Child Support in Quebec
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Canadian federal statutes and official sources. Provincial information reflects each province's own legislation and court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Both parents are financially responsible for their children. The Federal Child Support Guidelines set standard amounts based on the paying parent's income and the number of children.
The child support tables are updated periodically by the Department of Justice — always check for the latest version at justice.gc.ca. On top of the table amount, parents share special or extraordinary expenses (section 7) — such as daycare, medical costs, education, and extracurricular activities — in proportion to their incomes.
Child support is considered a right of the child, not of the other parent. It cannot be waived in an agreement. It continues until the child turns 18, or longer if the child is still dependent (for example, attending school full-time or living with a disability).
If the paying parent earns under $16,000 per year, there is no table obligation.
When does it apply?
Child support applies when:
- Parents separate or divorce and have children under 18 (or older if still dependent).
- It applies to both married and common-law parents.
- The paying parent is usually the one with less parenting time.
What to Do If the Other Parent in Canada Refuses to Pay Child Support
- Look up the table amount at justice.gc.ca using your income and number of children.
- Identify section 7 expenses — daycare, medical, education, extracurriculars — and calculate each parent's share.
- Provide full financial disclosure — tax returns, pay stubs, and notices of assessment.
- Formalize the amount in a written agreement or court order.
- Review and update the amount whenever income changes significantly.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't stop paying without a court order — even if you are being denied parenting time. Support and parenting time are separate legal issues.
- Don't hide income — the court can impute (assign) income based on your earning capacity.
- Don't agree to waive child support — any agreement that does so is unenforceable.
- Don't assume support ends at 18 — it continues if the child is still a dependent.
- Don't pay informally without keeping records — you need proof of every payment.
How Quebec differs from federal law
Child support in Quebec is calculated using Quebec's own child support determination model, which is set out in the Regulation respecting the determination of child support payments. This is different from the Federal Child Support Guidelines used in other provinces for provincial matters.
- Quebec uses a fixed model based on both parents' incomes and the custody arrangement. The model uses tables that specify a basic child support amount, to which certain special expenses may be added.
- Both parents complete a Statement of Fixation of Child Support (Form FP) that calculates each parent's contribution based on their respective incomes and the number of children.
- The model accounts for custody time: if one parent has sole custody, the other pays according to the tables. If custody is shared (40% or more time with each parent), the calculation adjusts to reflect both parents' costs of housing and feeding the child.
- Revenu Quebec collects and enforces child support payments through a mandatory automatic deduction system — support payments are deducted directly from the paying parent's income source and transferred to the receiving parent by Revenu Quebec (unless both parents jointly opt out).
- Child support amounts can be modified if there is a significant change in circumstances (such as a change in income or custody arrangement). Either parent can apply to the court for a variation.
Additional Steps in Quebec
Use the child support determination model (available at justice.gouv.qc.ca) to calculate estimated support. File with the Superior Court of Quebec to have child support ordered. Once ordered, Revenu Quebec will collect and transfer payments automatically. To modify an existing order, apply to the court with evidence of changed circumstances.
Relevant Law: Civil Code of Quebec, arts. 585-596; Regulation respecting the determination of child support payments (CQLR c C-25.01, r. 0.4); Act to facilitate the payment of support (CQLR c P-2.2)
Common Questions
When does child support apply?
Child support applies when:Parents separate or divorce and have children under 18 (or older if still dependent).It applies to both married and common-law parents.The paying parent is usually the one with less parenting time.
What should I do if my ex-partner in Canada is not paying court-ordered child support?
Look up the table amount at justice.gc.ca using your income and number of children.Identify section 7 expenses — daycare, medical, education, extracurriculars — and calculate each parent's share.Provide full financial disclosure — tax returns, pay stubs, and notices of assessment.Formalize the amount in a written agreement or court order.Review and update the amount whenever income changes significantly.
What mistakes should I avoid with child support?
Don't stop paying without a court order — even if you are being denied parenting time. Support and parenting time are separate legal issues.Don't hide income — the court can impute (assign) income based on your earning capacity.Don't agree to waive child support — any agreement that does so is unenforceable.Don't assume support ends at 18 — it continues if the child is still a dependent.Don't pay informally without keeping records — you need proof of every payment.
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