1. Figure out if you can use the service

The Child Support Service may be used to change child support when the payor parent's income has changed.

The service can be used to update child support only if all of these things are true:

• You're asking for a change in child support based on the child support table amount only.
• Your current child support is based on the child support table amount only.
• You, your partner, and the children the support is for, live in Ontario.
• You have a current court order for child support from a court in Ontario.
• All the children the support is for are younger than 17.5 years and not married.
• You do not have shared parenting time or split parenting time, which used to be called shared custody or split custody.
• The parent paying child support does not earn:
  • less than $12,000 a year or more than $150,000 a year,
  • over 20% of their income from self-employment, rental income, or seasonal jobs,
  • most of their income as a director, partner, officer, or majority shareholder, or
  • most of their income in cash that's not reported on their income tax return.

You cannot use the service to change child support if the support amount was decided less than 6 months ago. It does not matter whether it was decided by a separation agreement, court order, or the Child Support Service.

And you also cannot use it to ask for child support for any time in the past.

Special or extraordinary expenses

You can use the service to change or add new special or extraordinary expenses only if they are:

• child-care expenses
• medical and dental insurance premiums
• health-related expenses

But you can only include them if you and your partner agree on the amount of the expenses to be shared. And you also agree that you will not include any amount your child pays towards the expense.

You cannot use the service if the special or extraordinary expenses are for:

• extracurricular activities such as competitive sports classes
• post-secondary school expenses
• other educational expenses, such as private school fees

Other reasons

There are many other reasons why you may want to change child support. For example, your child has finished school, married, or moved out on their own. Or your child is working full time. Or your child is living with the other parent or a different person.

There are other ways to change child support if you do not meet the conditions to use this service. If you and your partner agree on child support, you can make a separation agreement.

If you do not agree, you can try alternative dispute resolution, or you can go to court.