2011 Amendments to Federal Child Support Tables

Web Notice

Amendments to the Federal Child Support Guidelines (Federal Guidelines) came into force on December 31, 2011. These amendments have updated the Federal Child Support Tables (Federal Tables) used to determine child support amounts.

On this Web site you can find PDF versions of the updated Federal Tables. You can also use the convenient online look-up to determine specific child support amounts.

The following Frequently Asked Questions provide general information about the amendments, but not legal advice. If you have an existing child support order, or if you are in the process of making child support arrangements, you may wish to seek advice from a family law lawyer on how the changes to the Federal Tables affect you and what actions, if any, you should take.

Note: If you need to determine how much child support amount is owed from May 1, 2006 to December 31, 2011, click here to access the 2006 simplified Federal Tables. The updated Federal Tables should only be used to determine child support owed from December 31, 2011 onward.

If you need to refer to the official version of the tables or the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS), you can find them in Part II of the Canada Gazette. The official version can also be found on the Justice Laws Website.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why were the Federal Tables changed?

As recommended in two key reports, the Government of Canada committed to review the Federal Tables with the provinces and territories and to update the tables at a minimum of every five years. The Federal Tables were last updated in 2006. The updated Federal Tables are based on more recent federal, provincial and territorial tax rules.

2. Have child support amounts increased or decreased as a result of these amendments?

Amounts have increased in some cases and decreased in others, depending on income levels and the effect of federal and provincial/territorial tax rules. Each province and territory has its own tax rules and therefore its own tables.

3. Did the formula for calculating child support change?

No. The formula used to generate the updated Federal Tables is the same as the formula that was used to generate the two previous versions (1997 and 2006). Any changes to child support amounts were simply due to changes to federal and provincial/territorial tax rules.

4. Did the amount of support I pay or receive change automatically as a result of the updated tables?

No. The updated tables did not automatically change child support amounts set out in an existing order or agreement.

5. How do I update my child support order or agreement to reflect the updated Federal Tables?

Either you or the other parent could apply to a court to have an order changed:

• If the Federal Tables were used to determine the order or agreement you have now; and
• If using the updated tables would change the amount of child support either you or the other parent pay.

If your child support arrangements are based on a written agreement between you and the other parent rather than on a court order, you may wish to negotiate a new agreement. Your province or territory may have family justice services such as mediation that can help you and the other parent negotiate changes to your existing agreement.

You may also wish to look into whether your province has a child support recalculation service.

6. Will provincial recalculation services use the updated Federal Tables?

Provinces that have child support recalculation services will use the updated Federal Tables to recalculate amounts after December 31, 2011.

Please contact your recalculation service for more information if there is one in your province.

7. If my support order is registered with a Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP), would I have to notify the MEP if I have the order varied?

Yes. If your support order or agreement is registered with a MEP, it is important to notify the MEP of any changes to the order or agreement.

8. If the other parent and I are trying to figure out a child support amount for a period before December 31, 2011, what Federal Tables should we use?

You would use the 2006 Tables to decide how much child support should be paid up to December 31, 2011. The amount payable from December 31, 2011 onward would be based on the updated Federal Tables.

For more information on child support, please click here.