Understanding Child Support Guidelines in Alberta
Understanding the guidelines surrounding child support payments can be a confusing and overwhelming process. It is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework in place to ensure you receive adequate financial support for your child’s well-being. Alberta follows the Federal Child Support Guidelines, which provide a framework for determining child support payments based on the child’s needs and the paying parent’s income. In this blog, we will provide a thorough overview of child support guidelines in Alberta, so you can make informed and confident decisions regarding your family’s finances
Understanding child support
In Canada, every child has a legal right to receive child support from their parents. This is because providing for a child’s needs requires financial resources. Both parents are responsible for providing this support, even if they separate, divorce, or have never lived with the child. The reason behind this is that it is considered to be in the best interest of the child.
The purpose of child support is to benefit the child, not the parent, and it is different from spousal support. Even if the parents are not in a relationship or have a different parenting arrangement, the child has the right to receive child support.
What expenses are covered by child support?
Child support includes basic living expenses and reasonable necessary special expenses that are in the child’s best interest. Some examples of expenses covered by child support are:Food, clothing, and housing
- Transportation
- Health care
- Education
- Extracurricular activities
Child support includes basic living expenses like food, clothing, and housing. Any additional expenses included in child support must be necessary for the child’s best interests and reasonable based on the family’s financial situation.
Who is responsible for making child support payments?
Both parents are responsible for providing child support. However, if one parent has custody of the child, the other parent is usually required to pay child support since the custodial parent already provides support by taking care of the child’s daily needs and expenses.
The person responsible for child support payments may be different depending on the type of parenting arrangement, such as split custody or shared custody. A unique approach to dividing child support may be necessary in these arrangements.
How is child support determined in Alberta?
If a Canadian parent is getting a divorce or modifying a child support order, they will use the Federal Child Support Guidelines to calculate child support. Alberta parents who are not in that situation will use the Alberta Child Support Guidelines instead.
The Alberta Child Support Guidelines are similar to the Federal Child Support Guidelines, but with a few differences:
- Child support payments are required until the age of 22 if the child is enrolled full-time in a post-secondary institution or if the child has a disability or illness.
- If a step-parent has been treating the child as their own, they might be liable to pay child support.
- Anyone who has a child in their care may apply for child support.
- It is possible to estimate special expenses.
How can we get a child support agreement in Calgary?
In Alberta, you can settle a child support agreement without having to go to court. The court actually encourages parents to come to an agreement on their own since they are more aware of what their child requires. Going to court can be costly, time-consuming, and nerve-racking.
While a child support agreement can be made verbally, it is advisable to put it in writing to prevent any possible disagreements in the future. Even if the written agreement is informal, it can still be helpful. If there is a need to make changes to the agreement, it can be modified at any time based on the child’s best interests or any changes in the parents’ situation.
You can make an agreement on your own, get help from a lawyer, or a firm like Divorce EZ!
