How is Child Support Determined in Canada?
Posted by on Oct 13, 2016 in Blog, Divorce Law, Family Law
Divorce is becoming more and more common these days, often for the betterment of home and family life. Due to this, child support is a reality for many divorced or estranged working parents. When one parent asks for child support from another, a court is designated to determine if the claim is valid. Once approved, a simple formula is followed to determine the amount that will be paid. Read on for a brief review of child support and how it is determined.
Multiple factors at play
While established under federal law, child support in Canada may also be impacted by provincial or territorial guidelines. This is further complicated if the parents do not live in the same province or territory or even the same country. Other factors that can affect child support amounts are:
- Higher than average incomes;
- Medical, dental or other health-related expenses;
- Childcare expenses;
- Costs for school (primary, secondary or post-secondary);
- Special needs or talents;
- Extracurricular activities.
Complex Calculations
Beyond these complications, child support is generally calculated via a simple table based on the income of the parent making the payments. This “table amount” is determined by the paying parent’s annual income before tax, the number of children and the province or territory where the paying parent lives. As stated, this amount is only tied to the Federal Child Support Guidelines and may be changed because of provincial or territorial authority.
As you can see, child support is no simple matter and any source telling you otherwise is not giving you the whole story. If you have any questions or concerns about applying for or paying child support, contact or visit Heritage Law today!
