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Difference between revisions of "Child Support"
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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 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. | ||
Child support is a payment made by one parent or guardian, the ''payor'', to the other, 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; child support is entirely different from and unrelated to parenting time, contact, or access. | 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; child support is entirely different from and unrelated to parenting time, contact, or access. | ||
Child support is payable on the principle that both parents have a duty to financially contribute to | 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. | ||
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 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]]. | ||
