Child Support
Federal Child Support Guideline calculations, Section 7 special expenses, imputing income, and enforcement through FRO.
Child support in Ontario.
Child support in Ontario is governed by the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The basic monthly amount (“Table support”) is determined by the paying parent’s gross income and the number of children. It is not negotiable between parents where the child is under the age of majority — it is the child’s right.
Beyond table support
- Section 7 expenses — childcare, medical, post-secondary tuition, extracurriculars. Shared in proportion to income.
- Shared / split parenting — where each parent has the child 40% or more of the time, a different calculation applies.
- Imputing income — where a payor is intentionally under-employed, the court can assign a higher deemed income.
- Adult children — support may continue for children in full-time post-secondary education or with a disability.
Enforcement
Child support orders in Ontario are enforced by the Family Responsibility Office (FRO). FRO can garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, and suspend driving privileges for non-payment. The firm assists both with setting up support and with responding to enforcement actions.