Information for Support Payors

When do I start paying support?

At the same time the court makes a support order or agreement, it sets out the amount of support payments and when they are to be paid. You must start paying support on the date given in the court order or agreement. If no date was specified, the first payment is due on the same day the court order was made.

When the court makes a support order, it also makes a Support Deduction Order that gives the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) the right to send a Support Deduction Notice to your employer or other regular income sources. Your employer or other regular income source will then deduct the amount of support that you owe from your wages or other income. Both orders are sent to the FRO so we can begin working on the case.

It can take time before the FRO receives the information it needs to process the support payments. During that period, you are still responsible for making any support payments owing.

How can I make my payments?

Tips for Support Payors

Always include your case number and your first and last name on your payment and in all correspondence with the FRO.

Make your support payments through the FRO. Do not pay the recipient directly.

The FRO cannot change the amount of support you pay. Only the court can adjust the amount of support payments.

When you have an employer or regular source of income, the FRO arranges for support payments to be deducted from your income and sent to us. Once the FRO has received the funds, we can send the payment to the recipient, usually within 24 to 48 hours.

Until deductions start, you must make support payments through the FRO and not directly to the recipient. You must also make your payments through the FRO if you do not have an employer or regular source of income.

You can use the following methods to make support payments directly to the FRO:

Telebanking
Intenet Banking
Pre-authorized debits from your bank account
Cheques or money orders

What are my responsibilities?

Get to know the details of your support order or agreement. You have a legal obligation and a responsibility to respect it.

If your employment or regular income ends, you are still required to make your support payments. You can do this by sending your payments directly to the FRO. Keep records of the support payments that you make. The FRO does not issue year-end statements.

You must let the FRO know immediately if:

You move or change your telephone number(s)
You change employers or there is any change in your income source
There are any changes to your court order, or your support obligation ends or changes.

What if I fall behind in my support payments?

The FRO encourages payors who may fall behind in their payments to contact us as soon as possible. If you do fall behind in your payments, we will try to work with you to enter into an agreement to pay the arrear by installments in addition to paying your ongoing support payments. This is known as a Voluntary Arrears Payment Schedule (VAPS). Even with a VAPS in place, the FRO can still collect funds owed to you from federal government sources (e.g., income tax refunds, GST rebates). We can also issue a writ of seizure and sale against your property or assets. If you do sell an asset, funds will be collected from the sale to pay your arrears.

If necessary, the FRO may take additional enforcement actions including:

Credit bureau reporting
Garnishment of joint bank accounts and assets
Driver's licence suspension
Suspending passports and other federal licences (e.g., a pilot's licence)
Taking you to court

What if I want to withdraw from the program?

You and the recipient must both agree in writing to withdraw from the FRO. If you do, we will stop all enforcement action and close your case.

Where can I get more information?

TTY: 416-240-2414

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.