Experienced Child Support Lawyers for Toronto Families

Understanding Child Support Laws in Ontario (What Parents Must Know):

Ontario’s child support laws come from federal law, under the Divorce Act for married spouses, and are applied through the Ontario Family Law Act for unmarried parents.

Child support is owed to the child, not the parent. Ontario courts apply the Federal Child Support Guidelines strictly through income-based tables and with limited discretion. Child support intends to allow children to share in the income of both parents following separation or divorce.

What Does Basic Child Support Cover?

Basic child support, which is sometimes just referred to as the Table Amount, is the portion of a child support payment that is intended to contribute to a child’s day-to-day living expenses. The Federal Child Support Guidelines presume that these costs are met through the regular monthly payment and do not need to be specifically accounted for.

• Basic living expenses:The costs of day-to-day needs and the overall running of the home
• Housing-related expenses:Rent or mortgage costs, utilities, and an adequate standard of living.
• Food and groceries:Regular meals, snacks, and routine dietary needs.
• Clothing and footwear:Everyday clothing, appropriate for school, the weather, and regular activities.
• Routine school costs:Ordinary school supplies, basic educational materials, and participation in publicly funded education.
• Transportation and everyday activities:Local transportation to and from school, regular commuting costs, and modest recreational or social activities.

Courts do not require the receiving parent to justify how basic child support funds are spent, provided they are used for the child’s day-to-day needs

Section 7 Expenses: Special or Extraordinary Costs

Section 7 expenses are costs that go beyond a child’s ordinary day-to-day needs and are typically shared between parents in proportion to their incomes.

• Daycare costs, required to allow a parent to work, go to school, or pursue reasonable employment or job training.
• Medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance or other benefits.
• Orthodontic treatment, therapy, or counselling
• Private school tuition, where appropriate, and commensurate with the family’s previous standard of living
• Post-secondary education
• High-fee extracurricular activities, such as organized sports, music, or dance training

Not every additional expense qualifies. Courts assess whether the cost is necessary, reasonable, and appropriate.

Hiring a local Toronto child support lawyer means working with someone who understands how Ontario family law is applied in practice, not just in theory. While child support is governed by federal legislation, it is interpreted and enforced through Ontario courts, each with distinct procedural expectations and regional practices.

A Toronto-based lawyer understands how local courts assess income disclosure, shared parenting arrangements, and Section 7 expenses. This practical insight can significantly affect how your case is prepared, negotiated, or argued, and whether agreements or orders are enforceable through the Family Responsibility Office.

According to Statistics Canada, approximately 16.4% of families in Canada were one-parent families as of the 2021 Census. This highlights how common child support issues are and why locally grounded legal guidance is essential for protecting children’s financial stability.

How do we help?

• Clarity on child support rights and obligations
• Accurate calculations of the support amounts that may be owed
• Resolution of disputes efficiently
• Protection of your child’s financial interests

How to Calculate Child Support in Ontario

• Income of the paying parentIncome disclosure, required to establish the paying parent’s gross annual income, is generally based on tax returns, Notices of Assessment, and supporting financial information.
• Number of childrenSupport amounts are adjusted under the Guidelines for one child, two children, or more than two children.
• Parenting time arrangementThe Guidelines apply specifically to sole, shared, and split parenting arrangements, which directly affect the calculation.

Section 7: Special Expenses

Parents may share the costs of necessary and reasonable extraordinary expenses in proportion to their respective incomes.

Special Cases

• Shared parenting timeIf each parent provides the child with care or parenting time at least 40% of the time, a set-off calculation is commonly applied.
• Self-employed or variable incomeSelf-employed parents, earn non-salary income or have highly variable income may find that their income is carefully scrutinized.
• Undue hardship claimsThere are limited circumstances where the Guidelines can be departed from to avoid undue hardship for the paying parent.