Child Support: Difference between revisions

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{{JPBOFL Start Chapter
|Related = [[Child Support Guidelines|The Guidelines]]{{·}}[[Exceptions to the Child Support Guidelines|Exceptions to the Guidelines]]
{{·}}[[Making Changes to Child Support|Making Changes]]{{·}}[[Child Support Arrears]]
}}
{{JP Boyd on Family Law TOC|expanded = childsupport}}{{JPBOFL Editor Badge
{{JP Boyd on Family Law TOC|expanded = childsupport}}{{JPBOFL Editor Badge
|ChapterEditors = [[Eugene Raponi|Eugene Raponi, QC]] and [[Inga Phillips]]
|ChapterEditors = [[Bill Murphy-Dyson]] and [[Inga Phillips]]
}}
}}
{{Clicklawbadge
{{LSSbadge
| resourcetype = <br/>more resources on<br/>
| resourcetype = <br/>more resources on<br/>
| link = [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/global/search?k=child%20support child support]
| link = [https://family.legalaid.bc.ca/finances-support/child-spousal-support/child-support child support]
}}Child support is money paid by one parent or guardian to the other to help cover the expenses associated with raising the children. The amount of child support payable is usually fixed according to tables contained in the [[Child Support Guidelines]], which sets support according to the number of children and the income of the person paying support. While there are some exceptions to the Guidelines, the amount of child support payable is almost always the amount set out in the tables.
}}Child support is money paid by one parent or guardian to the other to help cover the expenses associated with raising the children. The amount of child support payable is usually fixed according to tables contained in the [[Child Support Guidelines]], which sets support according to the number of children and the income of the person paying support. While there are some exceptions to the Guidelines, the amount of child support payable is almost always set using the tables.


This section discusses the basics of child support, and child support orders under the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' and the ''[[Family Law Act]]''. It briefly looks at how to get a child support order inside and outside of British Columbia. It also looks at the income tax implications of child support, what happens when someone entitled to receive child support goes on social assistance, and the rights of children to claim child support.
This section discusses the basics of child support, and child support orders or agreements under the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' and the ''[[Family Law Act]]''. It talks about how to get a child support order inside and outside of British Columbia. It also looks at the income tax implications of child support, what happens when someone entitled to receive child support goes on social assistance, and the rights of children to claim child support. Child support for adult children is also discussed.


Other sections in this chapter look at the [[Child Support Guidelines|Guidelines in more detail]]. They also discuss [[Exceptions to the Child Support Guidelines|exceptions to the Guidelines]], [[Making Changes to Child Support|how to make changes]], and [[Child Support Arrears|how to deal with arrears of child support]].
Other sections in this chapter look at the [[Child Support Guidelines|Guidelines in more detail]]. They also talk about the [[Exceptions to the Child Support Guidelines|exceptions to the Guidelines]], [[Making Changes to Child Support|how to make changes]], and [[Child Support Arrears|how to deal with arrears of child support]].


==Introduction==
==Introduction==


After parents separate, they usually find that their individual financial situations have gotten worse. Instead of the family income paying for one rent payment, one phone <span class="noglossary">bill</span>, one electricity <span class="noglossary">bill</span> and so forth, the same amount of income must now cover two rent payments, two phone bills and two electricity bills. If a child lives mostly with one parent, that parent will inevitably have to pay for more of the child's expenses for things like school fees, food and clothing. Child support is intended to help distribute the cost associated with raising a child between the child's parents and other people who may be responsible for supporting the child.
After parents separate, they usually find that their individual financial situations have gotten worse. Instead of the family income paying for one rent or mortgage payment, one phone <span class="noglossary">bill</span>, one electricity <span class="noglossary">bill</span>, one gas <span class="noglossary">bill</span>, one cable <span class="noglossary">bill</span> and so forth, the same amount of income must now cover two rent payments, two phone bills, two electricity bills, two gas bills and two cable bills. If a child lives mostly with one parent, that parent will inevitably wind up paying for more of the child's expenses for things like school fees, food and clothing, as well as accommodation. Child support is intended to help distribute the cost associated with raising a child between the child's parents and other people who may be responsible for supporting the child, including stepparents.
 
Child support is a payment made by one parent or guardian, the ''payor'', to the other parent or guardian, the ''recipient'', to help meet the costs the recipient bears paying for the child's needs. The payment of child support is intended to maintain or improve the child's living conditions. Child support is not a supplement to spousal support; it's money that is paid for the benefit of the child, not the parent with whom the child lives. Of course, there's often some overlap between the recipient's expenses and the child’s expenses, like the cost of groceries and the cost of utilities.  


Child support is a payment made by one parent or guardian, the ''payor'', to the other parent or guardian, the ''recipient'', to help meet the costs the recipient bears as a result of the child's needs, and the payment of child support consequently helps to maintain or improve the child's living conditions. Child support is not a supplement to spousal support; it's money that is paid for the benefit of the child, not the parent with whom the child lives. Child support is not a fee paid in exchange for time with the child. With some exceptions (such as child support paid for children over 19, or shared parenting situations), child support is different from and almost unrelated to parenting time, contact, or access.
It's important to understand that child support is not a fee paid in exchange for time with the child. With some exceptions, such as child support for children over 19 and circumstances where the child's time is being shared equally or almost equally, child support is not related to the payor's parenting time or contact.


Child support is payable on the principle that both parents have a duty to financially contribute to their child's upbringing. The simple fact of biological parenthood triggers this obligation, even if the payor never sees the child and has no role in the child's life. Child support can also be payable by stepparents and people who are guardians and not parents, although the rules are slightly different for these people and their obligation is often tempered by a biological parent's obligation.
Child support is payable on the principle that all of a child's parents have a legal duty to financially contribute to the child's upbringing. The simple fact of being a parent triggers this obligation, even if the payor never sees the child and has no role in the child's life. Child support can also be payable by stepparents and people who are guardians and not parents, although the rules are slightly different for these people and their obligation is often affected by a biological parent's obligation.


An order for child support can be made under s. 15.1 of the federal ''[[Divorce Act]]'' or s. 149 of the provincial ''[[Family Law Act]]'', or a couple can agree on child support in a separation agreement. Either way, the amount of support awarded must, with only a few exceptions, conform to the rules set out in the federal [[Child Support Guidelines]].
An order for child support can be made under section 15.1 of the federal ''[[Divorce Act]]'' or section 149 of the provincial ''[[Family Law Act]]''. Parents can agree on child support in a separation agreement, and arbitrators can make awards about child support. No matter what, the amount of support should, with only a few exceptions, satisfy the requirements of the federal [[Child Support Guidelines]].


The Guidelines contains a series of tables, particular to each province, which set out the amount payable based on the payor's income and the number of children for whom support is being paid. There are some exceptions to this basic rule, and they are described later in this chapter. The tables were most recently updated on 31 December 2011. For most people, the changes resulted in an increase in the amount of child support payable.
The Guidelines contain a series of tables, particular to each province and territory, which set out the amount payable based on the payor's income and the number of children for whom support is being paid. There are some exceptions to this basic rule; they are described later in this chapter. The tables were most recently updated on 22 November 2017. For most people, the changes resulted in a small increase in the amount of child support payable.


Both the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' and the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' require the court and parents or guardians to give child support priority over spousal support when both child support and spousal support might be payable. In other words, if there isn't enough money to pay both, child support will take precedence.
Both the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' and the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' require the court and parents or guardians to give child support priority over spousal support when both child support and spousal support might be payable. In other words, if there isn't enough money to pay both, child support will take priority. Going one step further, both child support and spousal support in most cases take priority over debt payments and other expenses, and both obligations survive the payor's bankruptcy.


==The ''Divorce Act''==
==The ''Divorce Act''==


The ''Divorce Act'' only applies to people who are or were married to each other, including a parent and a stepparent who are married to each other. A court can only make an order for child support under the ''Divorce Act'' if it has or had the jurisdiction to make an order for the spouses' divorce: the spouses must be or have been legally married, and the spouse making the application must have lived in the province where the application is made for at least one year. Applications under the ''Divorce Act'' can only be heard by the Supreme Court, not the Provincial Court.
Child support can be ordered under section 15.1 of the ''Divorce Act'', but only if:
 
*the parents, or the parent and a step-parent, are or were married to each other, and


Child support is considered so important that a court may not even grant the parties a divorce unless the judge is satisfied that adequate financial provisions are made for the children. You can find more information on [[Divorce#Child support|child support in the context of divorce orders]] in the chapter [[Separation & Divorce]], in the section on [[Divorce#Child support|Divorce—Child support]].
*at least one of the parents, or a step-parent, has lived in the province for at least one year immediately before a court proceeding started.
 
A claim for orders under the ''Divorce Act'' can only be started in the Supreme Court. The Provincial Court cannot deal with claims under the ''Divorce Act''.
 
Parents who can't apply for child support under the ''Divorce Act'' can apply for child support under the ''Family Law Act'' either in the Provincial Court or Supreme Court.


===Qualifying for child support===
===Qualifying for child support===


In the ''Divorce Act'', children are referred to as ''children of the marriage'', and a child must fall within the act's definition of a "child of the marriage" in order to be eligible for support. There are a couple of important definitions in s. 2(1) that apply in determining whether a child is a child of the marriage:
In the ''Divorce Act'', children are referred to as ''children of the marriage'', and a child must fall within the Act's definition of "child of the marriage" to be eligible for support. There are a couple of important definitions in section 2(1) of the act that help determine whether a child is a child of the marriage:


<blockquote><tt>"age of majority", in respect of a child, means the age of majority as determined by the laws of the province where the child ordinarily resides, or, if the child ordinarily resides outside of Canada, eighteen years of age;</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>"age of majority," in respect of a child, means the age of majority as determined by the laws of the province where the child ordinarily resides, or, if the child ordinarily resides outside of Canada, eighteen years of age;</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>"child of the marriage" means a child of two spouses or former spouses who, at the material time,</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>"child of the marriage" means a child of two spouses or former spouses who, at the material time,</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) is under the age of majority and who has not withdrawn from their charge, or</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) is under the age of majority and who has not withdrawn from their charge, or</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) is the age of majority or over and under their charge but unable, by reason of illness, disability or other cause, to withdraw from their charge or to obtain the necessaries of life;</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) is the age of majority or over and under their charge but unable, by reason of illness, disability or other cause, to withdraw from their charge or to obtain the necessaries of life;</tt></blockquote></blockquote>


As well, s. 2(2) of the act says that:
As well, section 2(2) of the act says that:


<blockquote><tt>For the purposes of the definition "child of the marriage" in subsection (1), a child of two spouses or former spouses includes</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>For the purposes of the definition "child of the marriage" in subsection (1), a child of two spouses or former spouses includes</tt></blockquote>
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<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) any child of whom one is the parent and for whom the other stands in the place of a parent.</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) any child of whom one is the parent and for whom the other stands in the place of a parent.</tt></blockquote></blockquote>


Taken together these definitions mean that:
Taken together, these definitions mean that:


#child support can be owing from an adoptive parent, as well as a natural parent,
*child support can be owing from an adoptive parent, as well as a biological parent,
#child support can be owing from stepparents (spouses who "stand in the place of a parent"),
*child support can be owing from stepparents (spouses who "stand in the place of a parent"),
#child support is payable until a child reaches the age of majority in the province where the child lives, and
*child support is payable until a child reaches the age of majority in the province where the child lives, age 19 in British Columbia, and
#child support can be payable after the child reaches the age of majority if the child cannot withdraw from his or her parents' care.
*child support can be payable after a child reaches the age of majority if the child is still financially dependent on their parents.


