CanadaHow is child support calculated under the Federal Child Support Guidelines?
Child support under the Federal Child Support Guidelines is calculated primarily based on the paying parent’s annual income and the number of children, using tables published in the Guidelines.
What the Law Says
The Federal Child Support Guidelines are established under the Divorce Act and provide the legal framework for calculating child support amounts in divorce cases across Canada.
The Guidelines are made by the Governor in Council under the authority of section 26.1 of the Divorce Act. They set out a standardized, income-based approach to determine the base amount of child support — known as the 'table amount' — that the paying parent must contribute each month.
The table amounts depend on two main factors: the paying parent’s annual income (before tax) and the number of children entitled to support. Separate tables exist for each province and territory to reflect regional cost-of-living differences.
In addition to table amounts, the Guidelines also address 'special or extraordinary expenses' (e.g., childcare, health care, post-secondary education), which may be shared between parents proportionally to their respective incomes.
Statutory TextGovernor in Council may establish guidelines regarding child support amounts based on income of the paying parent.
— Divorce Act, s. 26.1 — Federal Child Support Guidelines
What Courts Have Said
The Supreme Court of Canada recently affirmed the constitutional validity and proper scope of the Federal Child Support Guidelines.
The Court upheld the Guidelines as a valid exercise of the Governor in Council’s delegated authority under s. 26.1 of the Divorce Act, confirming they fall squarely within Parliament’s jurisdiction over divorce and its consequences.
What to Do
Determine the paying parent’s annual gross income using recent tax returns, notices of assessment, or other reliable income documents.
Identify the correct provincial/territorial table from the Federal Child Support Guidelines based on where the recipient parent lives.
Locate the table amount corresponding to the paying parent’s income and number of children.
Assess whether any special or extraordinary expenses apply, and calculate each parent’s proportional share based on their respective incomes.
File the calculation with the court or include it in a separation agreement; update annually if income changes significantly.
Sources
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South KoreaNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.