Child support can be an inevitable source of conflict between parents who are going through a separation or divorce. Under Alberta and federal law, including the Federal Child Support Guidelines, child support is recognized as the right of the child, not of either parent. Any money paid as child support is intended to meet the child’s needs and maintain a standard of living that is as consistent as possible between households.
When it comes to support payments, conflict and confusion can arise. Parents may be uncertain about the amount that needs to be paid, how long payments will last, or even how the payor is to be determined. Recent family law changes, including updates to federal child support tables and terminology under the Divorce Act, can add to this confusion for couples who are separating or divorcing.
At Verhaeghe Law, our Edmonton child support lawyers can walk you and your co-parent through every step of the child support process. Our child support lawyers in Edmonton can help you understand what child support is, who receives it, who pays it, and how responsibility and amounts are decided. If you have questions about your situation, get in touch with our legal team today. You can contact our Edmonton office online or call us at (587) 410-2500 to explore your legal options.
Understanding Child Support Laws in Alberta
Alberta and federal law state that parents are financially responsible for supporting their dependent children. Child support refers to the money that one parent pays to another parent when they are separated but share a child. Money paid as child support is designed to cover the costs of caring for the child on a day-to-day basis, including housing, food, clothes and other ordinary expenses.
Generally, the law states that child support is to be paid by the parent who spends the least amount of time with the child. If both parents spend an equal amount of time with the child, the parent with the higher income may still need to pay child support to equalize the child’s standard of living between households.
A child is typically said to be dependent, and therefore potentially eligible for child support, until they turn 18. However, age is not the only factor that determines whether your child is still financially dependent. For example, a child may remain dependent after their 18th birthday if they have a disability, chronic illness, or are still in full-time studies, depending on the circumstances and applicable legislation.
It is also important to acknowledge that the definition of a parent who must pay child support is not exclusive to biological parents. Adoptive parents, non-birth parents, and in some cases, step-parents, may have to make child support payments, depending on their situation and the child’s level of dependency.
Child Support Guidelines In Edmonton and Across Alberta
The basic framework for child support across Canada is set out in the Federal Child Support Guidelines, which include child support tables for each province and territory. Alberta uses these federal tables, along with the Alberta Child Support Guidelines, to help determine appropriate amounts.
In October 2025, the Government of Canada updated the Federal Child Support Tables to reflect more recent tax rules. The 2025 tables are used for child support calculations for periods starting on or after October 1, 2025, while earlier periods rely on the 2017 tables. This means that even if you already have an order, your child support may need to be reviewed in light of the updated tables, particularly if there have also been changes to your income or parenting time.
If you are unsure which set of tables applies to your situation, you can use the federal child support table look-up tool for general information, and then speak with our Edmonton child support lawyers for guidance tailored to your circumstances.
Which Parent Pays Child Support?
The parent who pays child support is called the payor. Generally, it will be the parent who spends the least amount of cumulative time with the child. As mentioned above, the payor parent does not need to be a birth parent. Individuals who are going through a separation may have to provide financial support for a child even if they are not married to the other parent or are not a birth parent.
Parents may be required to provide child support even if:
- They have other children from another relationship
- They do not live with the other parent
- They do not have an ongoing relationship with the other parent
- They were never married to the other parent
The payor parent needs to understand that child support and parenting time (formerly called “access”) are two different things. The payor cannot deny child support even if they do not see the child or do not live with the child. For instance, a parent who is not receiving the parenting time they want generally cannot stop their child support payments. Similarly, if a parent fails to make child support payments, it usually will not affect their parenting time unless there are other serious concerns before the court.
There are special circumstances where child support payments can be amended and reviewed by a judge to address sudden changes in the payor’s situation. However, a parent should not make unilateral decisions to change child support money for any reason without first obtaining legal advice and, where required, a new agreement or court order.
How Much Child Support Do I Need To Pay?
The Government of Canada provides child support tables that set out monthly amounts for a given province or territory and income level. Alberta uses these tables as part of the Alberta Child Support Guidelines, which help calculate a fair amount of support based on the payor’s gross annual income and number of children.
