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Back-to-School: Managing Child Support and School-Related Expenses

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Back-to-School: Managing Child Support and School-Related Expenses

As the back-to-school season rolls around, parents everywhere are preparing for an academic year filled with new opportunities and challenges.  For some, this time of year means more than just shopping for supplies and a new school wardrobe – it also involves managing child support payments and budgeting for a range of additional school-related expenses.   From classroom supplies and field trips to extracurricular activities and sports equipment, the financial demands of this new year can add up quickly.  In this blog, we will break down how to prepare and manage these expenses, provide tips for budgeting and communicating with your co-parent with the goal in mind of setting up your child for a successful and happy school year.

Understanding Child Support

What is child support?  Child support is the money that one parents pays to the other, to support their children financially following a separation or divorce.

In Ontario, child support is determined based on a formula and is payable to the custodial parent.  A base amount of child support is calculated in accordance with the Child Support Guidelines (CSG).  To determine the amount of child support payable to the custodial parent, the guidelines consider the non-custodial parents’ income, and the number of children.

Child support is designed to cover the basic needs of your child, such as housing and food. However, it often does not account for all the additional costs associated with raising a child, including school-related costs.  In addition to the base amount of child support, parents may also have to contribute towards “special” or “extraordinary” expenses.  Each parent is typically required to contribute to these expenses in proportion to their income.  Examples of additional or extraordinary expenses include but are not limited to:

  • Health related expenses for the child: medical and dental insurance, orthodontics, therapy, prescription drugs, etc;
  • The child’s extracurricular activities: sports equipment, music lessons and clubs;
  • School supplies: pens, notebooks, school uniforms;
  • Tutoring and additional educational support;
  • Field trips and special educations trips or opportunities.

Creating a Budget

  1. Asses your financial situation: to better prepare for the school year, start by creating a detailed budget that will include your income, expenses, and any child support payments you either receive or make. Understanding your financial situation is the key to help you allocate resources more effectively.
  2. Create a comprehensive list: once you understand your financial situation, identify all potential school-related expenses. Keep in mind that there will be one-time expenses (such as a new backpack), and monthly or yearly expenses (tuition or sports fees).
  3. Develop a budget and allocate costs: create a budget for the entire school year well in advance. Dedicate a portion of your budget specifically for school-related expenses.  Combine your child support payments with other income sources to create a budget.  Pro-tip: create a contingency fund to account for unexpected costs.

Strategies for Managing Expenses

  1. Open a separate savings account: consider opening a separate savings account dedicated only to school-related expenses for your child. This will help you keep track of these funds, separate from your regular budget.
  2. Document everything: keep detailed records of all child support payments and school-related expenses. This is crucial if any disputes arise or if you need to provide evidence of how funds have been allocated.
  3. Communicate with your co–parent: if you’re co-parenting this school year, it’s important to have open communication with your ex-partner regarding all additional expenses.  If your child shows interest in a particular sports team, ensure your co-parent is aware and prepared for the potential expenses associated.  Some parents may choose to split costs evenly, while others may have different arrangements based on their particular financial situations.  Ensure you both agree on how these costs will be divided ahead of time.
  4. Consider adjusting child support: if your child’s school-related expenses are significantly impacting your budget, consider revisiting the child support arrangements. Modifications can be requested through the courts. If you have experienced a significant change in your financial circumstances, you may be able to have the amount of child support you are obligated to pay altered.  Consider consulting with a family lawyer to see what your options are.

Utilizing Additional Resources

  1. Explore financial aid options: many schools offer financial aid and scholarships that can assist tremendously with costs. Research available options and apply for any relevant programs that could reduce your costs. Register for programs or teams earlier to save with early bird rates.  Consider reaching out to your child’s school for more resources.
  2. Tale advantage of tax benefits: some educational expenses may qualify for tax deductions or benefits. Talk to a professional to determine if you are eligible for any tax benefits related to your child’s education.
  3. Consider community resources: community organizations may offer assistance with school supplies, uniforms, or other expenses. If your child is a part of a sports team, consider meeting with the coach to organize a fundraiser, with all proceeds going towards uniforms or travel for away games.
  4. Utilize mediation or legal services: if disagreements arise with your co-parent, mediation services can help facilitate discussions and help reach agreements without resorting to litigation.  At Gelman and Associates, we offer mediation services to help you and your co-parent resolve issues in a cost-effective and low-conflict manner.  If mediation is not an option for you, consider contacting a family lawyer to help you understand your rights and options.

Managing child support and school-related expenses requires careful planning and organization. By creating a detailed budget, allocating funds, and maintaining open communication with your co-parent, you can better handle the financial strains of the school year. Stay proactive and informed this school year to ensure your child’s educational needs are met without unnecessary stress.  At Gelman and Associates, we understand your needs and are able to provide you with concrete solutions personalized for your legal matter.  Call us at (844) 736-0200 or online to book a consultation today.

