Toronto Child Support Lawyers
Ontario Child Support Lawyers

In Ontario, dependant children have the right to be financially supported by their parents. Child support is the money paid by one parent to the other to assist with the costs of caring for their children.

Child Support is payable whether the parents are married or not. The amount of child support is governed by the Child Support Guidelines and is based on the payor’s income, the number of children and the amount of time the children reside with each parent.

Child support must be paid if a child is under 18 years of age and dependent. However, child support does not automatically terminate when a child is 18 years or older, provided the child is unable to support themselves due to attending school full-time or due to a disability or illness.

Types of Child Support

Child support should be used for the costs of raising a child, such as housing, food, transportation, clothing and other basic necessities. The basic monthly amount of child support is based on the Child Support Guidelines and is also called the “table amount.”

In addition to the table amount, parents may have to pay for additional expenses. These are called special or extraordinary expenses. Expenses must be necessary for the child’s best interests and reasonable in align with the parent’s financial means. Examples of special or extraordinary expenses include:

• Day care or other childcare expenses
• Medical and dental expenses not covered by private insurance
• Tutoring
• Post-secondary education
• Extracurricular activities

Usually, both parents contribute to special and extraordinary expenses based on how much they earn. If both parents make roughly the same amount of money, they may choose to split the cost of special expenses evenly.

Choose Gilbertson Davis LLP

Gilbertson Davis LLP has counsel with knowledge and experience in child support claims and disputes. We represent mothers and fathers who are entitled to receive child support and who are required to pay child support. We provide exceptional legal advice and representation in child support matters. Our mission is to always put your child’s needs and interests first.

Contact us for an initial consultation.

This page contains general legal information only and should not be construed or relied upon as legal advice for your unique situation. If you require legal advice, please request an initial consultation with Gilbertson Davis LLP using the Request Consultation Form on this webpage or by contacting our Intake Coordinator on (416) 979-2020, ext. 223 (both subject to the Terms of Use described on our Contact page).