If you are the payor parent, you will usually need to provide detailed information about your income for your child support obligations to be determined. The court may use one or more of the following sources to determine your gross income (your income before taxes and other deductions):
- Pay stubs for a full year
- Line 15000 of your income tax return or your CRA notice of assessment
- Financial statements from any business you own
- Proof of income from a trust or investment
- Relevant statements from workers’ compensation, pension, social assistance, employment insurance, or disability payments
If one parent believes the other is not providing full and accurate income disclosure, they can ask the court to “impute” income. When this happens, the judge will decide what the payor earns or is reasonably capable of earning, considering work history, education, job opportunities, lifestyle, and past income. This can happen when the payor parent appears to be:
- Not actively looking for employment
- Not reporting all their income
- Knowingly sharing false information
- Being intentionally underemployed
- Working for cash without reporting it
Our team can review your financial disclosure, help you understand base child support, and identify any special or extraordinary expenses that may also be relevant.
Shared Parenting Time, Adult Children, And Complex Child Support Issues
Some child support situations in Edmonton are more complex than a straightforward “one child, one payor” scenario. The amount of support payable can change when:
- Parents have shared parenting time (generally where the child is with each parent at least 40 percent of the time)
- Children live in separate households in a “split custody” arrangement
- There are children from more than one relationship
- A child is over 18 but still dependent because of school or a disability
In shared parenting time situations, the court may start with each parent’s table amount and then set off one against the other, while also considering the actual costs of caring for the child in both homes. For adult children, the court may look closely at the child’s educational plans, ability to contribute to their own expenses, and any special needs.
If you are facing one of these complex situations, our Edmonton child support team can help you understand how the guidelines are applied in practice and what evidence may be needed to support your position. We can also assist in negotiating detailed parenting plans that work together with your child support arrangements.
How to Enforce Child Support Orders In Alberta
Even when a court order or written agreement is in place, some parents face challenges in actually receiving the child support they are owed. In Alberta, you can register your order or agreement with the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP), which helps collect and enforce child and spousal support. Once registered, MEP can receive payments from the payor and forward them to the recipient, and can use a range of enforcement tools if payments are not made.
Depending on the circumstances, MEP’s enforcement options include:
- Garnishing wages, bank accounts, or certain government payments
- Suspending or refusing to renew a driver’s licence or vehicle registration
- Reporting arrears to credit bureaus
- Registering a lien against property
- Initiating court enforcement proceedings
- And more
Because enforcement can significantly affect both parties, it is important to obtain legal advice before taking steps that may escalate a dispute. Our Edmonton child support lawyers can help you decide whether to register with MEP, respond to enforcement action, or negotiate a payment plan, where appropriate. If you are already facing enforcement, we can also work with you to review options such as a variation of child support in cases of genuine financial hardship.
Why Should I Work With An Edmonton Child Support Lawyer?
Whether you are seeking support, negotiating payments, or modifying an existing agreement, the experience of a child support lawyer can help ensure that your rights and your child’s best interests are protected. At Verhaeghe Law, our child support lawyers in Edmonton can offer you assistance with:
Understanding Child Support Laws
Alberta’s child support laws can be intricate, especially with variations in income, parenting time arrangements, step-parent obligations and the impact of updated federal tables. A knowledgeable lawyer can help you understand your obligations and entitlements under the guidelines and the relevant legislation.
Accurate Calculations
Determining the correct amount of child support is crucial to avoid disputes and enforcement issues. Our lawyers will use government guidelines and current tables, taking into account the payor’s income, number of children, and additional expenses like post-secondary education, medical costs, and extracurricular activities.
Modifications and Enforcement
Life changes, such as job loss, income fluctuation, new children in a household, or changes in parenting time, may require child support modifications. Our Edmonton child support lawyers can help you apply for or respond to a variation, or pursue enforcement options if another parent is not complying with a court order.
Contact Our Edmonton Child Support Lawyers Now
At Verhaeghe Law, our legal team has acted as lead counsel on numerous child support disputes. Our top priority is always your child’s best interests. To book a consultation with our lawyers, you can call our Edmonton office at (587) 410-2500. You can also contact us by emailing us, filling out our online form, or starting a live chat to book your consultation.
We aim to resolve family law disputes in a timely and cost-effective manner. Do not delay. Contact our Edmonton law firm now for legal assistance and let us put our experience to work for you.
Please note, the information in this article does not constitute legal advice. It is intended as a general overview of an area of family law and child support. For legal advice, please consult with a lawyer.