Individuals who are facing a divorce with children may wish to know how child support payment amounts are calculated in Ontario. The amount that will be owed by the payor parent each month is calculated using that parent’s gross income. Gross income is the amount of money the parent earns before taxes are deducted.
When estimating how much child support a parent will be ordered to pay, it is also important to understand that the Child Support Table is different in each province and territory. The Ontario table is used when both parents are residents of Ontario or when the payor lives outside of Canada and makes payments to a parent who lives in Ontario. If the payor makes payments to a parent who lives in Ontario while they themselves live in a different Canadian province or territory, the table from the payor parent’s home province or territory will be used.
Although a judge will normally calculate the child support payment amount using the Child Support Table, the amount to be paid may vary in cases that are more complex. Even if the amount is adjusted, however, the table will still be used as a guide when making the decision. To estimate expected child support payments, parents may wish to use the Child Support Table Look-up. When a judge determines how much a payor parent will be expected to pay each month, any number of variables can come into play.
Therefore, the information found in this blog can only give parents a rough idea of what they may encounter during legal proceedings and should not be confused with legal advice. Parents may be able to learn more about their particular child support case by speaking with a lawyer.
Source: Community Legal Education Ontario, “How are basic child support amounts calculated?“, August 21, 2014
Source: Community Legal Education Ontario, “How are basic child support amounts calculated?“, August 21, 2014