On this last point, the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' says that an adult child can continue to be eligible for child support as long as he or she cannot "withdraw from the charge" of his or her parents. The two main reasons why a child might not be able to withdraw are because the child is going to college or university, or because the child has a serious, chronic illness that prevents him or her from becoming self-supporting. The factors a court will consider in determining whether a child's academic career qualifies him or her as a "child of the marriage" include the following:
The ''[[Divorce Act]]'' says that an adult child can continue to be eligible for child support as long as they cannot "withdraw from the charge" of their parents. The two main reasons why a child might not be able to withdraw are because the child is going to university, or because the child has a serious, chronic illness that prevents them from becoming self-supporting. The factors a court will consider in deciding whether an adult child's academic career qualifies them as a "child of the marriage" often include:
 
*the age of the child,
*whether the academic program is full- or part-time, and whether the program is connected to the child's future employment,
*the child's ability to contribute to their own support through part-time work, student loans, grants, bursaries, RESPs, or other resources,
*the child's academic <span class="noglossary">performance</span> and dedication to their studies,
*the parents’ financial situations, and
*any plans the parents may have made for the child's post-secondary schooling while they were still together.


#the age of the adult child,
In general, the courts will allow an adult child to benefit from child support for one program of post-secondary study — one degree or one diploma — so long as the child is enrolled full-time. Where one or both parents have high incomes and had always expected, while they were together, that the child would take an advanced degree, child support can be payable for more than one program of study.
#whether the academic program is full- or part-time, and whether the program is connected to the child's future employment,
#the child's ability to contribute to his or her own support through part-time work, student loans, grants, bursaries and the like,
#the child's academic <span class="noglossary">performance</span> and dedication to his or her studies,
#the spouses' financial situation, and
#any plans the spouses may have made for the child's post-secondary schooling while they were still together.


In general, the courts will allow an adult child to benefit from child support for one program of post-secondary study — one degree or one diploma — so long as the child is enrolled full-time. Where one or both of the parents have a very high income and had always expected, during the marriage, that the child would take an advanced degree, child support can be payable for more than one degree program.
Many post-secondary institutions consider that 60 percent of a full course load is “full-time," and the courts usually go along with that approach.


As far as "age of majority" is concerned, keep in mind that it is the provinces that have the authority to set the age of majority, not the federal government. In British Columbia, the age of majority is 19. In other provinces the age of majority is 18.
While the amount of support for adult children is presumed to be the Guideline table amount, section 3(2) of the Guidelines allows the court to order a different amount that the court considers appropriate, taking into account the child’s needs and other circumstances, and the financial circumstances of the child and the parents.


===Statutory provisions===
===Statutory provisions===
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The primary sections of the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' dealing with child support are these:
The primary sections of the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' dealing with child support are these:


*s. 2: definitions
*section 2: definitions
*s. 4: jurisdiction to make child support orders
*section 3: the court's authority to make child support orders when a spouse is asking for a divorce order
*s. 5: jurisdiction to change orders
*section 4: the court's authority to make child support orders after the court has made a divorce order
*s. 15.1: child support
*section 5: the court's authority to change child support orders after the court has made a divorce order
*s. 15.3: child support has priority over spousal support
*section 15.1: child support
*s. 17: variation proceedings
*section 15.3: child support has priority over spousal support
*section 17: applying to change an order


==The ''Family Law Act''==
==The ''Family Law Act''==


A parent or guardian can apply for child support under the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' whether the parties are married spouses, unmarried spouses or in another unmarried relationship, or if they were in no particular relationship with each other at all. People other than parents can also apply for child support if they are caring for a child, including grandparents who are guardians of their grandchildren and people who have been appointed as a guardian of a child.
Parents and guardians can apply for child support under the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' whether they are married spouses, unmarried spouses, or were in no particular relationship with each other at all but had a child together. People other than parents can also apply for child support if they are caring for a child, including grandparents who are guardians of their grandchildren and people who have been appointed as a guardian of a child.


Both the Supreme Court and the Provincial Court can make orders for child support under the ''Family Law Act''.
Both the Supreme Court and the Provincial Court can make orders for child support under the ''Family Law Act''.
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===Qualifying for child support===
===Qualifying for child support===


Definitions play an important role in determining eligibility and responsibility for child support under the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', just as they do under the ''[[Divorce Act]]''. Section 147 of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' says that each parent and guardian of a child is responsible for the support of that child, and s. 146 defines ''child'', ''parent'' and ''guardian'' as follows:
Definitions play an important role in determining eligibility and responsibility for child support under the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', just as they do under the ''[[Divorce Act]]''. Section 147 of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' says that each parent and guardian of a child is responsible for the support of that child, and section 146 defines ''child'', ''parent'' and ''guardian'':


<blockquote><tt>"child" includes a person who is 19 years of age or older and unable, because of illness, disability or another reason, to obtain the necessaries of life or withdraw from the charge of his or her parents or guardians;</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>"child" includes a person who is 19 years of age or older and unable, because of illness, disability or another reason, to obtain the necessaries of life or withdraw from the charge of his or her parents or guardians;</tt></blockquote>
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<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) who is not a parent, and</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) who is not a parent, and</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) whose only parental responsibility is respecting the child's legal and financial interests;</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) whose only parental responsibility is respecting the child's legal and financial interests;</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>"parent" includes a stepparent, if the stepparent has a duty to provide for the child under section 147 (4) [duty to provide support for child];</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>"parent" includes a stepparent, if the stepparent has a duty to provide for the child under section 147(4);</tt></blockquote>


Section 146 gives a definition of ''stepparent'' for the definition of parent and says that:
Section 146 also gives a definition of ''stepparent'' for the definition of "parent," which mentions stepparents, and says that:


<blockquote><tt>"stepparent" means a person who is a spouse of the child's parent and lived with the child's parent and the child during the child's life.</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>"stepparent" means a person who is a spouse of the child's parent and lived with the child's parent and the child during the child's life.</tt></blockquote>


However, s. 147 puts some really important limits on support for minor children, and on when stepparents are and aren't responsible to pay child support:
(Remember that under the ''Family Law Act'', "spouse" includes married people as well as people who lived together, in a romantic relationship, for at least two years or for less than two years if they have a child together.)
 
Section 147 puts some really important limits on support for children, and on when stepparents are and aren't responsible to pay child support:


<blockquote><tt>(1) Each parent and guardian of a child has a duty to provide support for the child, unless the child</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>(1) Each parent and guardian of a child has a duty to provide support for the child, unless the child</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) is a spouse, or</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) is a spouse, or</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) is under 19 years of age and has voluntarily withdrawn from his or her parents' or guardians' charge, except if the child withdrew because of family violence or because the child's circumstances were, considered objectively, intolerable.</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) is under 19 years of age and has voluntarily withdrawn from his or her parents' or guardians' charge, except if the child withdrew because of family violence or because the child's circumstances were, considered objectively, intolerable.</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>...</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>(4) A child's stepparent does not have a duty to provide support for the child unless</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>(4) A child's stepparent does not have a duty to provide support for the child unless</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) the stepparent contributed to the support of the child for at least one year, and</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) the stepparent contributed to the support of the child for at least one year, and</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) a proceeding for an order under this Part, against the stepparent, is started within one year after the date the stepparent last contributed to the support of the child.</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) a proceeding for an order under this Part, against the stepparent, is started within one year after the date the stepparent last contributed to the support of the child.</tt></blockquote></blockquote>


Section 149(3)(b) also says that an order can't be made against a stepparent until the stepparent and parent have separated.
Section 149(3)(b) also says that an order can't be made against a stepparent until the stepparent and parent have separated. This means that while a stepparent and a child’s parent live together, the stepparent has no legal duty to support that child, unless the stepparent becomes a guardian of the child.  


As you can see, these definitions cast a very wide net and it's fairly easy to qualify as a parent who must pay child support. A few important points come from the case law on these definitions:
As you can see, these definitions cast a very wide net and it's fairly easy to qualify as a "parent" who must pay child support. A few important points come from the case law on these definitions:


*All parents are responsible to pay child support, regardless of the nature of the parents' relationship with each other.
*All parents are responsible to pay child support, regardless of the nature of the parents' relationship with each other.
*Child support can be payable by guardians and stepparents.
*Child support can be paid by stepparents and by guardians who aren't parents.
*The definition of "stepparent" includes anyone who has been the spouse of a parent and contributed to the support of his or her child for at least one year.
*Child support can be paid for the same child by more than one parent, guardian, and stepparent.  
*The phrase "contributed to the support of the child for at least one year" does not mean for one whole, continuous calendar year.
*A duty to pay child support can end before a child turns 19, if the child becomes a spouse or has left home and is supporting themself.  
*Any application for child support from a stepparent must be brought within one year of the date of the stepparent's last contribution to the support of the child and can only be made after the stepparent and parent have split up.
*Child support can be paid after a child turns 19 if the child is unable to withdraw from the care of their parents because of illness, disability, a reasonable delay in finishing high school, or attendance at a post-secondary school.
*Child support can be payable by more than one parent, guardian, and stepparent at the same time.  
*A duty to pay child support can end before a child turns 19 if the child becomes a spouse or leaves home.
*Child support can be payable after the child turns 19 if the child is unable to withdraw from the care of his or her parents because of illness, a reasonable delay in finishing high school, or the child's pursuit of post-secondary education.
 
On this last point, the factors a court will consider in determining whether a child's academic career continues to qualify the child for support include the following:
 
*the age of the adult child,
*whether the academic program is full- or part-time, and whether the program is connected to the child's future employment,
*the child's ability to contribute to his or her own support through part-time work, student loans, grants, bursaries and the like,
*the child's academic <span class="noglossary">performance</span> and dedication to his or her studies,
*the financial situations of the child's parents, guardians and stepparents, and
*any plans the parties may have made for the child's post-secondary schooling while they were still together.


