount of child support to be paid is the difference between the amount of child support amount set out in the Federal Child Support Guidelines for each parent's income. 

Q.  How are fees for extra-curricular activities, school fees, childcare expenses and other expenses to be paid

• Federal Child Support Guidelines requires that those fees are paid in proportion to the parents' incomes.  For more information on Special and Extra-ordinary expenses visit http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/fl-lf/child-enfant/guide/step7-etap7.html