Are you struggling to understand how child support works? At Family Law Helps, we understand that child support can be a complex and confusing issue. As experienced family lawyers in Toronto , we often receive questions from clients about how child support is calculated and what factors come into play.
How much child support do I have to pay?
One of the most common questions is, “how much child support do I have to pay?” Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always straightforward. In Ontario, the amount of child support you must pay depends on several factors, such as where the children primarily live, your income, and any extraordinary expenses that need to be considered. As a result, it’s crucial to speak with an experienced family lawyer like Natalia Denchik, who can help you navigate the complexities of child support.
We can use the Child Support Guidelines as a starting point to calculate the basic amount of child support you’re required to pay. The guidelines are based on your gross annual income and offer an online calculator tool, which we can use to estimate your monthly child support obligation. However, determining your annual income can be tricky if you’re self-employed or work in a “cash” based industry. That’s where a knowledgeable lawyer like Natalia Denchik can help. We can investigate your financial situation and determine the appropriate income to use for child support purposes.
If the children spend a substantial amount of time with both parents, this could impact the amount of child support paid from one parent to the other. If the children spend close to equal time with both parents, child support may be set off. This means that each parent pays support to the other based on their income and the Child Support Guidelines. Our team can help you understand how this works and your obligations in this scenario.
It’s important to note that the monthly child support prescribed by the guidelines does not consider additional expenses associated with raising children, such as childcare, medical costs, extracurricular activities, and university tuition. These expenses referred to as Section 7 expenses, are generally shared proportionately between the parents in addition to the Table child support amount. Determining what expenses fall under Section 7 can be complex, and that’s where our affordable family lawyers can provide invaluable guidance.
Family Law Helps understands that every family’s situation is unique, and there are scenarios where the court may not follow the Child Support Guidelines. For instance, if the paying parent has significant financial obligations or if paying child support would cause financial hardship, the court may order a lower monthly child support amount to be paid. If the paying parent’s income is over $150,000 per year, the court may order a higher monthly child support amount to be paid. Our team can help you navigate these scenarios and ensure that your rights and obligations are protected.
It’s also important to note that child support doesn’t necessarily end when a child reaches 18. The end date for child support differs for every family and depends on the child’s circumstances. Our experienced family lawyers can provide guidance on when child support should end and help you take steps to terminate child support orders if necessary.
If you need assistance with child support or any other family law issue, please contact Natalia Denchik at ndenchik@familylawhelps.com or 416 258-9566. Our team of experienced lawyers is here to help you navigate the complexities of family law and protect your rights.
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