When parents separate, one of the first practical questions is how the children’s everyday costs will be shared. In Ontario, the answer is child support: a payment from one parent to the other that is meant to help cover the costs of raising a child. It does not depend on who left, who is at fault, or whether the parents were ever married.
Most child support in Ontario is set by formula. The Child Support Guidelines use the paying parent’s income and the number of children to produce a table amount, with extra sharing of certain costs such as child care. That makes the system more predictable than spousal support or property division, but the formula still has many points where details matter, including income, parenting time, and children over 18.
This guide explains how child support works in Ontario: who pays, how the amount is calculated, what extra expenses are shared, how shared parenting time changes the result, how to change an order, and how payments are enforced. It is a companion to our guides on separation and divorce in Ontario, child custody in Ontario and spousal support in Ontario. It also explains how to find a family lawyer in the GTA who speaks your language.
Meet Our Family Lawyers
Who Pays Child Support
Child support is the right of the child, not of either parent. Both parents have a legal duty to support their children, and when the children live mainly with one parent, the other parent generally pays support to help meet that duty.
- Marriage is not required. Parents who were married, common-law, or never lived together all have the same child support obligations.
- Fault is irrelevant. The reasons the relationship ended do not affect child support.
- Parenting time and support are separate. A parent cannot withhold support because they are being denied time with the child, and a parent cannot be denied time because they are behind on support.
- Step-parents can be included. A person who has acted as a parent to a child, treating the child as part of their family, may owe support in some circumstances.
Support is usually set in a court order, a separation agreement, or both. Agreements can be a good way to reach a clear outcome without a trial, but they cannot simply waive the child’s right to proper support. See our guide on marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements in Ontario for how agreements are made and when a court can set one aside.
Which Rules Apply: Federal and Provincial Guidelines
There are two sets of Child Support Guidelines that work in almost identical ways. The Federal Child Support Guidelines apply when parents are divorcing under the federal Divorce Act. The Ontario Child Support Guidelines apply to parents who were never married, or who are separating without a divorce claim. The tables are designed to give the same basic answer under either, so the choice mainly affects procedure and which court you use.
If the paying parent lives in another province or country, different tables or rules may apply. Cross-border support has its own enforcement tools, so get legal advice early if either parent lives outside Ontario.
How Child Support Is Calculated
The starting point is the table amount: a set monthly payment based on the paying parent’s annual income, the number of children, and the province where the paying parent lives. The tables are published by the Department of Justice Canada, and an online look-up tool lets you find the amount for any income.
Step 1: Work Out the Paying Parent’s Income
Income for child support is usually the paying parent’s total income as shown on line 15000 of their income tax return, with adjustments for certain items. Courts can add back some amounts, such as certain business expenses, and may attribute income to a parent who is intentionally underemployed or unemployed or is hiding income. Self-employed people and business owners are often the subject of closer scrutiny.
Step 2: Find the Table Amount
Once income is set, the table amount follows from the number of children. The paying parent’s income, not the recipient’s, drives the table amount. Support under the table is not taxable to the person who receives it and is not deductible by the person who pays it.
Step 3: Add Section 7 Expenses
On top of the table amount, parents share certain extra costs, known as section 7 expenses after the section of the Guidelines that covers them. These are typically divided in proportion to each parent’s income, after accounting for any subsidies or tax benefits.
| Expense Type | Examples |
| Child care | Daycare, after-school programs, a nanny, or care needed so a parent can work or study |
| Medical and dental insurance premiums | Premiums for coverage that includes the child |
| Health-related expenses | Costs above a threshold each year that insurance does not cover, such as orthodontics, counselling, glasses, or prescriptions |
| Extraordinary school expenses | Private school or special programs where the child’s needs justify them |
| Post-secondary education | Tuition, books, and related costs for an adult child in college or university |
| Extraordinary extracurricular activities | Costs for activities that are significant or well above ordinary, considering the family’s means |
Not every expense qualifies. A cost must meet the test of being necessary in relation to the child’s best interests and reasonable given the parents’ means. Agree on big costs in writing, in advance, wherever possible.
