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Find a Lawyer » Canada Legal Guides » Ontario Legal Guides » Family Law & Divorce Ontario » Child Custody & Support Ontario » Page 9
💡In Ontario, a Section 112 assessment is an expert investigation into your family to determine the best parenting arrangement. If the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL) accepts your case,…
💡In Ontario, Section 7 “extraordinary expenses” like braces, daycare, and high-level sports are shared between parents based on their proportionate incomes, not a simple 50/50 split. If you earn 70%…
💡Recent updates to Canada’s Divorce Act and Ontario’s Children’s Law Reform Act completely removed the outdated words “custody” and “access.” Today, family courts use “decision-making responsibility” for major life choices…
💡In Ontario, if your child spends at least 40% of their time living with you, you have a “shared parenting time” arrangement. Under Section 9 of the Federal Child Support…
💡If your ex-partner refuses to follow a court-ordered parenting schedule in Ontario, you must never retaliate by withholding child support. Instead, document every missed visit and file a Motion to…
💡In Ontario, child support is strictly calculated using the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The basic monthly amount you must pay is determined entirely by your gross annual income (Line 15000…
💡In Ontario, child support does not automatically end on the child’s 18th birthday. You generally must continue paying support if your adult child is enrolled in a full-time post-secondary education…
💡In Ontario, the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) enforces child support by automatically deducting payments directly from the paying parent’s paycheque. You can set this up for free by filing a…
💡Once your adult child finishes post-secondary education and becomes financially independent, child support does not end automatically in Ontario. You must formally terminate it by filing a Consent Motion to…
💡A comprehensive Parenting Plan under Ontario’s Children’s Law Reform Act prevents future family court battles. It must clearly detail how you will share decision-making responsibility, establish a precise parenting time…
💡In Ontario, losing your job does not automatically reduce or pause your child support payments. To legally lower your payments, you must prove a “material change in circumstances” and formally…
🎯 Specialization: Child Protection, High-Conflict Divorce, Estate Administration
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 367 Woolwich St, Guelph, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2003
🎯 Specialization: Child Protection, CAS Matters, Divorce, Adoptions, Wills and Estates
🗣️ Languages: English, Spanish
📍 Address: 340 Henry St, Brantford, Ontario
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: High Net Worth Divorce, Complex Property Division, Parenting Plans, Collaborative Law
🗣️ Languages: English, Spanish
📍 Address: 60 Marycroft Ave, Vaughan, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2015
🎯 Specialization: Collaborative Family Law, Residential Real Estate, Wills and Estates, Uncontested Divorce
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 21 Duke St, St. Catharines, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2014
🎯 Specialization: Collaborative Law, Divorce, Separation Agreements, Child Custody
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 420 George St N, Peterborough, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1998
🎯 Specialization: CAS Protection Proceedings, Child Custody, Spousal Support, Wills and Powers of Attorney
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 797 Princess St Suite 411, Kingston, Ontario
🏢 Est: 2010
✨ Free Consultation
🎯 Specialization: Family Law, Wills and Estates, Landlord Tenant Disputes, Criminal Defence
🗣️ Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi
📍 Address: 1087 Meyerside Dr Unit 10A, Mississauga, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Separation Agreements, Child Custody, Spousal Support, Domestic Contracts
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 209 Speers Rd Suite 5, Oakville, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Family Law, Residential Real Estate, Wills and Estates
🗣️ Languages: English, German
📍 Address: 11 Raymond St, St. Catharines, Ontario
🎯 Specialization: Divorce Litigation, Child Custody, Wrongful Dismissal, Severance Packages, Civil Litigation
🗣️ Languages: English
📍 Address: 3601 Hwy 7, Markham, Ontario
🏢 Est: 1991
📅 Appt. Recommended
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📍 2467 Dougall Ave, Windsor, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Youth Justice Services Division, Probation and Parole
📍 1540 McDougall St, Windsor, Ontario
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⚙️ Services: Criminal Administration, Civil Intake, Family Counter, Small Claims Counter, Sheriff's Office, Legal…
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📍 6788 Thorold Stone Rd Unit 4, Niagara Falls, Ontario
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📍 17810 Yonge St Building A, Newmarket, Ontario
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📍 2319 Fairview St, Burlington, Ontario
⚙️ Services: Divorce Decrees, Parenting Orders, Restraining Orders, Adoption Orders
📍 55 Main St W, Hamilton, Ontario
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📍 59 Church St 4th Floor, St. Catharines, Ontario
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📍 470 Water St, Peterborough, Ontario
Welcome to the Ontario Child Custody & Support guide centre. Here you will find comprehensive resources covering everything from parenting time arrangements to child support calculations, based on current provincial regulations.
