Introduction

Volume II contains a Summary Report for each of the ten jurisdictions included in this study. Each jurisdictional summary provides a high-level description of the child support model used to assist parents and legal professionals to determine child support amounts.

Child support models are complex. They usually consist of a guideline that includes a formula that sets out the way in which the child support amount is to be calculated, as well as accompanying rules that are either administrative or provided in legislation. These rules guide the courts and/or administrators to correctly and efficiently calculate child support amounts. Each model also includes a mechanism(s) for administration that can range from a court-based system to an administrative agency, or both.

Each summary report provides a description of the rules applied in typical situations as opposed to itemizing all the exceptions that can occur based on various case circumstances.

Each jurisdictional summaryis presented in five parts:

Two appendices are included for each summary. Appendix A contains the references as well as the name(s) of the jurisdictional representatives consulted to prepare the report for that jurisdiction. Appendix B provides two case scenarios to illustrate the calculations used to generate a child support amount.

In reading the jurisdictional summaries please note the following:

  1. The authors take full responsibility for any errors in the descriptions of the child support models. Despite the excellent cooperation the authors received from the jurisdictional representatives and the robust material on each jurisdiction’s website, the models are very complex. As well, in most jurisdictions the legislation has changed significantly over time, and it was not always possible to track the various changes. Finally, the majority of jurisdictions do not provide step-by-step descriptions of their formula. Rather, they provide online calculators to assist parents and family law professionals in determining a child support amount. Embedded in these online calculators are the relevant rules and automated calculations. The authors have tried their best to provide accurate written descriptions of the calculations that need to be completed to arrive at a child support amount in the relevant jurisdiction.
  2. Each jurisdiction uses terminology that is unique. For ease of reading, the authors use “jurisdiction neutral” terms in the summary reports. If a jurisdiction uses a term that is not the same as the “jurisdiction neutral” term,a footnote is provided that provides the term used in that jurisdiction. The only exception pertains to the terms used in the formula calculations as these refer to specific calculations. These terms have been italicized to assist the reader. A glossary of the “jurisdiction neutral” terms can be found in Volume I.
  3. This study commenced in December 2018 and was completed in August 2019. During interviews with several jurisdictions, mention was made of either pending updates to their online calculators or upcoming changes to either their child support legislation or administrative model. The reports reflect the information as of August 2019.

Finally, the authors could not have completed this report without the cooperation provided by the jurisdictional representatives who graciously provided their time and expertise. We sincerely thank them for their patience as we contacted them on several occasions to review the drafts of their jurisdictional summary and to seek clarification on various aspects of their child support model.