In brief
In BC, child support is set under the Federal Child Support Guidelines: a table amount based mainly on the paying parent's income and the number of children, plus a share of section 7 special expenses such as child care, uninsured health costs and post-secondary education. Shared parenting time, hidden or changing income, support for adult children and enforcement through FMEP are the issues SiLaw Group's Surrey child support lawyers handle, for recipients and payors alike.
- Paying parent's incomeand the number of children
- Guidelines table amountThe basic monthly figure, from the federal tables
- Section 7 expenses addedChild care, uncovered health costs, post-secondary, some activities — shared in proportion to incomes
- Adjusted for your factsShared parenting time, self-employment, bonuses and overtime can change the picture
Support for parents on both sides
Whether you receive child support or pay it, the starting point is the same: children have the right to be supported by both parents. Our Surrey child support lawyers act for recipients and payors alike, so we understand how each side reads the numbers, and how to land on an amount that is fair and properly calculated.
SiLaw Group Family Lawyers is a boutique family-law-and-mediation firm in South Surrey. We practise family law only, and we serve clients in English and Punjabi.
How child support amounts are set
In BC, child support is normally determined under the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The Guidelines use tables that set out a basic monthly amount based mainly on the paying parent's income and the number of children. The federal government's table look-up tool shows the base amount; you'll find it with other resources on our calculators & tools page.
The table amount is the starting point, not always the finish line. Your parenting arrangements matter: when children divide their time more evenly between two homes, the calculation can look different. Income is not always obvious either: self-employment, corporate earnings, bonuses and overtime can all raise real questions. For a deeper walk-through, see our complete child support guide.
Section 7 special and extraordinary expenses
Some costs are added to the basic table amount. The Guidelines call these special or extraordinary expenses, often shortened to "section 7 expenses." They can include things like child care needed so a parent can work, health costs not covered by insurance, post-secondary education, and some school and extracurricular costs. To qualify, an expense generally has to be necessary for the child and reasonable given what the parents can afford. Parents usually share these expenses in proportion to their incomes, although you can agree on a different split.
Disagreements over section 7 expenses are common. We help parents sort out which costs qualify and set up a workable way to share them.
Support for adult children
Child support does not automatically end when a child grows up. In some situations, support can continue for an adult child, for example one who is still pursuing education, or who cannot support themselves because of illness or disability. The way support is calculated for adult children can also differ from the usual table approach. If your child is finishing high school, heading to college or university, or lives with a disability, it is worth getting advice before assuming support ends.
When income changes or is hidden
Child support follows income. If the paying parent's income goes up or down in a lasting way, the amount may need to change, and BC offers a Child Support Recalculation Service that can update some orders and agreements without a court application. Waiting is risky for both sides: if support should have changed earlier and did not, back payments can become an issue. See retroactive child support.
Sometimes the problem is hidden income. When a parent is paid in cash, runs income through a company, or seems to earn less than they could, a court can look behind the reported figures. We help clients pursue full financial disclosure, and help payors show their true income when it is questioned.
Enforcement exists, and it works both ways
British Columbia has a Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP) for enforcing support orders and agreements, with enrolment through the BC Family Maintenance Agency. We help recipients get orders and agreements into enforceable shape, and we help payors respond when arrears or enforcement steps do not match their real situation.
How SiLaw Group can help
Because we act for both recipients and payors, we can pressure-test your position before anyone else does. Sandy Sihota is an accredited family law mediator, arbitrator and parenting coordinator, so many disputes can be resolved by agreement rather than in a courtroom. When court is necessary, we prepare thoroughly and keep the focus on the child.
Frequently asked questions
Can we just agree on our own child support amount?
You can reach your own agreement, and many parents do, often with a mediator's help. But because child support is the child's right, courts expect agreements to line up with the Guidelines, and an agreement that falls well short may not hold up later. Getting the income figures and table amount right protects both of you.
Does shared parenting change child support?
It can. When children spend substantial time in each home, the calculation may take both parents' incomes and the realities of each household into account, rather than following the straight table amount. Get advice before assuming shared parenting raises or removes support.
What if the other parent will not pay?
A support order or written agreement can be enrolled with the BC Family Maintenance Agency for enforcement through FMEP, and the courts have further tools of their own. If you are the one who cannot pay, act early: asking to change support usually goes better than letting arrears pile up.
Talk to a child support lawyer in Surrey
This page is legal information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, we offer a free 30-minute consultation by phone, video, or in person at our South Surrey office at 3108 Croydon Drive, Suite 201, in English or Punjabi.
Book a free consultation or call (778) 381-9977.