Written by Paul D. Slan

Senior Lawyer

Senior lawyer Paul Slan has practiced family law since 1977. A certified mediator and arbitrator, he brings decades of litigation and negotiation experience to every client matter.

Frequently Asked Questions - child support

The Federal Child Support Guidelines are in place to dictate a fair amount of child support, and generally courts are inclined to follow the guidelines strictly. The guidelines employ a mathematical formula taking into consideration the support paying parent’s annual income and the number of children and provide an amount. The general rule is that the guidelines should be adhered to.  There are a few circumstances, however, which permit a court to deviate from the Child Support Guidelines. Examples are as follows:

Where the person seeking child support is not a biological parent but rather one who stands in place of a parent. This means that a divorcing step parent could be ordered to pay child support to his or her step-children if that spouse stood in the place of a parent during the marriage. According to the Divorce Act, a spouse “stands in place of a parent” when his or her conduct manifests an intention of placing himself or herself in the situation ordinarily occupied by the biological parent by assuming the responsibility of providing for the child’s economic and parenting needs. Courts will look at a variety of factors before making this determination.

Where the child is over the provincial age of majority. This is determined by the laws of the province where the child ordinarily resides. If the child ordinarily resides outside of Canada, the age of majority is eighteen years of age.

Where the support paying parent earns an income of more than $150,000 . In cases where the paying spouse makes more than $150,000 per year, he or she will be ordered to pay the guideline amount for the first $150,000, and the court has discretion whether to impose a higher amount in child support due to the income earned in exess of $150,000.

In split custody arrangements whereby each parent has custody of one or more of the children. Where split custody exists, the amount of child support is determined by calculating the difference between the amount that each would otherwise pay if a child support order were sought against each of them. In situations where parents earn roughly the same income and each is responsible for the support of a child of the marriage, the court can decline to make any order for child support.

In shared custody or access arrangements where a child spends at least 40 percent of the year with each parent. If shared custody is established, then the court is permitted to deviate from the regular guidelines. Section 9 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines addresses this situation and provides that the court should consider the guidelines amount, in addition to the increased costs of shared custody, and the conditions, means, needs and other circumstances of each spouse and of the children. Section 9 promotes flexibility and fairness and leaves discretion with the judge to consider the circumstances.

Where undue hardship arises and the household income of the party asserting undue hardship does not exceed that of the other household . Simply showing it will be hard to make the payments won’t suffice; to meet this standard you must show that the hardship caused by the payments will by excessive, extreme, improper, unreasonable or unjustified.

For help navigating your child support obligations and/or entitlements, please contact your Toronto divorce lawyer.

Child support is calculated mechanically, considering the parents’ salaries and the children’s location. The amount of child support each parent is responsible for is usually calculated using their total gross income according to line 150 of the tax return, how many children are involved, and their domicile.

In cases involving child support, you must typically serve and file financial disclosure. Financial disclosure is providing facts about your finances to the opposing party and the court, including your income, spending, assets such as property and other valuables, as well as debts.

Yes, it may be possible for you to pay for child support directly to your child, but it’s worth noting that this only happens in rare cases. Usually, you’re obligated to pay it to the other parent.

If you’re facing child support issues, your lawyer might refer to the Federal and/or provincial or territorial guidelines to assess what rules would apply to your situation.

In Canada, you’re obliged to pay for child support until the dependent reaches the age of 18 or until the child becomes independent or feels that they have reached a sense of maturity.

There are three main factors to consider in computing child support in Ontario:

  1. The paying parent’s income;
  2. Province where the paying parent is residing;
  3. Number of children the paying parent is supporting;

In addition to the above, the amount of child support from the paying parent may be adjusted based on the parenting agreement. If the parents have a parenting agreement that provides that the child or children are with either parent at least 40% of the time, then both parents’ income may be considered.
Further, the Child Support Guideline in Ontario and the Child Support calculator must be consulted in determining the amount of child support that the paying parent must give.
It must be noted that in Canada there are no States. Instead, there are Provinces. The Province where the paying parent is located will be a determining factor on which table or guideline will be used. i.e. if the paying parent resides in Ontario, then the Child Support Table in Ontario will be used in determining the amount of child support; if the paying parent resides in a different province in Canada, then the Federal Child Support Guideline in the province where the paying parent ordinarily resides will be used in determining the amount of child support; etc.

Parenting arrangements affect child support. Under Section 9 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines:
“Where a spouse exercises a right of access to, or has physical custody of, a child for not less than 40 percent of the time over the course of a year, the amount of the child support order must be determined by taking into account:
(a) the amounts set out in the applicable tables for each of the spouses;
(b) the increased costs of shared custody arrangements; and
(c) the conditions, means, needs and other circumstances of each spouse and of any child for whom support is sought.”

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