If you want to learn how to stop child support payments in Ontario, you should first understand what it is and what it is meant to cover. Child support is money paid by one parent to another as assistance for child care, which includes food, clothing, schooling, transportation, housing, and other basic needs. The Ontario child support guidelines govern the amount that needs to be paid.
A common misconception is that the responsibility to pay child support will last only until the child reaches the age of majority, which in Ontario is 18 years old, or when the child has withdrawn from parental control. This, however, is not absolute.
To learn more about cancelling child support in Ontario and Canada, the content that follows will provide useful information. This guide has been updated for 2026 to reflect the current Federal Child Support Tables, which were updated in 2025 and apply to child support calculations from October 1, 2025, onward.
For advice tailored to your specific situation, you can also contact a child support lawyer in Toronto at Gelman & Associates. Schedule a confidential consultation online or call us now at (844) 736-0200.
How to End Child Support in Ontario: Laws to Consider in 2026
As of 2026, parents should be especially careful about using the correct child support tables and making sure any request to cancel, reduce, or vary support is based on current financial information. The Department of Justice Canada states that the updated 2025 child support table look-up should be used to calculate amounts from October 1, 2025, onward. If you are reviewing an older order, older table amounts may still apply to past periods, but current and future support should be considered under the applicable 2025 tables.
This is important because cancelling child support in Ontario is not simply a matter of deciding that payments should stop. A payor may need to deal with the support recipient, the Family Responsibility Office, and sometimes the court. If your child support order is tied to a divorce, a separation agreement, or an earlier court order, a lawyer can help you determine whether you need a new agreement, a consent motion, or a contested motion to change.
Identifying a “Terminating Event” in the Support Order or Domestic Contract
The first step you may need to take to end child support payments is to read and understand the contents of your child support order or domestic contract. Support orders and domestic contracts may have an ending date for the child support or provision outlining events and/or circumstances when child support should end. This is commonly known as the “terminating event”.
A terminating event may refer to a child:
- Turning a certain age
- Finishing a specific educational program
- Becoming financially independent
- Marrying
- Moving out permanently
- Or otherwise ceasing to qualify as a dependent child
The wording of your support order matters. A vague clause may not be enough to stop enforcement automatically, especially if the recipient (or payee) disagrees about whether the event has occurred.
If the parties agree that a “terminating event” has happened or occurred, they must notify the FRO for the FRO to eventually stop the collection from the support payor. As of 2026, payors should keep copies of the order, agreement, correspondence, school records, employment information, and any written confirmation from the recipient, because FRO generally acts based on enforceable documents and written directions rather than informal conversations.
If the support recipient does not agree that a “terminating event” has happened or occurred, the support payor can go to Court and let the judge decide. Depending on the circumstances, the payor may need to ask the court to terminate ongoing support, vary arrears, or clarify the order. A Toronto variations lawyer can help assess which process is appropriate.
Although reading a child support order or domestic contract looks easy, it is still advised that you consult a lawyer and ask them if there is a “terminating event” indicated in the document. Your lawyer can thereafter represent you and communicate with the support recipient to discuss the existence of or the occurrence of the “terminating event”.
What if There is No Terminating Event in the Support Order or Domestic Contract?
In some circumstances, there are no “terminating events” included in support orders or domestic contracts. What a support payor can do then is to talk to the support recipient and see if they can agree to end the support amongst themselves.
If both parties agree to end the support, they should formalize their agreement in writing. They must then notify and submit to the FRO the agreement on the ending of child support.
If the parties do not agree to end the support, the support payor can go to Court and present their case on why the support must end. The support payor can also submit an application to discontinue enforcement of ongoing support to the FRO.
Asking a support recipient to agree to the termination of child support can be quite daunting, especially if both parties are hostile to each other. A lawyer can represent the support payor in talking to the support recipient in such situations.
