Whether you’re a parent who’s just thinking about divorce or you’re already working with a Mississauga divorce lawyer, you’re likely wondering, “How much is child support going to be?” Ontario courts use specific formulas to determine child support, and the total amount that changes hands is dependent on the number of kids you have, your income, your soon-to-be ex’s income, and what type of custody agreement you have. Since every case is unique, other factors may also play a role.
Getting Down to Brass Tacks: How Much is Child Support?
Ontario statutes and administrative rules require that child support is based on common factors, including those listed above, in order to ensure that kids benefit through finances from both parents whenever possible. The statutes and rules also help ensure that the entire system runs more efficiently and that parents are treated fairly across the board.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for people who want to know how much child support they’ll pay or receive, but an Ontario child support calculator that asks all the right questions can give you a close approximation.
Factors That Can Affect Child Support Payments
Your Mississauga divorce lawyer will be able to tell you if any of these circumstances might apply to your case to change the amount of child support payments you’ll make or receive:
- Child care expenses incurred by the custodial parent due to employment
- Health-related expenses, such as orthodontics, mental or behavioural health treatment, and optometry
- Educational expenses
- Expenses arising from extracurricular activities
- Undue financial hardship
Since every case is different, there may be other factors that affect the outcome of your child support case. Only your lawyer can give you legal advice that’s tailored to your situation, so be sure to ask all the questions you need to in order to feel comfortable with your final judgment.