In general, the courts will allow an adult child to benefit from child support for one program of post-secondary study — one degree or one diploma — so long as the child is enrolled full-time. Where one or both of the parties have a very high income and had always expected that the child would take an advanced degree, child support can be payable for more than one degree program, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
On that last point, the factors a court will think about in deciding whether a child's academic career continues to qualify the child for support are the same factors the court will think about under the [[{{PAGENAME}}#The Divorce Act |''Divorce Act'']], discussed above.


===Stepparents and child support===
===Stepparents and child support===


The ''[[Family Law Act]]'' says that stepparents can be responsible for paying child support just as biological and adoptive parents are responsible for paying child support. This has meant that in some cases, multiple people who meet the act's definitions of ''parent'' and ''stepparent'' can be responsible for paying child support for the same child at the same time. In fact, there are a few cases in which parents have engaged in a number of long-term relationships, each of which were long enough to attract a child support obligation from the successive partners of those parents.
The ''[[Family Law Act]]'' says that stepparents can be responsible for paying child support, just as biological and adoptive parents are responsible for paying child support. This has meant that in some cases, more than one person who meets the Act's definitions of "parent" and "stepparent" are required to pay child support for the same child at the same time. In fact, there are even cases in which a parent has been involved in a series of long-term relationships, each of which were long enough to create a child support obligation for each of the parent's partners.  


A 2004 case of the British Columbia Supreme Court, ''[http://canlii.ca/t/1gfqg H.J.H. v. N.H.H.]'', 2004 BCSC 179, a case decided under the old ''Family Relations Act'', offers some guidance for stepparents trying to stick-handle around this issue. In this case, the parties had been married for less than three years when they separated. Each had been previously married, and the problem centred around the wife's child from a previous relationship and whether the husband should have to support the child. The court found that the husband, who qualified as a stepparent under the act, was not responsible for paying support, because of the combined effect of the following factors:
A 2004 case of the Supreme Court, [https://canlii.ca/t/1gfqg H.J.H. v. N.H.H.], decided under the old ''Family Relations Act'', offers some guidance for stepparents trying to stick-handle around this issue. In H.J.H., the parties had been married for less than three years when they separated. Each had been previously married, and the problem centred around the wife's child from a previous relationship and whether the husband should have to support the child. The court found that the husband, who qualified as a stepparent under the act, was not responsible for paying support, because of the combined effect of the following factors:


#the marriage was short,
*the marriage was short,
#the stepparent's relationship with the child broke down shortly into the marriage,
*the stepparent's relationship with the child broke down shortly into the marriage,
#the stepparent had no ongoing relationship with the child, and any such relationship with the child was opposed by the parent,
*the stepparent had no ongoing relationship with the child, and any such relationship with the child was opposed by the parent,
#the stepparent had a "modest" income, out of which the stepparent was already responsible for paying support for two children from the previous marriage,
*the stepparent had a modest income, from which the stepparent was already paying support for two children from his previous marriage,
#the child's biological parent was paying support, and
*the child's biological parent was paying child support for the child, and
#the parent had extended health and dental coverage for the child through the parent's employment.
*the parent had extended health and dental coverage for the child through her employment.


The ''[[Family Law Act]]'' helps to clear up some of these confusing issues. Section 147(5) says:
The ''[[Family Law Act]]'' helps to clear up some of these confusing issues. Section 147(5) says:
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<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><tt>(ii) the length of time during which the child lived with the stepparent.</tt></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><tt>(ii) the length of time during which the child lived with the stepparent.</tt></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>


In most cases, stepparents aren't let off the hook entirely. Most of the time, the court will take a biological or adoptive parent's obligation into <span class="noglossary">account</span> when assessing child support against a stepparent, look at the obligation of any non-parent guardians, and require stepparents only to make a sort of top-up payment rather than pay the full amount required by the Guidelines.
In most cases, stepparents won't be let off the hook entirely. Most of the time, the court will take a biological or adoptive parent's obligation into <span class="noglossary">account</span> when figuring out how much child support a stepparent should pay, look at the obligation of any non-parent guardians, and require stepparents only to make a sort of top-up payment rather than pay the full amount required by the Guidelines.
 
A few other important points come from the case law about stepparents and child support:
 
*The definition of "stepparent" includes anyone who has been the spouse of a parent and contributed to the support of the child for at least one year.
*The phrase "contributed to the support of the child for at least one year" does not mean for a whole, continuous calendar year. The 1999 Supreme Court decision in [https://canlii.ca/t/1d290 Hagen v. Muir] talks about this issue.
*Child support obligations may end for an adult child if the child makes a decision to stop having a meaningful relationship with the parent who pays support. The 1993 Supreme Court case of [https://canlii.ca/t/1dk6h Farden v. Farden] talks about circumstances like these.
*Whether stepparents and adult children do or don't have an ongoing relationship may be important when deciding if child support should be paid and in what amount.
*Applications for child support from a stepparent under the ''Family Law Act'' must be brought within one year of the date of the stepparent's last contribution to the support of the child, and can only be made after the stepparent and parent have split up.
*What qualifies as “contribution” to the support of the child depends on the facts. Trivial or off-and-on contributions may not be enough, as the court in the 2007 Supreme Court case of [https://canlii.ca/t/1rn88 McConnell v. McConnell] discussed.


===Securing a child support obligation===
===Securing a child support obligation===


Under s. 170, the court may make a number of additional orders when it is making an order for child support that can help to ensure that child support continues to be paid, including after the death of the payor. The court may:
The court may make a number of additional orders when it makes an order for child support to help make sure that child support continues to be paid, including after the death of the payor. Under section 170 of the ''Family Law Act'', the court may:
 
*order that a charge be registered against property to secure a duty to pay child support,
*require a payor with life insurance to maintain their insurance policy and make the other parent or the child a beneficiary of the policy, or
*order that child support will continue to be paid after the payor's death, and be paid from the payor's estate.


#order that a charge be registered against property,
Before the court makes an order that requires child support to be paid from the payor's estate, section 171(1) say that the court must consider:
#require a payor with life insurance to maintain that policy and specify that a spouse or a child will be the beneficiary of the policy, or
#order that child support continue to be paid after the payor's death and be paid from his or her estate.


Before the court makes an order that requires child support to be paid from the payor's estate, under s. 171(1), the court must consider:
*whether the recipient's need for support will survive the payor's death,
*whether the payor's estate is enough to meet the recipient's needs, taking into <span class="noglossary">account</span> the interests of the people who stand to inherit from the payor's estate and the creditors entitled to be paid from the payor's estate, and
*whether any other means exist to meet the recipient's needs.


#whether the recipient's need for support will survive the payor's death,
It is important to know that, under section 26 of the ''Family Maintenance Enforcement Act'', a person who receives child support can register a charge against real property belonging to the payor, even if child support is up to date and there are no arrears.
#whether the payor's estate is sufficient to meet the recipient's needs, taking into <span class="noglossary">account</span> the interests of the people who stand to inherit from the payor's estate and the creditors entitled to be paid from the payor's estate, and,
#whether any other means exist to meet the recipient's needs.


===Child support when the payor dies===
===Child support when the payor dies===


When a payor dies, the recipient can apply to court for an order under s. 171(3)(b) that the payor's support obligation will continue and be paid from his or her estate.
When a payor dies, the recipient can apply to court for an order under section 171(3)(b) of the ''Family Law Act'' that the payor's support obligation will continue and will be paid from the payor's estate.


When a recipient applies to continue a support obligation or if a support order says that the obligation will continue past the payor's death, the payor's ''personal representative'', the person managing the payor's estate and will, has the right to defend the recipient's application or to vary or terminate a continuing obligation.
When a recipient applies to continue a support obligation, or if a support order says that the obligation will continue past the payor's death, the payor's ''personal representative'', the person managing the payor's estate and will, has the right to argue against the recipient's application and the right to apply to change or stop the duty to pay child support.


===Statutory provisions===
===Statutory provisions===
Line 181: Line 190:
The primary sections of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' dealing with child support are these:
The primary sections of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' dealing with child support are these:


*s. 1: definitions
*section 1: general definitions
*s. 146: more definitions
*section 146: definitions specifically about child support
*s. 147: duty to pay child support
*section 147: the duty to pay child support
*s. 148: agreements about child support
*section 148: agreements about child support
*s. 149: orders about child support
*section 149: orders about child support
*s. 150: determining how much child support should be paid
*section 150: determining how much child support should be paid
*s. 152: varying orders about child support
*section 152: changing orders about child support
*s. 170: securing a child support obligation  
*section 170: securing a child support obligation  
*s. 173: child support has priority over spousal support
*section 173: child support has priority over spousal support


==Getting a child support order==
==Getting a child support order==


There are five things the court must consider before a child support order can be made:
There are five things the court has to think about before it can make a child support order:
 
#Does the person asking for the order have the right to claim child support?
#Is the child entitled to benefit from the payment of child support?
#Does the person against whom the order is sought have a duty to pay child support?
#How much child support should be paid?
#How long should child support be paid for?
 
First, the court must decide that the person applying for a child support order, the ''applicant'', is able to make the application. Usually, this is just a matter of fitting into the definitions in the legislation. To make an order under the ''[[Divorce Act]]'', the court must have jurisdiction to pronounce a divorce, which requires that the applicant must be or have been married to the person against whom the order is sought and must have lived in the province in which the application is made for at least one year. Under the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', the applicant can be anyone included in the definitions of "parent" and "guardian." If the claim is being made against a stepparent, the claim must be made within one year after the stepparent last contributed to the child's support, it must be made after the stepparent and parent have separated, and it must be made within one year of separation.


*Does the person asking for the order have the right to claim child support?
Second, the court must find that the child qualifies as a "child" under the definition in the ''Family Law Act'' or as a ''child of the marriage'' under the definition in the ''Divorce Act''. Under the ''Family Law Act'', the court must also decide that the child is not a spouse and has not withdrawn from the care of their parents or guardians.
*Is the child entitled to receive child support?
*Is the person against whom the order is sought obliged to pay child support?
*How long should the child receive receive support?
*How much support should the child receive?


First, the court must decide that the person applying for a child support order, the ''applicant'', is able to make the application. Usually, this is just a matter of fitting into the definitions given in the legislation. Under the ''[[Divorce Act]]'', the applicant must be a spouse who has lived in the province in which they the application is made for at least one year. Under the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', the applicant can be anyone included in the definitions of ''parent'' or ''guardian'', and, if the claim is being made against a stepparent, the claim must be made within one year after the stepparent last contributed to the child's upkeep and after the stepparent and parent have separated.
It is important that the application for child support is made while the child still qualifies for child support, otherwise, the court may not have the authority to make a child support order, even a retroactive child support order. There is sometimes an exception to this general rule for applications to change child support orders made under the ''Divorce Act''; the 2015 Court of Appeal decision in [https://canlii.ca/t/gmc40 MacCarthy v. MacCarthy] and the 2017 case of [https://canlii.ca/t/hnz2p Colucci v. Colucci] from the Ontario Court of Appeal talk about this problem. However, the Supreme Court of Canada's 2020 decision in [https://canlii.ca/t/j9p0r Michel v. Graydon] said that child support orders under the ''Family Law Act'' can be changed under section 152 of the act, whether or not the child is still a "child" under the act.