Information on 2026 Child Support Obligations in Toronto, Ontario
| Additional Information on Child Support in Toronto, Ontario | |
|---|---|
| How is child support calculated? | In Canada, child support payments are calculated using the Child Support Table of the province or territory where the support payor resides. The Child Support Tables show the amount of the basic monthly support that the support payor must pay.
For 2026 calculations, parents can review the federal child support table look-up and may also find it helpful to use Gelman & Associates’ 2026 child support calculator. Online tools can provide a starting point, but they cannot determine whether support should legally end, whether arrears remain enforceable, or whether shared parenting arrangements affect the amount. |
| How much child support should a support recipient receive? How much child support should a support payor pay? | In Ontario’s Child Support Table, the amount of basic monthly support is based on the support payor’s gross annual income and the number of children that the support payor has to support.
It must be remembered that Ontario’s Child Support Table will be used only if the support payor resides in the province. |
| What are special or extraordinary expenses when it comes to child support payments? | Extraordinary or special expenses related to health, post-secondary education, and extra-curricular activities are not included in the standard calculations and are usually paid by both parents, depending on their individual income.
These are often called Section 7 expenses. Even where table child support ends, parents may still need to address whether any education, medical, dental, childcare, or extracurricular expenses remain outstanding. |
When Child Support May Continue After Age 18 in Ontario
One of the most important points for parents to understand is that child support does not always stop when a child turns 18. In Ontario, adult children may still be entitled to support if they remain dependent. This issue often arises when a child is completing high school after turning 18, attending college or university, living with a disability, or is otherwise unable to become financially independent.
For separated or divorced parents, relevant laws may include the Divorce Act, the Family Law Act, the Federal Child Support Guidelines, and Ontario’s Child Support Guidelines. Parents should also review the specific wording of their support order or agreement.
A child’s dependency is highly fact-specific. Courts may consider whether the child is enrolled in an educational program full-time, whether they are contributing to their own expenses, whether they are living at home, whether there are health or disability-related barriers to independence, and whether each parent has received current financial and school information. A Toronto child support lawyer can help you understand what evidence is relevant before you take steps to cancel child support.
Can I Go Directly to the FRO to Stop My Child Support Payments in Ontario?
In some cases, yes. The support payor can file an application with the FRO to discontinue enforcement of ongoing support.
After filing this application, the FRO will then send a letter to the support recipient to verify if child support should end. If the support recipient does not agree that child support should end, the support payor must now go to Court to pursue the ending of the child support.
However, if the support recipient agrees in writing to end the payment of child support, the FRO will notify the support payor that they may legally stop paying support.
If the support recipient does not respond to the FRO, the FRO may stop enforcing the child support payments without hearing back. However, if thereafter, the support recipient communicates and informs the FRO that child support should not have ended, the FRO will again continue collecting child support payments from the support payor.
A key point in these scenarios is that FRO enforcement and the legal obligation to pay support are related but not always identical. FRO may stop enforcement in some situations, but a court order or agreement may still need to be changed to avoid confusion about future payments, arrears, or re-enforcement. Before filing FRO documents, it is wise to review whether you also need a court order or a written agreement.
Asking the Court to End Child Support
As we have discussed above, going to Court to end child support should always be the last resort. When going to Court, the support payor will be filing a Motion to Change. There, the support payor must present their case and convince the Judge that cancelling child support payments will not affect the child’s best interests.
In 2026, a motion to change child support in Ontario may involve providing:
- Updated income and financial disclosure
- Proof of the child’s education or employment status
- Information about the child’s living arrangements
- And any evidence showing that the child is no longer dependent.
If the issue involves retroactive cancellation or arrears, the court may also look at when the payor first raised the issue, whether there was a delay, whether disclosure was exchanged, and whether the recipient relied on the payments.
It is strongly advised that an experienced child support lawyer represent the payor in seeking the Court’s intervention to cancel child support payments.
