May 1, 2006

By Brad Smith

The assessment of child support changed dramatically on May 1, 1997 when the Child Support Guidelines came into effect. The Child Support Guidelines have seen changes and amendments over the years. The most significant change came into effect on May 1, 2006 when the Tables were amended.

The changes can be substantial and vary depending on the payor’s income.

Some examples?

• A support payor earning $45,000 per year used to pay $387 per month for one child, now pays $415 under the new Child Support Guidelines – a 7 % increase.
• A support payor earning $60,000 per year used to pay $823 per month for two children, now pays $902 under the new Child Support Guidelines – an almost 10% increase.
• A support payor with an income of $100,000 per year who used to pay $1,613 per month support for three children, now pay pays $1,825 under the new Child Support Guidelines – a 13% increase.

When support payments actually change will vary depending upon your situation. For some people, a separation agreement may require an annual review of income. For others, support is paid under a court order. Many people have never altered their child support arrangements from pre-guideline amounts! To implement the new table amounts, support recipients must take an active step to either work out a new deal, or update their court orders. The changes will not be implemented automatically.

If the child support has not been reviewed or varied since the Child Support Guidelines were amended on May 1, 2006, the amount of child support may be inconsistent with the current law. Support payors or recipients should review our Web Tip on Retroactive Child Support to determine their rights and obligations.