How is Child Support Calculated?
Child Support is governed by the Child Support Guidelines which set out a Support Table for
Ontario. The Support Table shows the basic monthly amounts of child support to cover
expenses like clothes, food, and school supplies. The basic amount is also called the table
amount.
The table amount is based on the gross annual income of the payor parent, the number of
children they have to support and the living arrangements for the child(ren). Gross annual
income means you need to look at what the paying parent earns in a year – before the
government taxes are taken off. You can get the gross income by using the amount on line 150
of the paying parent’s income tax return or notice of assessment.
In simple cases, the amount of child support paid is based on the Support Table. In more
complicated cases, the amount of child support paid is based on the Table and on other things.
Child Support Tables vary for each province and territory. If both parents live in Ontario, the
Ontario Table applies. If the payor parent lives in another province or territory, the Support
Table for that province or territory applies. If the payor parent lives outside of Canada and the
other parent in Ontario, the Ontario Table applies, with certain exceptions.
Harjyot Dhaliwal, Associate Lawyer at Lockyer + Hein LLP can assist with determining your
child support obligation or matters. Contact Harjyot to learn more: [email protected] /
905.452.7400
