If you and your co-parent agree to update child support amounts, you can file a “Consent Motion to Change” in Ontario. This is a streamlined, paper-only process that avoids stressful court appearances, and there is no court filing fee if child support is the only issue being changed.
Updating Child Support Amicably in Ontario
Life circumstances change. Whether a paying parent has received a promotion, lost a job, or a child has started an expensive university program, child support orders often need to be updated. 📍 In Ontario, you cannot simply make a verbal agreement to change the support amount, especially if your file is registered with the Family Responsibility Office (FRO). FRO will continue to enforce the old amount until they receive a new, officially signed court order.
Fortunately, if both parents agree on the new support figure, you do not need to fight in court. You can use the simplified “Consent Motion to Change” process. This method allows you to file paperwork directly with the court clerk in cities like Mississauga, Hamilton, or Barrie, and a judge will sign the new order from their desk. Working with a family lawyer from our directory ensures your paperwork complies with the Federal Child Support Guidelines, preventing the judge from rejecting your motion.
Step-by-Step Process for a Consent Motion to Change
The family court requires precise documentation even when both parties agree. 📄 Follow these steps carefully to ensure a smooth administrative process without delays.
Step 1: Calculate the Correct Support Amount
Before filling out forms, you must determine the legally appropriate amount of child support. In Canada, this is strictly governed by the Federal Child Support Guidelines. You must look at the paying parent’s current gross annual income (usually found on Line 15000 of their CRA Notice of Assessment) and check the Ontario support tables. If you are deviating from the table amount (for example, due to shared 50/50 parenting time or special expenses), you must have a valid legal reason.
Step 2: Draft the Form 15D (Consent Motion to Change)
The main document you need is the Form 15D: Consent Motion to Change. This form tells the judge exactly what parts of your old final order or separation agreement you want to update. You will detail the old child support amount, the new agreed-upon amount, and the exact date the new payments are supposed to start.
Step 3: Submit Form 15D as a Joint Application
Unlike other family law variations where you might need to sign a separate Form 15C (Consent) or attach a Form 14B (Motion Form), Ontario’s simplified procedure for changing child support only requires submitting exclusively the joint Form 15D: Consent Motion to Change Child Support. Both parents must sign this document to verify their mutual agreement. You will also need to submit a Support Deduction Order Information Form so the FRO can update their internal payment systems.
Step 4: Prepare the Form 25 (Draft Order)
Judges do not write the orders themselves; you must provide them with the exact wording you want signed. You will prepare a clean, typed Form 25: Order. This document must clearly spell out the new monthly child support obligations in Canadian dollars (CAD), the names of the children, and any agreed-upon Section 7 special expenses (like daycare or braces).
Step 5: Submit to the Family Court Clerk
Once all the documents are signed (and witnessed, if required), you package them together and submit them to the family court counter or through the Justice Services Online portal. The clerk will pass the file to a judge in their chambers. Because this is on “consent,” you will not be given a court date. You simply wait for the signed order to be mailed or emailed back to you.
How Much Does it Cost in Ontario?
An amicable Consent Motion is significantly cheaper than a litigated court battle. As of June 2026, co-parents should budget for the following costs:
| Court Filing Fees | In Ontario, there is generally a $0 filing fee to file a Consent Motion to Change if the only issue being changed is child or spousal support. |
| Lawyer Drafting Fees | Having a family lawyer calculate the guidelines and draft all the necessary consent forms typically costs between $750 CAD and $1,500 CAD. |
| Independent Legal Advice (ILA) | If one party’s lawyer drafts the documents, the other party should get independent legal advice to review it, usually costing $300 CAD to $600 CAD. |
How Long Does the Process Take?
Because you are bypassing the normal scheduling of Case Conferences and motions, the timeline is quite fast. 🕑 Once you submit the completed paperwork to the courthouse, it generally takes between 4 to 8 weeks for the judge to review the file, sign the draft order, and for the clerk to issue it back to you. Sending the new order to the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) for processing may take an additional 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will the judge automatically approve our agreed amount?
Not necessarily. In Ontario, judges have a duty to ensure that children are adequately supported. If you agree to a child support amount that is significantly lower than the Federal Guidelines without a very good legal reason, the judge will reject your paperwork.
Do we need a lawyer to file a Consent Motion?
You are not legally required to have a lawyer, but drafting the Form 25 Order requires precise legal language. A small mistake in the wording can cause the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) to reject the order, causing major delays.
Can we use this process to change parenting time?
Yes. If you both agree, you can also use a Consent Motion to Change to update decision-making responsibility or your parenting schedule.
What if FRO is currently garnishing my wages?
FRO will continue to garnish your wages at the old rate until they process your new court order. If you overpay in the meantime, you and your ex-partner will need to arrange for a reimbursement or a credit towards future payments.
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