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Toronto, Ontario
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Phone: 416-222-4555

In Hamilton, Ontario
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Suite 406
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 2A1
Phone: 1-905-662-6000

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Child Support in Ontario

After Divorce or Separation

For many people, child support is one of the most difficult issues to settle during separation and divorce.

Although family law provides some well defined guidelines wherever children's rights in separation and divorce are concerned, navigating through the rules about child support and coming to an agreement with your child's other parent can be a very complicated journey.

Child support also tends to be raised more than once throughout a child's upbringing, as parents' financial situations fluctuate, and as children's health and lifestyles change. Sometimes, other disputes between spouses, especially about child custody and access, also bring up one partner's dissatisfaction with the child support arrangement.

What Family Law Says About Child Support

In Canada, family law treats child support as a legal right of the child. The amount of child support is calculated based on the payor's income, and the formula is spelled out in the Federal Child Support Guidelines.

In addition to a basic amount set out in the Child Support Guidelines, the paying parent might also be required to contribute to other 'extraordinary' expenses such as:

health expenses;
orthodontic expenses;
daycare expenses;
primary, secondary school, or post-secondary education;
expenses for extracurricular activities.

While the basic amount payable under the Guidelines is based solely on the support payor's income, the parents are each expected to contribute to these 'extraordinary' expenses in proportion to their respective incomes.

Both married and unmarried parents are subject to the same legal requirements with regard to supporting children of the relationship.

One Size Does Not Fit All in Child Support

Beyond all of the basic legal formulas and the information provided here, there are many grey areas and you may have many questions about child support that are specific to your circumstances. You might also be considering whether you can re-visit your existing child support agreement.

When you choose the law firm of Niren Family Law Practice, you will get a family lawyer who is experienced in handling all of the complexities of your family law issues, including child support; the family lawyer can also help you reach agreements using a range of negotiating and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques, if appropriate, or through litigation.

Call a family lawyer at Niren Family Law Practice to help you with your child support and other family law matters.