The Federal Child Support Guidelines:
Step-by-Step

Orders and agreements

If you are applying for a divorce under the Divorce Act and will pay or receive child support, the child support amount can be set by:

  • agreement, or
  • court order, which can be made by consent, if you and the other parent agree on the amount. If you and the other parent cannot agree, a judge will decide.

According to the guidelines, a child support order must include:

  • the name and birth date of each child to whom the order relates,
  • the income of any parent whose income is used to determine the amount of the child support order,
  • the child support amount determined under the guidelines,
  • the child support amount determined for a child the age of majority or over,
  • information on special expenses, the child to whom the expense relates, and the amount of the expense or, where that amount cannot be determined, the proportion of the expense to be paid, and
  • the date on which the lump sum or first payment is payable and the day of the month or other time period on which all subsequent payments are to be made.

You may wish to speak with a lawyer or contact your provincial or territorial government if you want more information about orders and agreements.