Sorting out child support in Canada

Child support amounts in Canada come from the Federal Child Support Guidelines, a table based on the paying parent’s income and the number of children, with provincial tables where the province has its own. Enforcement is provincial: in Ontario the Family Responsibility Office collects and pays out support.

Keep your own record of payments; the enforcement office’s ledger is the reference, and the parent without records is the one who loses the argument.

• The table amount depends on income and number of children; special expenses such as childcare are added on top (justice.gc.ca).
• In Ontario, support orders and filed agreements are enforced by the Family Responsibility Office on 1-800-267-4330 (ontario.ca).
• Other provinces have their own maintenance enforcement programmes; Justice Canada’s directory lists them.

Sources checked September 2026. Government pages change; the links go to the official page for the latest.

• The amount is worked out by a formula, not negotiated in the dark.
• Private agreements are possible, but a formal assessment is easier to enforce.
• Keep a record of what was paid and when; disputes are almost always about the record.
• Tell the agency promptly when income or care arrangements change.

Whatever route you take, a calm shared record helps. ParenThing keeps messages, the calendar, costs and handovers in one private place both parents can see, and your data is held in the EU. See how it works for Canadian families.