Second, the court must find that the child qualifies as a ''child'' as defined by the ''Family Law Act'' or as a ''child of the marriage'' as defined by the ''Divorce Act'', and under the ''Family Law Act'', the court must also find that the child is not a spouse and has not withdrawn from the care of his or her parents or guardians.
Third, the court must find that the person against whom the claim is made has a duty to pay child support. This is also a matter of fitting into the definitions.


Third, the court must find that the person against whom the claim is made is liable to pay child support. This is also a matter of fitting within the definitions.
If the first three conditions have been met, the fourth decision the court must make is to figure out how much the payor should pay. The court must first decide what the payor's annual income is, using the parties' financial information, and then fix the amount of support payable according to the tables set out in the [[Child Support Guidelines]] based on the number of children and the payor's income. There are exceptions to this basic rule, which this chapter discusses in the section [[Exceptions to the Child Support Guidelines]].


If the first three conditions have been met, the court must then figure out how much the payor should pay. This is pretty easy for parents, but can be more difficult for guardians who are not parents and for stepparents. The court must first make a finding as to the payor's annual income, usually with the help of the parties' financial information, and then fix the amount of support payable according to the tables set out in the [[Child Support Guidelines]] based on the number of children and the payor's income. There are exceptions to this basic rule, which this chapter discusses in the section [[Exceptions to the Child Support Guidelines]].
Fifth, the court will look at how long the payor's obligation should last. This issue is not always argued about, as both the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' and the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' have cut-off dates after which children are no longer eligible to receive support. Most orders and agreements say that child support shall be paid "until," for example, "the child is no longer a child of the marriage as defined by the ''Divorce Act''," "the child is no longer a child as defined by the ''Family Law Act''," or "the child reaches the age of 19." The question of a stop date for support usually only crops up where the child is an adult engaged in post-secondary studies or is otherwise "unable to withdraw from the charge" of their parents.


Fifth, the court will look at how long the payor's obligation should last. This issue is not always argued about, as both the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' and the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' have cut-off dates after which children are no longer eligible to receive support. Most orders and agreements limit themselves by providing that child support shall be paid "until," for example, "the child is no longer a child of the marriage as defined by the ''Divorce Act''," "the child is no longer a child as defined by the ''Family Law Act''," or "the child reaches the age of 19." The question of a termination date for support usually only crops up where the child is an adult engaged in post-secondary studies or is otherwise "unable to withdraw from the charge" of his or her parents, and the court must then consider the factors described earlier.
The situation can be more complicated for payors who are not parents, namely stepparents and guardians who are not parents. How much child support should be paid, and for how long, depend on whether or not the biological parent is or should be paying child support. Often a stepparent is required to pay less child support than what the Guidelines tables would normally require, taking into account what the biological parent is or should be paying. A recipient may be required to make a claim for child support against the biological parent before the court will make orders against a stepparent or a guardian who is not a parent.


===Getting an order inside British Columbia===
===Getting an order inside British Columbia===


A parent or guardian who is seeking a child support order can apply for that order in either the Supreme Court or the Provincial Court. Whichever court the parent or guardian wants to proceed in, he or she must start a court proceeding. The process for starting a court proceeding is described in the chapter [[Resolving Family Law Problems in Court]], in the section [[Starting a Court Proceeding in a Family Matter]].
A parent or guardian who is asking for a child support order can apply for that order in either the Supreme Court or the Provincial Court. (If there are claims for divorce or dividing property, which only the Supreme Court can deal with, it usually makes sense to ask for child support in the Supreme Court. You might as well deal with everything in one court.) Whichever court the parent or guardian wants to proceed in, they must start a court proceeding. The process for starting a court proceeding is described in the chapter [[Resolving Family Law Problems in Court]], in the section [[Starting a Court Proceeding in a Family Matter]].


===Getting an order outside British Columbia===
===Getting an order outside British Columbia===
Line 219: Line 232:
A parent or guardian living with a child in British Columbia who wants to get child support from someone living outside of the province has three choices:
A parent or guardian living with a child in British Columbia who wants to get child support from someone living outside of the province has three choices:


#start the application process here, in British Columbia, using the provincial ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84l3 Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act]'',
#start the process here, in British Columbia, using the provincial ''[https://canlii.ca/t/84l3 Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act]'',
#start a court proceeding in the place where the other parent lives, or
#start a court proceeding in the place where the other parent lives, or
#start a court proceeding here under the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' or the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', get a child support order, and try to enforce that order in the place where the other parent lives.
#start a court proceeding here under the ''[[Divorce Act]]'' or the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', get a child support order, and then enforce that order in the place where the other parent lives.
 
The ''Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act'' allows a person who lives in British Columbia to start a process that will result in an order being made in the jurisdiction in which the other parent lives. The applicant fills out a bunch of paperwork here, and gives it to the provincial Reciprocals Office. A staff member will forward that package to the [http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/fcy-fea/sup-pen/enf-exe/info_cont.html Reciprocals Office] where the other parent lives, and the court there will have a hearing, on notice to the other parent, which may result in a child support order being made. The law that will apply is the law where the other parent lives, which will not be the ''Family Law Act'' or the ''Divorce Act''.


Only certain jurisdictions have agreed to the ''Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act'' process. If the place where the other parent lives hasn't made an agreement with British Columbia about child support orders, someone who wants to get a child support order will normally have to start a court proceeding in the place where the other parent lives. This will require hiring a lawyer in that country, and the law that will apply will be the laws of that country, not the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' or the ''[[Divorce Act]]''.
The ''Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act'' allows a person who lives in British Columbia to start a process that will result in an order being made in the jurisdiction in which the other parent lives. The applicant fills out paperwork here, and gives it to the provincial [https://www.isoforms.bc.ca/ Interjurisdictional Support Services] office. A staff member will forward that package to the [https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/enforce-execution/info_cont.html Reciprocals Office] where the other parent lives, and the court there will have a hearing, on notice to the other parent, which may result in a child support order being made. The law that will apply is the law where the other parent lives, which will either be the ''Divorce Act'', if the other parent is outside of Canada, or the local equivalent of British Columbia's ''Family Law Act'', if the other parent lives elsewhere in Canada.


The countries that will cooperate with a proceeding under the ''[[Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act]]'' are: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Gibraltar, Norway, the Slovak Republic, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and its protectorates, the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Barbados and its dependencies. See the [http://canlii.ca/t/84vn Interjurisdictional Support Orders Regulation] on [[CanLII]] or the [http://www.bclaws.ca/default.html BC Laws] website, for the current list.
The ''Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act'' process applies in every province and territory. However, only certain countries have agreed to the ''Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act'' process. If the country where the other parent lives hasn't made an agreement with British Columbia about child support orders, someone who wants to get a child support order will normally have to start a court proceeding in the place where the other parent lives. This will require hiring a lawyer in that country, and the law that will apply will be the laws of that country, not the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' or the ''[[Divorce Act]]''.


The British Columbia Reciprocals Office, along with all of the forms required by the ''Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act'', can be found at [http://www.isoforms.bc.ca www.isoforms.bc.ca].
The countries that will cooperate with a proceeding under the ''Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act'' are:  


==Income tax considerations==
* United States of America — all of the United States, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands
* Pacific Ocean — Australia, Fiji, New Zealand (including the Cook Islands), and Papua New Guinea
* Europe — Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Slovak Republic, Swiss Confederation, Gibraltar, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
* Caribbean — Barbados and its Dependencies
* Africa — South Africa and Zimbabwe
* Asia — Hong Kong and Republic of Singapore


It used to be the case that the person paying child support could claim an income tax deduction for his or her support payments, while the recipient had to claim it as taxable income. On 25 April 1997, the federal ''[http://canlii.ca/t/7vb7 Income Tax Act]'' was amended to do away with this rule, and now child support payments are neither deductible for the payor nor taxable for the recipient.
See the [https://canlii.ca/t/84vn Interjurisdictional Support Orders Regulation] for the current list.


These changes do not apply to court orders or family agreements that were made before 1 May 1997, when the [[Child Support Guidelines]] came into effect. If those orders or agreements are varied at any point after 30 April 1997, however, the new rules will apply and the provisions for child support will become tax neutral.
==Income tax issues==


The portion of a lawyer's bill attributable to obtaining, increasing, or enforcing a child support order is tax deductible. The cost of defending a claim for child support is not deductible. Read the Canada Revenue Agency's [http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/it99r5-consolid/ Interpretation Bulletin IT-99R5] for the fine print.
It used to be the case that the person paying child support could claim an income tax deduction for their support payments, while the recipient had to claim it as taxable income. Not anymore. Any child support payments made pursuant to a written agreement or court order made after 30 April 1997 are neither deductible for the payor nor taxable for the recipient.


To claim this deduction, the lawyer must write a letter to the CRA setting out what portion of his or her fees were attributable to advancing a child support claim. If you intend to ask your lawyer for a letter like this, you must tell your lawyer as soon as possible, preferably the moment the lawyer takes your case, so that he or she can keep a log of time spent on the child support claim.
The portion of a lawyer's bill attributable to obtaining, increasing, or enforcing a child support order is tax-deductible. The cost of defending a claim for child support is not deductible. Read the Canada Revenue Agency's [https://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/tchncl/ncmtx/fls/s1/f3/s1-f3-c3-eng.html#N10C4B Income Tax Folio S1-F3-C3, Support Payments] for the fine print, and speak to an accountant to get advice to see if you qualify to write off the portion of your lawyer’s bill that relates to child support.


==Child support and social assistance==
To claim this deduction, the lawyer must write a letter to the Canada Revenue Agency setting out what portion of their fees were attributable to advancing or enforcing a child support claim. If you intend to ask your lawyer for a letter like this, you should tell your lawyer as soon as possible — preferably the moment the lawyer takes your case! — so that they can keep a log of time spent on your claim for child support.


When a parent who is entitled to receive child support goes on welfare, the government agrees to provide support for that parent and his or her child. If there is someone else who might be obliged to support the child, such as another parent or guardian, the provincial government would prefer that this person pick up the tab rather than the taxpayer, and the government will usually come knocking on the other parent's door.
In a shared parenting situation, where each parent has a duty to pay child support to the other parent, the higher-income parent often just pays the difference between the higher amount they owe and the lower amount they would receive from the lower-income parent. This difference is called a ''set-off amount''. In a court order or agreement, however, it matters how this arrangement is worded. Recently, the Canada Revenue Agency has decided that if the agreement or order says that only the higher income-earning parent pays child support, the Canada Revenue Agency will treat the situation as if there is only ''one'' payor and ''one'' recipient of child support.  