Important Reminder to Support Payors
It is important to note that even if there is a terminating event within your support order or the Court orders to end the child support, you must continue paying child support until the FRO notifies you that you can stop paying.
Stopping payments too early can create enforcement consequences, including arrears, interest, wage garnishment, driver’s licence suspension, or other FRO enforcement steps. If you believe your obligation has ended, the safer approach is to act quickly, get the issue documented, and follow the required process rather than simply stopping payment.
Evidence That May Help When Trying to Stop Child Support in Ontario
The evidence that is needed to cancel child support in Toronto and Ontario depends on the facts of the case. A payor should not assume that a child’s age alone is enough.
Helpful documents may include:
- The current court order, separation agreement, or domestic contract.
- Any clause that sets out an end date or terminating event.
- School enrollment records, transcripts, graduation confirmation, or proof that a child has withdrawn from school.
- Employment information showing that the child is financially independent.
- Updated income information for both parents, where table support or Section 7 expenses remain in dispute.
- Correspondence showing when the issue was raised and whether the other parent agreed or disagreed.
- And more.
Parents should avoid changing payments informally without a written agreement, FRO confirmation, or a court order. If you are unsure what to gather, Gelman & Associates’ Toronto child support lawyers can help you review your documents and prepare practical next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cancelling Child Support in Ontario
Does child support automatically stop when a child turns 18 in Ontario?
No. Child support may continue after age 18 if the child remains dependent, including because of full-time studies, illness, disability, or other circumstances. The wording of the order or agreement, the child’s situation, and the applicable legislation all matter.
Can parents agree to cancel child support without going to court?
Sometimes. If both parents agree that child support should end, they should put the agreement in writing and notify FRO if FRO is enforcing the order. Depending on the facts, a court order or formal amendment may still be recommended so the record is clear.
What if my child finished school and has a full-time job?
A child who has completed school and is financially independent may no longer be entitled to support, but the payor should still follow the correct process. Providing evidence of graduation, employment, income, and living arrangements may be helpful.
Can FRO cancel child support for me?
FRO can stop enforcing ongoing support in some circumstances after the proper application process has been completed, but FRO does not provide legal advice and cannot resolve every dispute. If the recipient disagrees or if the court order needs to be changed, a motion to change may be required. A child support lawyer can be helpful under such circumstances.
What happens to child support arrears if ongoing support ends?
Ending ongoing support does not automatically erase arrears from the past that are still owed. Arrears in the context of child support refer to the accumulated total of past-due, unpaid payments. Arrears are usually treated separately. A payor who wants arrears reduced, rescinded, or addressed should get legal advice about the evidence needed and the appropriate court process.
Should I use the 2025 or 2017 child support tables in 2026?
For child support amounts from October 1, 2025, onward, the Department of Justice Canada directs users to the 2025 child support table look-up. The 2017 look-up remains relevant for amounts owed between November 22, 2017 and September 30, 2025.
Can shared parenting time cancel child support obligations?
Not automatically. If a child spends at least 40% of the time with each parent, the calculation may change, but one parent may still owe support.
Do I need a Toronto child support lawyer to cancel child support?
You are not required to have a lawyer, but legal advice can help you avoid mistakes. This is especially true if FRO is involved, the recipient disagrees, the child is over 18 but still in school, arrears have built up, or the order is unclear.
Get Help With Child Support from a Family Lawyer in Toronto
You can speak with our legal team at Gelman & Associates if you wish to know more about how to cancel child support in Ontario. A lawyer will also be able to tell you about other factors that could convince a judge to change your court order or separation agreement, as well as guide you through the steps mentioned above.
At Gelman & Associates, our Toronto child support lawyers assist payors and recipients with child support calculations, FRO enforcement issues, motions to change, support for adult children, and related family law matters involving parenting time and decision-making responsibility, spousal support, and divorce and separation.
If you have questions about cancelling child support in Ontario, call Gelman & Associates at (844) 736-0200 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
