Arrears Generally Keep Accumulating
When child support or spousal support payments fall behind, the unpaid amount generally becomes "arrears" — a debt that continues to accumulate and generally remains owing until it's paid, regardless of whether the underlying circumstances that caused the shortfall have since changed. Arrears don't generally disappear on their own.
Enforcement Action Can Generally Follow
Where a support order is filed with the Family Responsibility Office, falling behind can generally trigger enforcement action, which can include wage garnishment, bank account garnishment, and reporting that can affect a driver's licence or passport. These measures are generally meant to encourage compliance and collect what's owed, not to punish beyond that.
What You Can Generally Do
If you're falling behind because of a genuine change in circumstances — such as job loss or illness — the generally better path is to address the underlying support amount directly and promptly, through agreement with the other party or a court process, rather than simply allowing arrears to accumulate. Being proactive, including communicating with the Family Responsibility Office about your situation where support is already in arrears, tends to lead to better outcomes than avoidance.
If You're the One Owed Support
If you're owed support that isn't being paid, confirming whether the order is filed with the FRO, and if not, taking steps to file it, is generally a useful first step, since the FRO's enforcement tools are generally more effective than trying to collect arrears informally. See our guide to enforcing support in Ontario for the fuller picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do support arrears ever just go away?
Generally, no — arrears remain owing until paid, and don't automatically disappear even if the circumstances that caused them have since changed.
Can I negotiate a payment plan for support arrears?
Often, yes — communicating proactively, including with the Family Responsibility Office where applicable, can generally lead to a more manageable path forward than letting enforcement action escalate.
Will falling behind on support affect my credit or licence?
It can, depending on the enforcement measures involved — the FRO can generally report defaults that affect a driver's licence or passport, among other tools.
What if I fell behind because I lost my job?
A genuine, involuntary change in circumstances can generally be grounds to formally request a change in the support amount, ideally addressed promptly rather than after arrears have built up significantly.
How do I know if my support order is being enforced by the FRO?
You can generally confirm this directly with the Family Responsibility Office; court-ordered support is generally filed with the FRO automatically in Ontario.