Question 1

What is child support?

Accepted Answer

Both parents are supposed to help financially support their children. When parents separate, they need to make sure that their children are taken care of. This money is called “child support”. The money is the right of the child – you need to support your children.

Question 2

Who pays child support?

Accepted Answer

Usually, child support is paid by a person who spends less time with their child to the person who the child lives with. The person who pays child support is called the “payor parent”.

If your child lives with both parents for about the same amount of time, the person who earns more money pays child support.

“Parents” are not just biological parents. A parent can be an adoptive parent, and sometimes even a step-parent. A lawyer can help decide if you should have to pay child support.

Question 3

When should a parent start paying child support?

Accepted Answer

Once you separate from the other parent, the obligation to start paying child support starts immediately. You have a responsibility to support your children, even if there is no court order. If an order for you to pay child support is made later, you will get credit for any child support you have paid. You should keep proof of payments (i.e. EMT receipts, receipts for payments in cash).

If you start paying when you separate, this also means that you will not likely have to pay large amounts in back payments for child support.

Even if you do not know how much support you should pay, you should look at the child support tables and make your best guess.

You can use this online tool to figure out how much child support you should be paying based on your income: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/2017/look-rech.aspx

Question 4

How much child support will I pay?

Accepted Answer

The amount of child support paid is set by the Government. The Government has Guidelines that tells a person how much they should have to pay in child support. This is called the “table amount”. The amount is based on:
• Where the paying parent lives
• How much the paying parent earns
• How many children there are

Generally, the more a person earns, and the more children you have together, the more they will have to pay in child support.

You can use this online tool to figure out how much child support you would likely receive: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/child-enfant/2017/look-rech.aspx

Question 5

What if I don’t know how much the payor parent earns?

Accepted Answer

The payor parent is required to disclose and tell you how much they have earned in the last three years. If the payor parent does not provide this information, a court can order them to provide it.

The court can also order the person’s employer to tell the court how much the person earns.

If you do not know where the person works and they have not told you their income, you can ask the court to make up a reasonable income that they would likely earn. You will need to provide reasons for why you think the amount is reasonable. This is called “imputing income”. Child support will be based on this number instead.

Question 6

What happens if I can’t pay the table amount of child support?

Accepted Answer

A judge can make an order that you should pay less than the table amount. You will need to make a hardship claim, which is very difficult and rare. You will need to show that the amount of support you need to pay is “excessive, exceptional, or disproportionate” and will cause problems for you to pay. If you want to make a hardship claim, we suggest that you speak to a lawyer.

Question 7

The other parent is receiving the Child Tax Benefit. Do I still need to pay child support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You will still be required to pay child support even if the other parent is receiving the child tax benefit.

Question 8

Can I get child support to help cover extra expenses?

Accepted Answer

You may have extra expenses for your children, like sports, daycare, school trips, or medical costs. These are called “special or extraordinary expenses”.

You may be able to share these expenses with the other parent if they are reasonable (i.e. both parents can afford it), and paying the cost is in the child’s best interests.

These costs are usually shared by the parents based on their income. For example, if you earn more money than the payor parent, you may be required to pay a bigger portion of the expenses.

Question 9

How do I apply for child support?

Accepted Answer

You can get child support by either signing an agreement with the other parent, or by applying for a court order. A lawyer can help you write the agreement, or they can help you start a court application. If you qualify, Nunavut Legal Aid can give you a lawyer to help you apply for child support.

Question 10

How do I pay child support?

Accepted Answer

There are two options – you can either pay the other parent yourself, such as using EMT, or you can register with the Family Support Office.

Either parent can register with the Family Support Office (FSO). The FSO will collect money from the payor parent, either from your paycheque or social assistance deposit, and then they will send it to the other parent. The FSO can also take money from a payor parent’s income tax return if they owe child support and have fallen behind on payments. More information about the FSO can be found here: https://nupli.ca/index.php/familysupport-2

Question 11

Can I pay my child directly?

Accepted Answer

No. You must pay the other parent directly unless a court tells you to do something differently. If you have concerns about the other parent using child support wrongly, we recommend you speak with a lawyer.

Question 12

If I stop paying child support, can I still see my child?

Accepted Answer

A parent cannot be stopped from seeing their child only because they have not paid child support. If this is happening to you, we suggest that you apply for Legal Aid and speak with a lawyer.

Question 13

I don’t see my child, do I still have to pay child support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Child support is the right of the child, meaning that your child is entitled to receive it whether you spend time with them or not.

Question 14

How long do I have to pay child support?

Accepted Answer

Child support must be paid while the child is a dependent. Usually, this means until they are 19 years old, but if your child gets married before that age, they are no longer a dependant.

Sometimes a child over 19 is still a dependent. This could be because they have a disability or illness, or they are still going to school.

Question 15

I got a child support order a long time ago, can I change it?

Accepted Answer

In some cases, child support can be recalculated. This can happen if the payor parent makes more or less than they did when the order was made. It can also happen if you have multiple children, and one or more of those children is no longer a dependent.