===Recipients of social assistance applying for child support===
In cases like this, the Canada Revenue Agency will not allow the parents to share child tax deductions or grants, and will not allow the parents to claim the children as dependents when they file their taxes. As a result, it's a good idea to make sure that your agreement or order says that ''each'' parent pays child support to the other. And it's probably best to not even mention the set-off amount actually paid. You can do the math to figure that out yourself. An agreement might, for example, say something like this:


If you are applying for social assistance or are receiving social assistance in British Columbia, you are required to sign a form that allows the government agency responsible for social assistance to take whatever steps are required to collect any child support payments you may be entitled to and keep the child support it collects. This is called ''assigning'' your child support rights. You may be allowed to keep a portion of the child support that the government collects in addition to your social assistance payments. Your case worker will tell you how much.
<blockquote><tt>1. The parenting arrangements for the children qualify as "shared parenting time" within the meaning of the federal Child Support Guidelines because Parent 1 and Parent 2 anticipate that the children will live with each of them not less than 40% of the time.</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><tt>2. For the purposes of determining the amount of child support payable under the Guidelines, Parent 1 and Parent 2 agree that:</tt></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(a) Parent 1’s annual income for the calculation of child support is $_______, and</tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(b) Parent 2’s annual income for the calculation of child support is $_______, </tt></blockquote></blockquote>
<blockquote><blockquote><tt>(c) such that Parent 1 will pay Parent 2 the sum of $_______ as child support for two children, and Parent 2 will pay Parent 1 the sum of $_______ as child support for two children.</tt></blockquote></blockquote>


The collection of child support payments for people on social assistance is run by the [http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/fmp.htm Family Maintenance Program] (FMP). (This is a different organization than the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, which enforces child support payments between parents.) FMP has the authority to pursue child support however it sees fit and can apply for orders or apply to vary child support orders on your behalf. You will be required to cooperate with FMP's actions, but they will be responsible for managing any court applications they begin.
Some lawyers and accountants even suggest that actual cheques for the full amounts should be exchanged to show that each parent pays child support to the other parent.


===Applying for child support from a recipient of social assistance===
==Applying for child support from someone receiving social assistance==


You can apply to receive child support from a parent who is receiving social assistance, but don't expect to get much for your trouble. The Guidelines does not require that a parent pay child support if the parent's annual income is less than $10,800 per year.
You can apply to receive child support from a parent who is receiving social assistance or disability social assistance, but don't expect to get much for your trouble. The Guidelines do not require that a parent pay child support if the parent's annual income is less than $12,100 per year. Social assistance or disability assistance payments, which are non-taxable, would be subject to a ''gross up'' for child support calculation purposes. ("Grossing-up" is explained more in the [[Child Support Guidelines]] section of this chapter, but it's essentially a process for adjusting the income used to calculate someone's child support obligation when they don't pay as much tax on their income as other people usually do.)


Even if you're not likely to get a lot of money out of the other parent, it may be a good idea to make the application and get an order, since the order will at least establish the payor's obligation to provide child support. It's often easier to ask for an increase in the amount payable later on, when the payor is back on his or her feet, than it is to apply for an original child support order. As well, some people who might be normally responsible to pay support, like a stepparent, may lose their obligation to pay support under the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' if the application isn't made within a year of the person's last contribution to the child's support. It can be critical to get an order that child support be paid early on.
Even if you're not likely to get a lot of money in child support, it may be a good idea to make the application and get an order, since the order will at least establish the payor's obligation to pay child support. It's often easier to ask for an increase in the amount payable later on, when the payor is back on their feet, than it is to apply for an original child support order later on. As well, some people who might be normally responsible to pay support, like a stepparent, may lose their obligation to pay support under the ''[[Family Law Act]]'' if the application isn't made within a year of the person's last contribution to the child's support. It can be critical to get an order that child support be paid early on.


==Children's right to claim child support==
==Children's right to claim child support==


In almost all cases, it is the parent who claims child support on behalf of a child, not the child. However, the right to benefit from the payment of child support belongs to the child, not the parent. It follows from this that if child support is the right of the child, children should be able to ask for support on their own, without having to go through a parent.
In almost all cases, it is the parent who claims child support on behalf of a child, not the child. However, the right to benefit from the payment of child support belongs to the child, not the parent. As a result, if child support is the right of the child, adult children should be able to ask for support on their own, without having to go through a parent to get it.


===When there is an order between the parents===
===When there is an order between the parents===


A parent can only be subject to a single order to pay child support for a particular child, and if there is an order between the parents to pay child support, an adult child cannot obtain a new order. The adult child can, however, apply to enforce the old order if his or her parents are not complying with the order and arrears of support are owed.
A parent can only be subject to a single order to pay child support for a particular child, and if there is an order between the parents to pay child support, an adult child cannot obtain a new order. The adult child can, however, apply to enforce the old order if their parents are not complying with the order and arrears of support are owed.


When someone does not pay child support, or pays less that he or she is required to pay, ''arrears'' build up. The arrears are the sum of the money that should have been paid according to the court order but wasn't paid. Arrears are a ''judgment debt'', just like any other debt owing because of a court order that requires someone to pay money to someone else. Judgment debts can be enforced under the provincial ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84h5 Court Order Enforcement Act]'', which allows the debtor's wages and benefits to be garnished, and allows real property and personal property to be sold to pay off a judgment debt. Interest, calculated under the ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84h6 Court Order Interest Act]'', is owing on judgment debts.
When someone does not pay child support, or pays less than they are required to pay, "arrears" build up. Arrears are the sum of money that should have been paid according to the court order or an agreement but wasn't paid. Arrears are a "judgment debt," just like any other debt owing because of a court order that requires someone to pay money to someone else. Judgment debts can be enforced under the provincial ''[https://canlii.ca/t/84h5 Court Order Enforcement Act]'', which allows the debtor's wages and benefits to be garnished, and allows real property and personal property to be sold to pay off a judgment debt. Interest, calculated under the ''[https://canlii.ca/t/84h6 Court Order Interest Act]'', is owing on judgment debts.


A child who is the subject of a child support order can apply to enforce any arrears as a judgment debt. The child can apply to enforce the old order starting when he or she reaches the age of majority, 19 in British Columbia, and becomes an adult able to sue someone.
An adult child who is the subject of a child support order can apply to enforce any arrears as a judgment debt. The child can apply to enforce the old order starting when they become an adult able to sue someone else, age 19 in British Columbia.


There is a limit to children's ability to enforce arrears. According to s. 3(3)(f) of the provincial ''[http://canlii.ca/t/845q Limitation Act]'', the claim must be brought within 10 years of the child first being able to apply to enforce the judgment debt. In other words, the claim must be made before the child turns 29. The case that discusses this is ''[http://canlii.ca/t/1dkms Schmitke v. Schmitke]'', 1993 CanLII 642 (BC SC) a 1993 decision of the Supreme Court, in which the judge concluded that:
The ''[https://canlii.ca/t/8qx3 Limitation Act]'' does not apply to claims for arrears of child support payable under a judgment or an agreement that has been filed with the court; see section 3(1)(l) of the act.
 
<blockquote>"...the right to bring an action for the enforcement of child maintenance is the right of the child. Since the child is 'a person under a disability' within the meaning of s. 7 of the ''Limitation Act'', the running of time is postponed so long as she is a minor."</blockquote>


===When there isn't an order between the parents===
===When there isn't an order between the parents===


Nothing prevents a child from applying for child support, as long as the child would normally be entitled to receive child support. The explanation that follows is a bit complicated, so be patient.
Nothing prevents an adult child from applying for child support, as long as the child would normally be entitled to receive child support, but it can be a bit complicated.


First, the child cannot apply for child support under the ''[[Divorce Act]]'', because that act only applies to ''spouses'', defined as people who are or who used to be married to each other. Under s. 15.1 of the act, the court can only order "a spouse" to pay child support. The only other law that might apply is the ''[[Family Law Act]]''. Section 147(1) says that "each parent and guardian of a child" is responsible for supporting that child; s.149(2)(b) says that child can apply for a support order.
First, the child cannot apply for child support under the ''[[Divorce Act]]'', because that act only applies to people who are "spouses," defined as people who are or who used to be married to each other; under section 15.1 of the act, the court can only order a ''spouse'' to pay child support. The only other law that might apply is the ''[[Family Law Act]]''. Section 147(1) of the ''Family Law Act'' says that "each parent and guardian of a child" is responsible for supporting that child; section 149(2)(b) says that a child can apply for a support order.


Second, for so long as the child's parents are together and the child continues to live with them, the child will not be entitled to ask for a child support order as the court will assume that the child's needs are being met.
Second, for so long as the child's parents are together and the child continues to live with them, the child will not be entitled to ask for a child support order as the court will assume that the child's needs are being met.


Why would the court make this assumption? Think of it like this: the ''Divorce Act'', the ''Family Law Act'' and the [[Child Support Guidelines]] say that all of a child's parents and guardians are liable for supporting the child. In fact, [http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec215 s. 215] of the ''Criminal Code'' makes it an offence to fail to provide a child with the "necessaries of life." The legislation on family law issues also assumes that the payment of support by one parent under the Guidelines is not going to be a complete payment of all of the child's needs. Section 1(b) of the Guidelines says that the purpose of the Guidelines is to ensure that children benefit "from the financial means of both spouses after separation." In other words, payment according to the Guidelines child support tables are not assumed to cover all of a child's costs, and the parent receiving the support payments is assumed to contribute towards the child's needs as well.
Third, a child seeking a child support order must qualify as a ''child'', as defined by section 147 of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', in order to claim child support. While the court cannot grant a child a support order if the child doesn't qualify as a "child" within the meaning of the act, it is also the case that children under the age of 19 are under a "legal disability," which means they cannot start a court proceeding and apply for child support on their own. This leaves two options:
 
Third, a child seeking a child support order must qualify as a ''child'', as defined by s. 147 of the ''[[Family Law Act]]'', in order to claim child support. Although the court cannot grant a child support order if the child doesn't qualify as a child within the meaning of the act, children under the age of 19 are under a ''legal disability'', which means they cannot start a court proceeding and apply for child support on their own.
 
This leaves two options. Either the child is 19 or older and applies for support as an adult child "unable to withdraw" from the care of his or her parents and therefore still qualifies as a "child" entitled to receive support, or the child is a minor and applies for support through a ''litigation guardian'', formerly known as a guardian ''ad litem''. The first option would probably work, but the second is problematic as the court must approve the appointment of litigation guardians and it would likely refuse to do so if the child still lived with one of his or her parents.
 
Let's look at two examples to see how this all works.
 
