Child Support Guidelines and Enforcing Lower Support Payments

What is a Child Support Guidelines order?

Child Support Guidelines are rules used to decide how much child support should be paid. A child support order made under these guidelines is referred to as a Child Support Guidelines order.

How do I know if my order is a Child Support Guidelines order?

Your support order is a Child Support Guidelines order if:

it was made in Ontario after November 30, 1997, or
it was included in your divorce order made anywhere in Canada after April 30, 1997

Your support order should mention if it was made under the Child Support Guidelines. If your support order was not made under the Child Support Guidelines, contact us for more information.

If the number of children entitled to support decreases, can the FRO change my order and enforce a lower amount?

When the FRO exercises its discretion to enforce a lower amount of child support, you still must go to court to have your support order changed.

The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) cannot change the terms in a support order. We can, however, enforce a lower amount of ongoing support if the support order was made under the Child Support Guidelines and it is agreed that the number of children entitled to support decreases.

This provides a break from enforcement until the support recipient and the support payor return to court to have their order changed.

How do I know when support has ended for a child?

Some support orders or domestic contracts set out a specific date or an event called a "Terminating event" that ends support payments. A terminating event could be the child leaving school or working full time.

What if I think a terminating event has stopped

If you believe a terminating event has occured, ending support for one or more children, you need to contact us. Both the payor and the recipient must agree that a terminating event has occured. At least one party must notify the FRO immediately so that we can review your file and begin appropriate action.

When can the FRO enforce lower support payments?

The FRO can exercise discretion to enforce a lower amount of child support when:

the order was made under the Child Support Guidelines, and
the support recipient and the support payor agree that the support responsibility for one or more children has ended

When we receive written confirmation from a support recipient that entitlement to support has ended, we will contact the support payor to advise that support has ended for that child.

When we receive information from a support payor that support should end, we send a letter to the recipient. When the support recipient agrees, we can exercise our discretion to enforce a lower amount of support for the remaining children

If a social services agency (e.g., Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program) has been assigned to the support order, we will also seek confirmation from the agency that support has ended. If both the recipient and the agency, if applicable, confirm that support should end, we can exercise our discretion and enforce a lower amount of support under the Child Support Guidelines order.

The FRO will notify all parties when a decision has been made.

How long will the FRO enforce the lower amount of child support?

Child support for any other child must continue.

The FRO will exercise discretion to enforce a lower amount of child support for as long as the parties agree. If the parties do not change their court order, however, there may be situations where FRO will be required to start enforcing the higher amount of support again.

Support payors and recipients need to have their support order formally changed in court as soon as possible. The FRO cannot formally change any of the terms of your support order.

Where can I get more information?

TTY: 1-866-545-0083

24-Hour Automated Information Line: 416-326-1818 or toll-free at 1-800-267-7263
for general information about the FRO and recent transactions on your case.

Customer Service Unit: 416-326-1817 or toll-free at 1-800-267-4330
for general inquiries such as payment information, to update your address or to request forms.
Call Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enforcement Call Centre: 416-326-1817 or toll-free at 1-800-267-4330
for specific enforcement information. Call Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.