If you want to recalculate child support, you will need to go back to court to get a new order. You can apply to Legal Aid to have a lawyer help you.

Question 16

I separated from the other parent a while ago, and they never paid child support. Can I get them to pay child support for those years?

Accepted Answer

It may be possible to ask a court to order child support for years where the other parent did not pay any support. This is called “retroactive child support”.

Do not wait to decide if you should ask for child support! A lawyer can help you decide whether you should apply for retroactive child support, and will be able to give you advice on whether you have a good chance of getting retroactive child support.

A court will decide if you should get retroactive support by considering:
• Why you waited to ask for support
• How the other parent has behaved
• How your child has been affected

Typically, courts will go back three (3) years from the date when you applied for child support. It may be possible to go back farther if it’s appropriate in the circumstances.

Retroactive child support may either be paid in a single payment, or if the other parent cannot afford to pay it all at once, it may be in installments.

Question 17

Do I pay tax on child support I receive?

Accepted Answer

No, you will not pay tax on any child support you receive from the payor parent.

Question 18

Can I get a tax deduction from paying child support?

Accepted Answer

No, you cannot get a tax deduction because you pay child support.

ᐃᓚᒌᓂ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ

ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ

ᐱᕋᔭᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒻᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ

ᐃᓚᒌᓂ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ

ᒪᓕᒐᑦᑎᒍ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᒍᑎ

ᐃᓕᑦᑎᒃᑲᓂᕈᓐᓇᑦᑐᑎᑦ

ᑭᓲᒻᒫᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔮᖅ?

ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᑦ ᐊᑐᑦᑕᐅᓗᐋᑕᓱᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ

ᑭᓲᒻᒫᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒦᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑏ?

ᑭᓇ ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒥᒃ ᐃᑯᔪᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᕙᒻᒫᑦ?

ᖃᖓᒃᑯᓕ ᑕᐃᒪ ᕿᑐᖓᖃᑦᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᒋᐊᖃᓕᕋᔭᑉᐹ ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᓃᒃ?

ᖃᔅᓯᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᓂᐋᑉᐳᖔ?

ᖃᓄᓕᑭᐊᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖏᒃᑯᒪ ᖃᔅᓯᓕᐅᕋᓗᐋᒻᒪᖔᑦ ᐊᑭᓖᒋᐊᖃᑦᑐᖅ ᕿᑐᖓᖃᑦᑎᐅᔫᑉ ᑮᓐᓇᐅᔭᒃᓴᓂᖓᓃᒃ?

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒐᔭᑉᐳᖓᓖ ᐊᑭᓖᒍᓐᓇᓂᖏᒃᑯᒫ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒋᐋᓕᑦ ᐊᑐᑦᑕᐅᒋᐋᖃᑦᑐᑦ ᕿᑐᖓᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒨᑉ?

ᐊᓯᐋ ᐱᖃᑎᒋᔭᖓ ᐱᓂᐋᑉᐸᑦ ᕿᑐᖓᒧᑦ ᑖᔅᓯᔭᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᒍᑎᓂᒃ. ᓱᓖ ᐊᑭᓖᒋᐊᖃᕋᔭᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒦᒃ?

ᐱᒍᓐᓇᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᑕᐅᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᖁᓪᓗᖓ ᐊᑭᓕᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᕆᐋᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᑦᑑᑦ?

ᖃᓄᓪᓕ ᑐᔅᓯᕋᐅᑎᓕᕈᓐᓇᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᒍᑎᖃᕈᒪᓗᖔ?

ᖃᓄᓪᓕ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᖃᑦᑕᓂᐊᕋᒫ ᕿᑐᖓᒻᒦᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᓐᓃᒃ?

ᐊᑭᓖᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᓂᓗᒎ?

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᑭᓖᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᕈᒪ ᕿᑐᖓᒻᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒥᒃ, ᓱᓖ ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᑉᐸᕌ ᕿᑐᖓᕌ?

ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᖏᓐᓇᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᑐᖓᕋ, ᓱᓖ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᒋᐋᖃᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒦᒃ?

ᖃᓄᑎᒋ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᑎᒋᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᒋᐋᖃᕋᓛ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓃᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒦᒃ?

ᐱᓚᐅᔅᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᒍᑎᒥᒃ ᒪᓕᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᒧᒥᒃ ᐅᐋᑦᑎᐋᕈᐋᓗᒃ, ᐊᓯᕈᕈᓐᓇᑉᐸᕌ?

ᐊᑭᓖᒋᐊᖃᑉᐳᖔ ᑖᔅᓯᔭᓪᓗᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐱᔮᓐᓃᒃ?

ᑖᔅᓯᔭᕈᑎᓃᒃ ᐊᑭᓖᖏᒍᓐᓇᑉᐳᖔ ᐊᑭᓖᖃᑦᑕᓂᓐᓅᑦ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓅᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒋᕙᑦᑕᓐᓃᒃ?

ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᒃᑯᕕᖏᑦ

ᐃᓚᒌᓂ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ

ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ

ᐱᕋᔭᑦᑐᓕᕆᓂᒻᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ

ᐃᓚᒌᓂ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ

ᒪᓕᒐᑦᑎᒍ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᒍᑎ

ᐃᓕᑦᑎᒃᑲᓂᕈᓐᓇᑦᑐᑎᑦ

ᑭᓲᒻᒫᑦ ᐃᓚᒌᓄᑦ ᐱᖁᔮᖅ?

ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᑦ ᐊᑐᑦᑕᐅᓗᐋᑕᓱᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒥ

ᑭᓲᒻᒫᑦ ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒦᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑏ?

ᑭᓇ ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒥᒃ ᐃᑯᔪᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᕙᒻᒫᑦ?

ᖃᖓᒃᑯᓕ ᑕᐃᒪ ᕿᑐᖓᖃᑦᑎᐅᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᒋᐊᖃᓕᕋᔭᑉᐹ ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᓃᒃ?

ᖃᔅᓯᓂᒃ ᓱᕈᓯᒻᒧᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᓂᐋᑉᐳᖔ?

ᖃᓄᓕᑭᐊᖅ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᓂᖏᒃᑯᒪ ᖃᔅᓯᓕᐅᕋᓗᐋᒻᒪᖔᑦ ᐊᑭᓖᒋᐊᖃᑦᑐᖅ ᕿᑐᖓᖃᑦᑎᐅᔫᑉ ᑮᓐᓇᐅᔭᒃᓴᓂᖓᓃᒃ?

ᖃᓄᐃᓕᒐᔭᑉᐳᖓᓖ ᐊᑭᓖᒍᓐᓇᓂᖏᒃᑯᒫ ᐊᑭᓕᐅᑎᒋᐋᓕᑦ ᐊᑐᑦᑕᐅᒋᐋᖃᑦᑐᑦ ᕿᑐᖓᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒨᑉ?

ᐊᓯᐋ ᐱᖃᑎᒋᔭᖓ ᐱᓂᐋᑉᐸᑦ ᕿᑐᖓᒧᑦ ᑖᔅᓯᔭᕈᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᒍᑎᓂᒃ. ᓱᓖ ᐊᑭᓖᒋᐊᖃᕋᔭᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒦᒃ?

ᐱᒍᓐᓇᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᑕᐅᒍᑎᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᖁᓪᓗᖓ ᐊᑭᓕᓪᓗᒋᑦ ᐊᓯᒃᑲᓂᖏᑦ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᕆᐋᖃᒃᑲᓐᓂᑦᑑᑦ?

ᖃᓄᓪᓕ ᑐᔅᓯᕋᐅᑎᓕᕈᓐᓇᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᒍᑎᖃᕈᒪᓗᖔ?

ᖃᓄᓪᓕ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᖃᑦᑕᓂᐊᕋᒫ ᕿᑐᖓᒻᒦᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᓐᓃᒃ?

ᐊᑭᓖᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᑐᓂᓗᒎ?

ᑕᐃᒪᓕ ᐊᑭᓖᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓃᕈᒪ ᕿᑐᖓᒻᒥᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒥᒃ, ᓱᓖ ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᕈᓐᓇᕋᔭᑉᐸᕌ ᕿᑐᖓᕌ?

ᑕᑯᖃᑦᑕᖏᓐᓇᒃᑯᑦ ᕿᑐᖓᕋ, ᓱᓖ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᒋᐋᖃᑉᐳᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒦᒃ?

ᖃᓄᑎᒋ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᑎᒋᔪᖅ ᐊᑭᓕᔅᓱᐃᒋᐋᖃᕋᓛ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓃᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒦᒃ?

ᐱᓚᐅᔅᓯᒪᒐᒪ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓄᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᑦᑕᐅᒍᑎᒥᒃ ᒪᓕᑕᐅᖁᔭᐅᒧᒥᒃ ᐅᐋᑦᑎᐋᕈᐋᓗᒃ, ᐊᓯᕈᕈᓐᓇᑉᐸᕌ?

ᐊᑭᓖᒋᐊᖃᑉᐳᖔ ᑖᔅᓯᔭᓪᓗᖔ ᕿᑐᖓᓂᒃ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒥᒃ ᐱᔮᓐᓃᒃ?

ᑖᔅᓯᔭᕈᑎᓃᒃ ᐊᑭᓖᖏᒍᓐᓇᑉᐳᖔ ᐊᑭᓖᖃᑦᑕᓂᓐᓅᑦ ᕿᑐᖓᓐᓅᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᕈᑎᒋᕙᑦᑕᓐᓃᒃ?

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ᒪᓕᒐᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᕝᕕᑦ ᑲᑎᒪᔨᖏᑦ ᐊᖓᔪᖄᒃᑯᕕᖏᑦ