Example #1
 
<blockquote>Let's say the parents are separated and the child is living with one of his or her parents.</blockquote>
<blockquote>In a case like this, the parent with whom the child is living has the responsibility of applying for support. As the child is under the age of 19, the child cannot start a court proceeding without the assistance of a litigation guardian. However, since the parent the child is living with is responsible for applying for child support and litigation guardians must be appointed by the court, the court would be likely to refuse to appoint a litigation guardian on the basis that the application is just a smoke screen for the parent's obligation to apply on behalf of the child.</blockquote>
<blockquote>If a child is older than 19 but still qualifies as a ''child'' under s. 146 of the ''Family Law Act'' (typically because the child is ill or disabled and cannot work or because the child is going to college or university), the child could certainly apply for child support. The child is over the age of majority and is able to start an action without a litigation guardian.</blockquote>
<blockquote>The adult child will, however, have to prove that he or she is in financial need. The court will not make a support order automatically. Having a job or being in a married or unmarried spousal relationship with someone will undermine the adult child's chances of success.</blockquote>
 
Example #2


<blockquote>Now let's say that the child is younger than 19 and is not living with his or her parents.</blockquote>
#The child is 19 or older and applies for support as an adult child "unable to withdraw" from the care of their parents, and therefore still qualifies as a "child" entitled to receive support.
<blockquote>In a case like this, the parents would be responsible for paying support to the child but the child would have to start an action to claim child support, and would have to be represented by a litigation guardian. Even assuming that the court is prepared to appoint a litigation guardian, getting a child support order is not necessarily a slam dunk.</blockquote>
#The child is a minor, less than 19 years old, and applies for support through a "litigation guardian."
<blockquote>There are a few cases when minor children — children under the age of majority — have been found not to be entitled to receive child support. Typically, this happens when a child has chosen to move out, has found a job, and is living independently of his or her parents. A financially self-sufficient child who has left his or her parents' home may not be entitled to receive child support payments from them, especially if the child has refused to maintain a relationship with his or her parents.</blockquote>
<blockquote>Making things worse, under s. 147(1) of the ''Family Law Act'', children who are spouses or have voluntarily withdrawn from their parents' or guardians' charge may not be eligible for child support.</blockquote>
 
===Summary===
 
That was all a bit complicated. Here's what it boils down to:
 
*Children will not be able to apply for a child support order when there's an existing child support order.
*If arrears have accrued under an existing child support order, the child can apply to collect those arrears as a judgment debt under the ''Court Order Enforcement Act'', but only after the child has turned 19. The claim must be brought within 10 years of the child becoming able to make the claim.
*Children can only claim new child support orders under the ''Family Law Act''. They cannot apply under the ''Divorce Act''.
*Children who live at home with both parents cannot apply for child support.
*A child who brings a claim for child support must qualify as a ''child'' within the meaning of s. 146 of the ''Family Law Act''.
*Children who have left home and live with neither parent will have to establish financial need before the court will make a child support order. The court will not make the order automatically, and may not make the order at all if it decides that the child left home voluntarily.
*Adult children will also have to show financial need before the court will make a support order.


If you are a child thinking of making a claim for child support, you really should speak to a lawyer. This area of the law is not straightforward at all.
If you are a child thinking of making a claim for child support, you really should speak to a lawyer. This area of the law is not straightforward at all.
Line 323: Line 312:
* ''[[Family Law Act]]''
* ''[[Family Law Act]]''
* ''[[Divorce Act]]''  
* ''[[Divorce Act]]''  
* [http://canlii.ca/t/80mh Child Support Guidelines]
* [https://canlii.ca/t/80mh Child Support Guidelines]
* ''[http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2 Criminal Code]''
* ''[https://canlii.ca/t/7vf2 Criminal Code]''
* ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84l3 Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act]''
* ''[https://canlii.ca/t/84l3 Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act]''
* [http://canlii.ca/t/84vn Interjurisdictional Support Orders Regulation]
* [https://canlii.ca/t/84vn Interjurisdictional Support Orders Regulation]
* ''[http://canlii.ca/t/7vb7 Income Tax Act]''
* ''[https://canlii.ca/t/7vb7 Income Tax Act]''
* ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84h5 Court Order Enforcement Act]''
* ''[https://canlii.ca/t/84h5 Court Order Enforcement Act]''
* ''[http://canlii.ca/t/84h6 Court Order Interest Act]''
* ''[https://canlii.ca/t/84h6 Court Order Interest Act]''
* ''[http://canlii.ca/t/845q Limitation Act]''
* ''[https://canlii.ca/t/8qx3 Limitation Act]''
* ''[https://canlii.ca/t/840m Family Maintenance Enforcement Act]''


===Links===
===Links===


* [http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/fcy-fea/sup-pen/enf-exe/info_cont.html Department of Justice: List of reciprocals offices by province]
* [https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/enforce-execution/info_cont.html Department of Justice's website: "Provincial and Territorial Information on Interjurisdictional and International Support Order Enforcement"] (list of reciprocals offices by province)
* [http://www.isoforms.bc.ca The British Columbia Reciprocals Office]
* [https://www.isoforms.bc.ca Ministry of Attorney General Interjurisdictional Support Services] (BC reciprocals office)
* [http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tp/it99r5-consolid/ Canada Revenue Agency's Interpretation Bulletin IT-99R5]
* [https://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/tchncl/ncmtx/fls/s1/f3/s1-f3-c3-eng.html#N10C4B Canada Revenue Agency's Income Tax Folio: S1-F3-C3, Support Payments]
* [http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/fmp.htm Family Maintenance Program]  
* [https://bit.ly/46Nr0YS Family Maintenance Services] from the BC Ministry of Attorney General
* [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1235 Canadian Bar Association BC Branch: Script on child support]
* [https://dialalaw.peopleslawschool.ca/child-support/ Child Support] from Dial-a-Law by the People's Law School
* [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1666 Legal Services Society Family Law Website: What the child support guidelines are and how they work]
*[https://family.legalaid.bc.ca/finances-support/child-spousal-support Child and Spousal Support] from Legal Aid BC
* [http://www.clicklaw.bc.ca/resource/1618 Legal Services Society Family Law Website: Child support]
* [https://family.legalaid.bc.ca/finances-support/child-spousal-support/child-support Child Support] from Legal Aid BC
 


{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[JP Boyd]], May 18, 2013}}
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[JP Boyd]], 24 August 2022}}


{{JP Boyd on Family Law Navbox|type=chapters}}
{{JP Boyd on Family Law Navbox|type=chapters}}

Latest revision as of 00:56, 24 August 2024

Child support is money paid by one parent or guardian to the other to help cover the expenses associated with raising the children. The amount of child support payable is usually fixed according to tables contained in the Child Support Guidelines, which sets support according to the number of children and the income of the person paying support. While there are some exceptions to the Guidelines, the amount of child support payable is almost always set using the tables.

This section discusses the basics of child support, and child support orders or agreements under the Divorce Act and the Family Law Act. It talks about how to get a child support order inside and outside of British Columbia. It also looks at the income tax implications of child support, what happens when someone entitled to receive child support goes on social assistance, and the rights of children to claim child support. Child support for adult children is also discussed.

Other sections in this chapter look at the Guidelines in more detail. They also talk about the exceptions to the Guidelines, how to make changes, and how to deal with arrears of child support.

Introduction

After parents separate, they usually find that their individual financial situations have gotten worse. Instead of the family income paying for one rent or mortgage payment, one phone bill, one electricity bill, one gas bill, one cable bill and so forth, the same amount of income must now cover two rent payments, two phone bills, two electricity bills, two gas bills and two cable bills. If a child lives mostly with one parent, that parent will inevitably wind up paying for more of the child's expenses for things like school fees, food and clothing, as well as accommodation. Child support is intended to help distribute the cost associated with raising a child between the child's parents and other people who may be responsible for supporting the child, including stepparents.

Child support is a payment made by one parent or guardian, the payor, to the other parent or guardian, the recipient, to help meet the costs the recipient bears paying for the child's needs. The payment of child support is intended to maintain or improve the child's living conditions. Child support is not a supplement to spousal support; it's money that is paid for the benefit of the child, not the parent with whom the child lives. Of course, there's often some overlap between the recipient's expenses and the child’s expenses, like the cost of groceries and the cost of utilities.

It's important to understand that child support is not a fee paid in exchange for time with the child. With some exceptions, such as child support for children over 19 and circumstances where the child's time is being shared equally or almost equally, child support is not related to the payor's parenting time or contact.

Child support is payable on the principle that all of a child's parents have a legal duty to financially contribute to the child's upbringing. The simple fact of being a parent triggers this obligation, even if the payor never sees the child and has no role in the child's life. Child support can also be payable by stepparents and people who are guardians and not parents, although the rules are slightly different for these people and their obligation is often affected by a biological parent's obligation.

An order for child support can be made under section 15.1 of the federal Divorce Act or section 149 of the provincial Family Law Act. Parents can agree on child support in a separation agreement, and arbitrators can make awards about child support. No matter what, the amount of support should, with only a few exceptions, satisfy the requirements of the federal Child Support Guidelines.

The Guidelines contain a series of tables, particular to each province and territory, which set out the amount payable based on the payor's income and the number of children for whom support is being paid. There are some exceptions to this basic rule; they are described later in this chapter. The tables were most recently updated on 22 November 2017. For most people, the changes resulted in a small increase in the amount of child support payable.

Both the Divorce Act and the Family Law Act require the court and parents or guardians to give child support priority over spousal support when both child support and spousal support might be payable. In other words, if there isn't enough money to pay both, child support will take priority. Going one step further, both child support and spousal support in most cases take priority over debt payments and other expenses, and both obligations survive the payor's bankruptcy.

The Divorce Act

Child support can be ordered under section 15.1 of the Divorce Act, but only if:

  • the parents, or the parent and a step-parent, are or were married to each other, and
  • at least one of the parents, or a step-parent, has lived in the province for at least one year immediately before a court proceeding started.

A claim for orders under the Divorce Act can only be started in the Supreme Court. The Provincial Court cannot deal with claims under the Divorce Act.

Parents who can't apply for child support under the Divorce Act can apply for child support under the Family Law Act either in the Provincial Court or Supreme Court.

Qualifying for child support

In the Divorce Act, children are referred to as children of the marriage, and a child must fall within the Act's definition of "child of the marriage" to be eligible for support. There are a couple of important definitions in section 2(1) of the act that help determine whether a child is a child of the marriage:

"age of majority," in respect of a child, means the age of majority as determined by the laws of the province where the child ordinarily resides, or, if the child ordinarily resides outside of Canada, eighteen years of age;

"child of the marriage" means a child of two spouses or former spouses who, at the material time,

(a) is under the age of majority and who has not withdrawn from their charge, or

(b) is the age of majority or over and under their charge but unable, by reason of illness, disability or other cause, to withdraw from their charge or to obtain the necessaries of life;

As well, section 2(2) of the act says that:

For the purposes of the definition "child of the marriage" in subsection (1), a child of two spouses or former spouses includes

(a) any child for whom they both stand in the place of parents; and

(b) any child of whom one is the parent and for whom the other stands in the place of a parent.

