How are child support arrears enforced in Ontario?

In Ontario, child support orders are automatically filed with the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) unless both parents file a written agreement to opt out. The FRO is a provincial government office that monitors payments and takes enforcement action when arrears build up.

The FRO has substantial enforcement powers. It can garnish wages directly from an employer without a court order, seize bank accounts, intercept federal government payments (including income tax refunds), suspend a driver's licence, passport, or federal licences, register a lien against real property, and report arrears to credit bureaus. In serious cases of persistent non-payment, the FRO can take steps that may ultimately lead to a finding of contempt of court.

If a payor is experiencing genuine financial hardship and cannot pay, they should address it proactively — contacting the FRO or a lawyer to seek a variation of the order. Ignoring arrears makes enforcement more aggressive and more costly. Arrears do not disappear over time; they can accumulate over many years and carry interest. Enforcement action through the FRO is generally free for recipients. A lawyer can advise payors on how to negotiate a payment plan with the FRO or seek a court variation when circumstances have materially changed.