Child support is money that a parent pays to help support his or her child financially after a separation or divorce.
Child support is generally paid to the other parent, not to the child. Judges can order a parent to pay support directly to a child over the age of majority, but they only do so in certain cases. Judges consider the family’s situation to determine the appropriate arrangements.
Canadian Federal Child Support Guidelines 2025
Child Support Calculator
Estimate monthly child support payments across all Canadian provinces and territories — instantly, free, and confidential.
Parent Information
Parent One (Payor)
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Parent Two (Recipient)
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Children
Shared parenting applies when each parent has at least 40% of total parenting time. If one parent has 60% or more of the time, select that parent below. Child support generally ends at the age of majority (18 in most provinces; 19 in BC, NB, NS, NL, NT, NU, and YT).
Section 7 Special Expenses
Section 7 covers extraordinary, necessary expenses shared proportionally by parents: childcare, healthcare, education/tutoring, extracurricular activities, and dental or orthodontic costs. Enter amounts net of any applicable tax credits or government subsidies.
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Leave blank or enter 0 if no special expenses apply.
Calculation Results
Monthly Section 3 Child Support Payment
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estimated per month
Parent One — Gross Income
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annual, before tax
Parent Two — Gross Income
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annual, before tax
Section 7 — Expense Sharing
Total Monthly Net Expenses—
Parent One Share (—%)—
Parent Two Share (—%)—
Income Comparison
⚠ Important Notice: This calculator provides estimates for general informational purposes only, based on the Federal Child Support Guidelines tables and formulas. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Results may not be accurate for self-employment income, imputed income, or all shared-custody scenarios. For advice specific to your situation, please contact a qualified family lawyer.
Child support is the right of the child, not the parent — it cannot be waived.
The payor is generally the parent with less than 40% parenting time.
In shared custody (40/40), the set-off method applies to reduce payments.
Support may continue past age of majority if the child remains dependent.
Income changes can trigger a review and variation of an existing order.
Section 7 expenses are shared proportionally based on each parent's income.
Both you and the other parent have a duty to support your children. Children of intact families benefit from both parents’ incomes. That should not change if their parents separate or divorce. This is the guiding principle of Canada’s child support laws.
You and the other parent may set up your own child support agreement out of court. Or you can ask a judge to determine an amount. It will likely be best if you can reach an agreement out of court. Going to court can be expensive, usually takes a long time, and may increase stress in your family. Family justice services such as mediation may help you and the other parent reach an agreement.
