Child Support Calculator Alberta

Understanding Child Support in Alberta

Child support in Alberta is governed by the Federal Child Support Guidelines, which aim to establish a fair standard of support for children based on parental income. The primary goal is to ensure children continue to benefit from the financial means of both parents after separation or divorce, similar to if the parents were still together. These guidelines are applied consistently across Canada, with minor provincial adjustments primarily concerning the definition of income.

The amount of child support is generally determined by the paying parent's income and the number of children involved, using specific tables. However, factors like custody arrangements and special expenses can significantly influence the final amount.

How Child Support is Calculated

The calculation of child support is primarily a two-step process:

• Table Amount: This is the base amount calculated using the Federal Child Support Guidelines tables. It's determined by the gross annual income of the paying parent and the number of children. These tables provide a presumptive amount that is generally followed unless specific circumstances warrant a deviation.
• Special or Extraordinary Expenses: In addition to the table amount, parents typically share the costs of certain special or extraordinary expenses. These are often divided proportionally to each parent's income. Examples include childcare, medical and dental insurance premiums, uninsured health expenses, and post-secondary education costs.

The calculator provides an estimate based on these principles, but a legal professional can provide precise figures.

Custody Arrangements and Their Impact

The type of custody arrangement plays a crucial role in how child support is calculated:

• Sole Custody: One parent has the child(ren) most of the time. The other parent is typically the sole payor, based on their income and the tables.
• Shared Custody: Each parent has the child(ren) at least 40% of the time. In this case, the support amount is typically calculated using an 'offset' approach. The table amount for each parent is calculated, and the higher amount is reduced by the lower amount. Other factors like parenting costs and the children's needs are also considered.
• Split Custody: Where there are two or more children, and each parent has custody of one or more of them. Support is calculated by determining the amount each parent would pay the other, and then subtracting the smaller amount from the larger one to arrive at a net payment.

Adjustments and Deviations from Guidelines

While the Guidelines are generally followed, there are specific situations where a court may order a different amount of child support. These 'undue hardship' claims can be complex and require demonstrating that adhering strictly to the guidelines would cause severe financial difficulty for a parent or child. Reasons for undue hardship might include:

• Unusually high debts incurred to support the family prior to separation
• High costs associated with exercising parenting time
• A duty to support another child or person
• Extraordinary expenses for health or education

Any deviation from the Guidelines must be justified to the court, and it will prioritize the child's best interests.