Navigating child custody and support in Ontario is often the most emotionally challenging part of a separation. In recent years, Canadian family law has shifted away from the terms “custody” and “access,” focusing instead on “decision-making responsibility” and “parenting time.” These updated concepts, governed by the provincial Children’s Law Reform Act and the federal Divorce Act, prioritize the best interests of the child above all else. Whether you are creating a shared parenting plan in Sudbury or adjusting child support payments in Mississauga, the legal framework is designed to ensure children remain financially supported and emotionally secure.
Establishing a fair parenting arrangement requires open communication and a clear understanding of legal guidelines. By focusing on a child’s right to maintain a meaningful relationship with both parents, families can often minimize conflict. Staying informed about current Ontario regulations helps you build a stable, predictable environment for your children to thrive in after a separation.
Child-related disputes in the province are primarily addressed in either the Ontario Superior Court of Justice or the Ontario Court of Justice, depending on your municipality and whether you are legally married. In several jurisdictions across the province, the unified Family Court operates to handle all family law matters in a single location. These courts strongly encourage parents to use alternative dispute resolution methods, such as family mediation, before proceeding to a highly adversarial trial.
Families also frequently rely on vital provincial agencies to manage and enforce their arrangements. The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) is a critical government agency that collects, distributes, and enforces child support payments. If serious concerns about a child’s safety or well-being arise, local Children’s Aid Societies (CAS) may become involved to investigate and provide necessary protective services.
Resolving parenting disputes and calculating correct support amounts involves complex legal tests and strict financial disclosure rules. We strongly advise against attempting to represent yourself in family court or drafting informal parenting agreements without professional guidance. A poorly structured arrangement or an inaccurate income calculation can lead to ongoing conflict, financial hardship, and severe negative impacts on your children’s daily lives.
Retaining a compassionate and experienced family lawyer is the most effective way to protect your relationship with your children. You can find a list of relevant local lawyers and government agencies at the top of this page. Relying on professional legal counsel ensures that your parenting agreements are legally binding, enforceable, and genuinely reflect the best interests of your family.
Parenting time (formerly access) refers to the physical time a child spends in the care of each parent. Decision-making responsibility (formerly custody) refers to who has the legal authority to make major life choices for the child, such as those concerning healthcare, education, and religion.
Child support is generally calculated using the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The baseline amount depends on the paying parent’s gross annual income, the number of children requiring support, and the specific province where the paying parent lives.
No. In Canadian family law, child support and parenting time are treated as legally separate issues. You cannot deny a parent their court-ordered parenting time simply because they are behind on child support payments.
Section 7 expenses refer to special or extraordinary child-rearing costs that go beyond the basic monthly child support amount. Common examples include daycare costs, uninsured medical or dental premiums (like braces), and expensive extracurricular activities.
There is no specific legal age at which a child gets to make this decision. As a child grows older and more mature, the court will place greater weight on their views and preferences, but the child’s preference is just one of many factors used to determine their best interests.
If a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, the FRO has broad enforcement powers. They can garnish wages directly from the payor’s employer, seize bank accounts, register liens on personal property, and even suspend driver’s licences and federal passports.