Taken together, these definitions mean that:

  • child support can be owing from an adoptive parent, as well as a biological parent,
  • child support can be owing from stepparents (spouses who "stand in the place of a parent"),
  • child support is payable until a child reaches the age of majority in the province where the child lives, age 19 in British Columbia, and
  • child support can be payable after a child reaches the age of majority if the child is still financially dependent on their parents.

The Divorce Act says that an adult child can continue to be eligible for child support as long as they cannot "withdraw from the charge" of their parents. The two main reasons why a child might not be able to withdraw are because the child is going to university, or because the child has a serious, chronic illness that prevents them from becoming self-supporting. The factors a court will consider in deciding whether an adult child's academic career qualifies them as a "child of the marriage" often include:

  • the age of the child,
  • whether the academic program is full- or part-time, and whether the program is connected to the child's future employment,
  • the child's ability to contribute to their own support through part-time work, student loans, grants, bursaries, RESPs, or other resources,
  • the child's academic performance and dedication to their studies,
  • the parents’ financial situations, and
  • any plans the parents may have made for the child's post-secondary schooling while they were still together.

In general, the courts will allow an adult child to benefit from child support for one program of post-secondary study — one degree or one diploma — so long as the child is enrolled full-time. Where one or both parents have high incomes and had always expected, while they were together, that the child would take an advanced degree, child support can be payable for more than one program of study.

Many post-secondary institutions consider that 60 percent of a full course load is “full-time," and the courts usually go along with that approach.

While the amount of support for adult children is presumed to be the Guideline table amount, section 3(2) of the Guidelines allows the court to order a different amount that the court considers appropriate, taking into account the child’s needs and other circumstances, and the financial circumstances of the child and the parents.

Statutory provisions

The primary sections of the Divorce Act dealing with child support are these:

  • section 2: definitions
  • section 3: the court's authority to make child support orders when a spouse is asking for a divorce order
  • section 4: the court's authority to make child support orders after the court has made a divorce order
  • section 5: the court's authority to change child support orders after the court has made a divorce order
  • section 15.1: child support
  • section 15.3: child support has priority over spousal support
  • section 17: applying to change an order

The Family Law Act

Parents and guardians can apply for child support under the Family Law Act whether they are married spouses, unmarried spouses, or were in no particular relationship with each other at all but had a child together. People other than parents can also apply for child support if they are caring for a child, including grandparents who are guardians of their grandchildren and people who have been appointed as a guardian of a child.

Both the Supreme Court and the Provincial Court can make orders for child support under the Family Law Act.

Qualifying for child support

Definitions play an important role in determining eligibility and responsibility for child support under the Family Law Act, just as they do under the Divorce Act. Section 147 of the Family Law Act says that each parent and guardian of a child is responsible for the support of that child, and section 146 defines child, parent and guardian:

"child" includes a person who is 19 years of age or older and unable, because of illness, disability or another reason, to obtain the necessaries of life or withdraw from the charge of his or her parents or guardians;

"guardian" does not include a guardian

(a) who is not a parent, and

(b) whose only parental responsibility is respecting the child's legal and financial interests;

"parent" includes a stepparent, if the stepparent has a duty to provide for the child under section 147(4);

Section 146 also gives a definition of stepparent for the definition of "parent," which mentions stepparents, and says that:

"stepparent" means a person who is a spouse of the child's parent and lived with the child's parent and the child during the child's life.

(Remember that under the Family Law Act, "spouse" includes married people as well as people who lived together, in a romantic relationship, for at least two years or for less than two years if they have a child together.)

Section 147 puts some really important limits on support for children, and on when stepparents are and aren't responsible to pay child support:

(1) Each parent and guardian of a child has a duty to provide support for the child, unless the child

(a) is a spouse, or

(b) is under 19 years of age and has voluntarily withdrawn from his or her parents' or guardians' charge, except if the child withdrew because of family violence or because the child's circumstances were, considered objectively, intolerable.

...

(4) A child's stepparent does not have a duty to provide support for the child unless

(a) the stepparent contributed to the support of the child for at least one year, and

(b) a proceeding for an order under this Part, against the stepparent, is started within one year after the date the stepparent last contributed to the support of the child.

Section 149(3)(b) also says that an order can't be made against a stepparent until the stepparent and parent have separated. This means that while a stepparent and a child’s parent live together, the stepparent has no legal duty to support that child, unless the stepparent becomes a guardian of the child.

As you can see, these definitions cast a very wide net and it's fairly easy to qualify as a "parent" who must pay child support. A few important points come from the case law on these definitions:

  • All parents are responsible to pay child support, regardless of the nature of the parents' relationship with each other.
  • Child support can be paid by stepparents and by guardians who aren't parents.
  • Child support can be paid for the same child by more than one parent, guardian, and stepparent.
  • A duty to pay child support can end before a child turns 19, if the child becomes a spouse or has left home and is supporting themself.
  • Child support can be paid after a child turns 19 if the child is unable to withdraw from the care of their parents because of illness, disability, a reasonable delay in finishing high school, or attendance at a post-secondary school.

On that last point, the factors a court will think about in deciding whether a child's academic career continues to qualify the child for support are the same factors the court will think about under the Divorce Act, discussed above.

Stepparents and child support

The Family Law Act says that stepparents can be responsible for paying child support, just as biological and adoptive parents are responsible for paying child support. This has meant that in some cases, more than one person who meets the Act's definitions of "parent" and "stepparent" are required to pay child support for the same child at the same time. In fact, there are even cases in which a parent has been involved in a series of long-term relationships, each of which were long enough to create a child support obligation for each of the parent's partners.

A 2004 case of the Supreme Court, H.J.H. v. N.H.H., decided under the old Family Relations Act, offers some guidance for stepparents trying to stick-handle around this issue. In H.J.H., the parties had been married for less than three years when they separated. Each had been previously married, and the problem centred around the wife's child from a previous relationship and whether the husband should have to support the child. The court found that the husband, who qualified as a stepparent under the act, was not responsible for paying support, because of the combined effect of the following factors:

  • the marriage was short,
  • the stepparent's relationship with the child broke down shortly into the marriage,
  • the stepparent had no ongoing relationship with the child, and any such relationship with the child was opposed by the parent,
  • the stepparent had a modest income, from which the stepparent was already paying support for two children from his previous marriage,
  • the child's biological parent was paying child support for the child, and
  • the parent had extended health and dental coverage for the child through her employment.

The Family Law Act helps to clear up some of these confusing issues. Section 147(5) says:

If a stepparent has a duty to provide support for a child under subsection (4), the stepparent's duty

(a) is secondary to that of the child's parents and guardians, and

(b) extends only as appropriate on consideration of

(i) the standard of living experienced by the child during the relationship between the stepparent and his or her spouse, and

(ii) the length of time during which the child lived with the stepparent.

In most cases, stepparents won't be let off the hook entirely. Most of the time, the court will take a biological or adoptive parent's obligation into account when figuring out how much child support a stepparent should pay, look at the obligation of any non-parent guardians, and require stepparents only to make a sort of top-up payment rather than pay the full amount required by the Guidelines.

A few other important points come from the case law about stepparents and child support:

  • The definition of "stepparent" includes anyone who has been the spouse of a parent and contributed to the support of the child for at least one year.
  • The phrase "contributed to the support of the child for at least one year" does not mean for a whole, continuous calendar year. The 1999 Supreme Court decision in Hagen v. Muir talks about this issue.
  • Child support obligations may end for an adult child if the child makes a decision to stop having a meaningful relationship with the parent who pays support. The 1993 Supreme Court case of Farden v. Farden talks about circumstances like these.
  • Whether stepparents and adult children do or don't have an ongoing relationship may be important when deciding if child support should be paid and in what amount.
  • Applications for child support from a stepparent under the Family Law Act must be brought within one year of the date of the stepparent's last contribution to the support of the child, and can only be made after the stepparent and parent have split up.
  • What qualifies as “contribution” to the support of the child depends on the facts. Trivial or off-and-on contributions may not be enough, as the court in the 2007 Supreme Court case of McConnell v. McConnell discussed.

Securing a child support obligation

The court may make a number of additional orders when it makes an order for child support to help make sure that child support continues to be paid, including after the death of the payor. Under section 170 of the Family Law Act, the court may:

  • order that a charge be registered against property to secure a duty to pay child support,
  • require a payor with life insurance to maintain their insurance policy and make the other parent or the child a beneficiary of the policy, or
  • order that child support will continue to be paid after the payor's death, and be paid from the payor's estate.

Before the court makes an order that requires child support to be paid from the payor's estate, section 171(1) say that the court must consider:

  • whether the recipient's need for support will survive the payor's death,
  • whether the payor's estate is enough to meet the recipient's needs, taking into account the interests of the people who stand to inherit from the payor's estate and the creditors entitled to be paid from the payor's estate, and
  • whether any other means exist to meet the recipient's needs.

It is important to know that, under section 26 of the Family Maintenance Enforcement Act, a person who receives child support can register a charge against real property belonging to the payor, even if child support is up to date and there are no arrears.

Child support when the payor dies

When a payor dies, the recipient can apply to court for an order under section 171(3)(b) of the Family Law Act that the payor's support obligation will continue and will be paid from the payor's estate.

When a recipient applies to continue a support obligation, or if a support order says that the obligation will continue past the payor's death, the payor's personal representative, the person managing the payor's estate and will, has the right to argue against the recipient's application and the right to apply to change or stop the duty to pay child support.

Statutory provisions

The primary sections of the Family Law Act dealing with child support are these:

  • section 1: general definitions
  • section 146: definitions specifically about child support
  • section 147: the duty to pay child support
  • section 148: agreements about child support
  • section 149: orders about child support
  • section 150: determining how much child support should be paid
  • section 152: changing orders about child support
  • section 170: securing a child support obligation
  • section 173: child support has priority over spousal support

Getting a child support order

There are five things the court has to think about before it can make a child support order:

  1. Does the person asking for the order have the right to claim child support?
  2. Is the child entitled to benefit from the payment of child support?
  3. Does the person against whom the order is sought have a duty to pay child support?
  4. How much child support should be paid?
  5. How long should child support be paid for?

First, the court must decide that the person applying for a child support order, the applicant, is able to make the application. Usually, this is just a matter of fitting into the definitions in the legislation. To make an order under the Divorce Act, the court must have jurisdiction to pronounce a divorce, which requires that the applicant must be or have been married to the person against whom the order is sought and must have lived in the province in which the application is made for at least one year. Under the Family Law Act, the applicant can be anyone included in the definitions of "parent" and "guardian." If the claim is being made against a stepparent, the claim must be made within one year after the stepparent last contributed to the child's support, it must be made after the stepparent and parent have separated, and it must be made within one year of separation.