High-Income Payors
The tables run up to an income of $150,000. Where the paying parent earns more, the court generally applies the table amount for the first $150,000, then adds a percentage amount for the income above that. A court may depart from the formula if the result is inappropriate, for example in a case with very high income or special needs. Whether a departure applies is highly fact-specific.
Shared and Split Parenting Time
The simple table approach assumes the child lives mainly with one parent. Different rules apply when parenting time is more evenly divided.
Shared Parenting: The 40 Percent Rule
If each parent has the child at least 40 percent of the time over a year, the Guidelines call this shared parenting. Instead of simply using the table, the court looks at the table amounts for each parent, the effect of offsetting them against each other, the increased costs of shared arrangements, and the resources and needs of each parent and the child. A lower payment is common, but the result is not automatic and depends on incomes.
Parenting time is counted over the whole year, so how the schedule works in practice matters. See our guide on child custody in Ontario for how decision-making responsibility and parenting time are decided.
Split Parenting
When there is more than one child and each parent has primary care of at least one, each parent is treated as a payor for the children living with the other. The two table amounts are offset, and the parent with the higher amount pays the difference.
Children Over 18
Child support does not end automatically on a child’s 18th birthday. It can continue for a child who is still a dependant, most often one who is in full-time school, but sometimes because of illness or disability. The key question is whether the adult child cannot yet support themselves, and how their studies and efforts affect that. Support can be reduced or ended if the child withdraws from parental support, or fails to engage in studies or make reasonable efforts to become independent.
For adult children, the Guidelines allow a different approach from the strict table, so the amount may be set by looking at the child’s needs and each parent’s means. Agree on the arrangements for university and college early, since costs such as tuition are significant.
Changing a Child Support Order
An order or agreement is not frozen forever. Either parent can ask to change it if there has been a material change in circumstances. Common reasons include:
- A significant increase or decrease in the paying parent’s income, including job loss, a new job, or a business change.
- A change in the parenting schedule, such as a child moving from one home to the other or a shift to shared parenting.
- Changes in the child’s needs, such as new medical costs or the start of post-secondary study.
- A child becoming independent or no longer being a dependant.
Parents are often entitled to request each other’s updated income information each year. Many orders are formally recalculated this way without a trial. Until a court changes an order, the existing amount must still be paid, and ignoring it or simply paying less can create arrears that continue to grow.
Ontario also offers a government Child Support Service, which can help parents who qualify to calculate or recalculate support. Confirm current eligibility and how to apply on the Ontario government website, since programs change.
Retroactive Child Support
A parent who did not receive proper support in the past may be able to ask the court for retroactive support. Courts look at factors such as whether the paying parent knew or ought to have known they owed more, the reasons for the delay in asking, and the effect of an award on the paying parent. In general, courts are cautious about reaching back more than three years before the date the paying parent is given formal notice of the request. Anyone who suspects their ex-partner has under-reported income should seek legal advice about timing promptly.
Enforcement and the Family Responsibility Office
In Ontario, most support orders are filed with the Family Responsibility Office, known as the FRO. The FRO collects payments, passes them to the recipient, and takes steps to enforce when payments are missed. A parent can also ask to withdraw from the FRO if both parents agree and the order allows it.
Enforcement tools available to the FRO include:
- Garnishing wages, bank accounts, and other payments.
- Suspending the payor’s driver’s licence.
- Refusing or cancelling a passport.
- Reporting arrears to credit bureaus.
- Registering liens against property.
- Asking the court to enforce the order, in serious cases including by a default hearing.
The FRO also has tools to find a missing parent who owes support. It does not take sides in disputes about how much is owed or changing an order, so a parent who needs the support amount changed will still need to go to court or reach an agreement.
Newcomer and Multilingual Families
Many families in the GTA have a parent or children living in another country, income earned abroad, or a spouse sponsored through immigration. These situations raise extra questions. How is foreign income converted and proven? Which country’s court should decide? Can an Ontario order be enforced where the other parent lives?
