The Divorce Act Changes Explained

Provincial child support service

Calculation of child support
(Section 25.01(1), Divorce Act)

New section

The Act is amended by adding the following after section 25:

Provincial child support service — calculation of child support

25.01 (1) With the approval of the Governor in Council, the Minister of Justice may, on behalf of the Government of Canada, enter into an agreement with a province authorizing a provincial child support service designated in the agreement to calculate the amount of child support in accordance with the applicable guidelines and set it out in a decision.
Old section

None.

What is the change

The Minister of Justice may enter into an agreement with a province to allow for the administrative calculation of initial child support amounts under the Act.

Reason for the change

To increase efficiency, a designated provincial child support service could calculate an initial child support amount when the spouses initiate a divorce proceeding under the Act.

When

March 1, 2021.