Second, the court must find that the child qualifies as a "child" under the definition in the Family Law Act or as a child of the marriage under the definition in the Divorce Act. Under the Family Law Act, the court must also decide that the child is not a spouse and has not withdrawn from the care of their parents or guardians.

It is important that the application for child support is made while the child still qualifies for child support, otherwise, the court may not have the authority to make a child support order, even a retroactive child support order. There is sometimes an exception to this general rule for applications to change child support orders made under the Divorce Act; the 2015 Court of Appeal decision in MacCarthy v. MacCarthy and the 2017 case of Colucci v. Colucci from the Ontario Court of Appeal talk about this problem. However, the Supreme Court of Canada's 2020 decision in Michel v. Graydon said that child support orders under the Family Law Act can be changed under section 152 of the act, whether or not the child is still a "child" under the act.

Third, the court must find that the person against whom the claim is made has a duty to pay child support. This is also a matter of fitting into the definitions.

If the first three conditions have been met, the fourth decision the court must make is to figure out how much the payor should pay. The court must first decide what the payor's annual income is, using the parties' financial information, and then fix the amount of support payable according to the tables set out in the Child Support Guidelines based on the number of children and the payor's income. There are exceptions to this basic rule, which this chapter discusses in the section Exceptions to the Child Support Guidelines.

Fifth, the court will look at how long the payor's obligation should last. This issue is not always argued about, as both the Divorce Act and the Family Law Act have cut-off dates after which children are no longer eligible to receive support. Most orders and agreements say that child support shall be paid "until," for example, "the child is no longer a child of the marriage as defined by the Divorce Act," "the child is no longer a child as defined by the Family Law Act," or "the child reaches the age of 19." The question of a stop date for support usually only crops up where the child is an adult engaged in post-secondary studies or is otherwise "unable to withdraw from the charge" of their parents.

The situation can be more complicated for payors who are not parents, namely stepparents and guardians who are not parents. How much child support should be paid, and for how long, depend on whether or not the biological parent is or should be paying child support. Often a stepparent is required to pay less child support than what the Guidelines tables would normally require, taking into account what the biological parent is or should be paying. A recipient may be required to make a claim for child support against the biological parent before the court will make orders against a stepparent or a guardian who is not a parent.

Getting an order inside British Columbia

A parent or guardian who is asking for a child support order can apply for that order in either the Supreme Court or the Provincial Court. (If there are claims for divorce or dividing property, which only the Supreme Court can deal with, it usually makes sense to ask for child support in the Supreme Court. You might as well deal with everything in one court.) Whichever court the parent or guardian wants to proceed in, they must start a court proceeding. The process for starting a court proceeding is described in the chapter Resolving Family Law Problems in Court, in the section Starting a Court Proceeding in a Family Matter.

Getting an order outside British Columbia

A parent or guardian living with a child in British Columbia who wants to get child support from someone living outside of the province has three choices:

  1. start the process here, in British Columbia, using the provincial Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act,
  2. start a court proceeding in the place where the other parent lives, or
  3. start a court proceeding here under the Divorce Act or the Family Law Act, get a child support order, and then enforce that order in the place where the other parent lives.

The Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act allows a person who lives in British Columbia to start a process that will result in an order being made in the jurisdiction in which the other parent lives. The applicant fills out paperwork here, and gives it to the provincial Interjurisdictional Support Services office. A staff member will forward that package to the Reciprocals Office where the other parent lives, and the court there will have a hearing, on notice to the other parent, which may result in a child support order being made. The law that will apply is the law where the other parent lives, which will either be the Divorce Act, if the other parent is outside of Canada, or the local equivalent of British Columbia's Family Law Act, if the other parent lives elsewhere in Canada.

The Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act process applies in every province and territory. However, only certain countries have agreed to the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act process. If the country where the other parent lives hasn't made an agreement with British Columbia about child support orders, someone who wants to get a child support order will normally have to start a court proceeding in the place where the other parent lives. This will require hiring a lawyer in that country, and the law that will apply will be the laws of that country, not the Family Law Act or the Divorce Act.

The countries that will cooperate with a proceeding under the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Act are:

  • United States of America — all of the United States, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the US Virgin Islands
  • Pacific Ocean — Australia, Fiji, New Zealand (including the Cook Islands), and Papua New Guinea
  • Europe — Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Slovak Republic, Swiss Confederation, Gibraltar, and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • Caribbean — Barbados and its Dependencies
  • Africa — South Africa and Zimbabwe
  • Asia — Hong Kong and Republic of Singapore

See the Interjurisdictional Support Orders Regulation for the current list.

Income tax issues

It used to be the case that the person paying child support could claim an income tax deduction for their support payments, while the recipient had to claim it as taxable income. Not anymore. Any child support payments made pursuant to a written agreement or court order made after 30 April 1997 are neither deductible for the payor nor taxable for the recipient.

The portion of a lawyer's bill attributable to obtaining, increasing, or enforcing a child support order is tax-deductible. The cost of defending a claim for child support is not deductible. Read the Canada Revenue Agency's Income Tax Folio S1-F3-C3, Support Payments for the fine print, and speak to an accountant to get advice to see if you qualify to write off the portion of your lawyer’s bill that relates to child support.

To claim this deduction, the lawyer must write a letter to the Canada Revenue Agency setting out what portion of their fees were attributable to advancing or enforcing a child support claim. If you intend to ask your lawyer for a letter like this, you should tell your lawyer as soon as possible — preferably the moment the lawyer takes your case! — so that they can keep a log of time spent on your claim for child support.

In a shared parenting situation, where each parent has a duty to pay child support to the other parent, the higher-income parent often just pays the difference between the higher amount they owe and the lower amount they would receive from the lower-income parent. This difference is called a set-off amount. In a court order or agreement, however, it matters how this arrangement is worded. Recently, the Canada Revenue Agency has decided that if the agreement or order says that only the higher income-earning parent pays child support, the Canada Revenue Agency will treat the situation as if there is only one payor and one recipient of child support.

In cases like this, the Canada Revenue Agency will not allow the parents to share child tax deductions or grants, and will not allow the parents to claim the children as dependents when they file their taxes. As a result, it's a good idea to make sure that your agreement or order says that each parent pays child support to the other. And it's probably best to not even mention the set-off amount actually paid. You can do the math to figure that out yourself. An agreement might, for example, say something like this:

1. The parenting arrangements for the children qualify as "shared parenting time" within the meaning of the federal Child Support Guidelines because Parent 1 and Parent 2 anticipate that the children will live with each of them not less than 40% of the time.

2. For the purposes of determining the amount of child support payable under the Guidelines, Parent 1 and Parent 2 agree that:

(a) Parent 1’s annual income for the calculation of child support is $_______, and

(b) Parent 2’s annual income for the calculation of child support is $_______,

(c) such that Parent 1 will pay Parent 2 the sum of $_______ as child support for two children, and Parent 2 will pay Parent 1 the sum of $_______ as child support for two children.

Some lawyers and accountants even suggest that actual cheques for the full amounts should be exchanged to show that each parent pays child support to the other parent.

Applying for child support from someone receiving social assistance

You can apply to receive child support from a parent who is receiving social assistance or disability social assistance, but don't expect to get much for your trouble. The Guidelines do not require that a parent pay child support if the parent's annual income is less than $12,100 per year. Social assistance or disability assistance payments, which are non-taxable, would be subject to a gross up for child support calculation purposes. ("Grossing-up" is explained more in the Child Support Guidelines section of this chapter, but it's essentially a process for adjusting the income used to calculate someone's child support obligation when they don't pay as much tax on their income as other people usually do.)

Even if you're not likely to get a lot of money in child support, it may be a good idea to make the application and get an order, since the order will at least establish the payor's obligation to pay child support. It's often easier to ask for an increase in the amount payable later on, when the payor is back on their feet, than it is to apply for an original child support order later on. As well, some people who might be normally responsible to pay support, like a stepparent, may lose their obligation to pay support under the Family Law Act if the application isn't made within a year of the person's last contribution to the child's support. It can be critical to get an order that child support be paid early on.

Children's right to claim child support

In almost all cases, it is the parent who claims child support on behalf of a child, not the child. However, the right to benefit from the payment of child support belongs to the child, not the parent. As a result, if child support is the right of the child, adult children should be able to ask for support on their own, without having to go through a parent to get it.

When there is an order between the parents

A parent can only be subject to a single order to pay child support for a particular child, and if there is an order between the parents to pay child support, an adult child cannot obtain a new order. The adult child can, however, apply to enforce the old order if their parents are not complying with the order and arrears of support are owed.

When someone does not pay child support, or pays less than they are required to pay, "arrears" build up. Arrears are the sum of money that should have been paid according to the court order or an agreement but wasn't paid. Arrears are a "judgment debt," just like any other debt owing because of a court order that requires someone to pay money to someone else. Judgment debts can be enforced under the provincial Court Order Enforcement Act, which allows the debtor's wages and benefits to be garnished, and allows real property and personal property to be sold to pay off a judgment debt. Interest, calculated under the Court Order Interest Act, is owing on judgment debts.

An adult child who is the subject of a child support order can apply to enforce any arrears as a judgment debt. The child can apply to enforce the old order starting when they become an adult able to sue someone else, age 19 in British Columbia.

The Limitation Act does not apply to claims for arrears of child support payable under a judgment or an agreement that has been filed with the court; see section 3(1)(l) of the act.

When there isn't an order between the parents

Nothing prevents an adult child from applying for child support, as long as the child would normally be entitled to receive child support, but it can be a bit complicated.

First, the child cannot apply for child support under the Divorce Act, because that act only applies to people who are "spouses," defined as people who are or who used to be married to each other; under section 15.1 of the act, the court can only order a spouse to pay child support. The only other law that might apply is the Family Law Act. Section 147(1) of the Family Law Act says that "each parent and guardian of a child" is responsible for supporting that child; section 149(2)(b) says that a child can apply for a support order.

Second, for so long as the child's parents are together and the child continues to live with them, the child will not be entitled to ask for a child support order as the court will assume that the child's needs are being met.

Third, a child seeking a child support order must qualify as a child, as defined by section 147 of the Family Law Act, in order to claim child support. While the court cannot grant a child a support order if the child doesn't qualify as a "child" within the meaning of the act, it is also the case that children under the age of 19 are under a "legal disability," which means they cannot start a court proceeding and apply for child support on their own. This leaves two options:

  1. The child is 19 or older and applies for support as an adult child "unable to withdraw" from the care of their parents, and therefore still qualifies as a "child" entitled to receive support.
  2. The child is a minor, less than 19 years old, and applies for support through a "litigation guardian."

If you are a child thinking of making a claim for child support, you really should speak to a lawyer. This area of the law is not straightforward at all.

Resources and links

Legislation

Links

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by JP Boyd, 24 August 2022.


JP Boyd on Family Law © John-Paul Boyd and Courthouse Libraries BC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.