If a sponsorship is part of the picture, support obligations can interact with sponsorship undertakings; see our guide on sponsoring family to Canada. Language also matters in practice: support disputes turn on financial documents, income disclosure, and sworn statements, where accuracy is essential.
Why a Family Lawyer Who Speaks Your Language Matters
Child support depends on numbers, but it also depends on the story behind them: the real parenting schedule, the child’s needs, and the full picture of each parent’s income. Financial disclosure is sworn evidence. A misunderstanding in a financial statement, caused by language rather than dishonesty, can still lead to serious problems.
A family lawyer who speaks your language can explain the Guidelines clearly, help you gather and present income documents, and make sure you understand every agreement before you sign. Our Language Guides explain the legal landscape for specific communities across the GTA, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, Korean, Italian, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Russian, Hebrew, Farsi, Arabic, Spanish, and French. For a general guide on finding a multilingual lawyer, see our guide on how to find a multilingual lawyer in Toronto.
How to Find a Child Support Lawyer in the GTA
Visit the main lawyers directory, filter by Family Law and your language, and narrow by location. For advice on choosing a lawyer, see our guide on questions to ask before hiring a lawyer, and for what to expect at your first meeting, see our guide on the first legal consultation. Before you meet, our guide on how to prepare for a legal case explains how to organize income records and parenting schedules. For legal fees, see our guides on how much a lawyer costs in Ontario and retainer agreements in Canada. If cost is a concern, see our guides on Legal Aid Ontario and how to get legal advice in Ontario, and if you are unhappy with your current lawyer, see how to switch lawyers mid-case. Always confirm the lawyer is currently licensed by checking our verification process or the Law Society of Ontario’s public register.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is child support calculated in Ontario?
Child support is mainly calculated from the Child Support Guidelines tables, which set a monthly amount based on the paying parent’s annual income, the number of children, and the province where the paying parent lives. On top of the table amount, parents usually share certain extra costs, such as child care and some medical or educational expenses, in proportion to their incomes. Different rules apply for shared parenting time, for very high incomes, and for children over 18.
Do I still pay child support if we have shared custody?
Often yes, but the amount may be lower. Where each parent has the child at least 40 percent of the time over a year, the court does not simply apply the table. It considers each parent’s table amount, the added costs of shared care, and each household’s resources. The result depends on the parents’ incomes and the actual schedule, so get advice before assuming support will be reduced or end. See our guide on child custody in Ontario for how parenting time works.
Does child support stop when my child turns 18?
Not automatically. Support can continue for a child who is still a dependant, most commonly one who is in full-time school or unable to become independent because of illness or disability. It can end or be reduced if the child withdraws from parental support or is not making reasonable efforts toward independence. Because the rules depend on the child’s circumstances, check your order or agreement and speak with a lawyer if there is a dispute.
Can child support be changed after an order is made?
Yes, if there has been a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in either parent’s income, a change in the parenting schedule, or a change in the child’s needs. Until the order is changed by a court or a valid agreement, the existing amount must keep being paid, and unpaid support builds up as arrears. Parents can often request each other’s updated income information each year to adjust the amount.
What happens if the other parent does not pay child support?
If the order is filed with the Family Responsibility Office, the FRO can collect and enforce it by garnishing wages and bank accounts, suspending a driver’s licence, refusing a passport, reporting arrears to credit bureaus, and registering liens. If the order is not filed with the FRO, you may need to file it or ask the court to enforce it. Keep records of every missed payment, and speak with a family lawyer about the best next step. See also our guide on separation and divorce in Ontario.
Find a Family Lawyer in the GTA Who Speaks Your Language
Child support affects your budget, your children, and your future for years. Having a family lawyer who can explain the numbers and your options clearly in your first language helps you make confident decisions.
Lawyers Who Speak connects GTA residents with verified, Law Society of Ontario-licensed lawyers who speak their language. Search by language and practice area to find the right lawyer for your matter.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Child support law, the Guidelines tables, income thresholds, and government programs can change. Please consult a qualified lawyer licensed in Ontario for advice about your specific situation, and confirm current figures with official sources.