Child Support in Ontario

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Child Support Guidelines?
Child support in Ontario is calculated under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, which are part of the Divorce Act and reflected in Ontario family law. These Guidelines establish standard table amounts based on a parent’s income, number of children, and place of residence to ensure children benefit from parental financial support after separation. Ministère de la Justice+1

How is the basic child support amount determined?
The basic table amount is found using the government’s 2025 Child Support Table Look-Up or related tables. It considers: the paying parent’s before-tax annual income, the number of eligible children, and the province where the paying parent lives, such as Ontario. Ministère de la Justice

What income is used to calculate support?
Gross annual income (before tax) from sources reported to the Canada Revenue Agency generally forms the basis of the calculation. Adjustments may occur when income is not fairly reflected in year-to-year figures. Department of Justice Canada

Does custody or parenting time affect child support?
Yes. In a shared parenting situation (often interpreted as each parent having at least 40% of parenting time), the support payment may be determined through a “set-off” method, where each parent’s table amount is compared and the difference is paid by the higher-income parent. Steps to Justice+1

Do both married and common-law parents pay support?
Yes. Child support obligations exist regardless of marital status, whether under the Divorce Act or the Ontario Family Law Act. Shared parenting arrangements and income factors are treated consistently under the Guidelines. Ministère de la Justice

Can child support include extra expenses?
Yes. Beyond the basic table amount, parents may share “special or extraordinary expenses” such as daycare, medical/dental premiums, insurance not covered elsewhere, education, or extracurricular costs. Legal Aid Ontario

Does child support end at a specific age?
Child support normally continues until the child reaches the age of majority (18 in Ontario). Support may extend beyond this age if the child is dependent due to full-time education or disability. Provincial Court of British Columbia

How can support be arranged or enforced?
Child support can be formalized through a court order, a written agreement (registered with the Family Responsibility Office), or via the Ontario online Child Support Service. Once in place, the Family Responsibility Office may enforce payments. Ministère de la Justice

Common Misunderstandings About Child Support in Ontario

“Child support is just whatever we agree on.”
While parents can agree on amounts, most agreements must at least reflect the Guideline table amounts to be enforceable. Ministère de la Justice

“If we share custody 50/50, no support is owed.”
Even with shared parenting time, support may be owed. Under the set-off approach, the higher-income parent may pay the difference between each parent’s table amount. MacLean Family Law

“Support stops automatically at age 18.”
Support may continue past age 18 if the child is still dependent, such as being in full-time education or having a qualifying disability. Provincial Court of British Columbia

“I only pay support if my child lives with the other parent.”
Support is based on responsibility, not physical residence. A non-custodial parent may still owe support even if the child does not live primarily with the other parent. Legal Aid Ontario

“Child support is tax-deductible.”
Unlike spousal support, child support is not deductible for the payer nor taxable to the recipient. (This is reflected in federal tax practice.) Wikipedia

“We don’t need a formal order or agreement.”
Informal arrangements may lead to enforcement challenges. Registering a written agreement or obtaining a court order ensures enforceability through the Family Responsibility Office. Ministère de la Justice

Important Information

This information provides general guidance and is based on current Federal Child Support Guidelines and Ontario practice but does not constitute legal or tax advice. Individuals are encouraged to seek independent advice or consult official government resources for their specific circumstances. Ministère de la Justice