The law says that parents have to look after their children financially, even if one parent doesn't see or take care of the children. See Child Support on Family Law in BC.
In BC, child support is usually calculated using the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The amount depends mainly on:
- The paying parent’s gross annual income (before taxes).
- The number of children being supported.
- The province or territory where the paying parent lives.
You don’t have to figure it out on your own. There are free online tools:
- Federal Child Support Calculator – Enter income, number of children, and province to see the monthly amount
- MySupportCalculator – This is a free tool that can calculate child support and/or spousal support, based on the information you provide.
- Family Justice Centres – This free BC government service can help you calculate child support payments.
Sometimes extra costs (like daycare, medical expenses, or school fees) are shared between parents. These are called special or extraordinary expenses. If you’re not sure about income amounts or special expenses, you may want legal help or mediation. See “Is there free help to separate or divorce in BC?”.
If you already pay or receive child support, the BC Child Support Recalculation Service (CSRS) is a free program that reviews child support orders and written agreements. It recalculates (works out again) the amount of child support a paying parent must pay every year based on updated income information.
If you have questions related to child support, Ask JES.
