Changing a Child Support Order in Ontario When Income Changes

Incomes rarely stay the same. A job loss, a raise or a move to self-employment can make an existing child support order feel out of date for the person paying or the person receiving.

This article explains when a child support order can be changed, what proof you will need, and which Ontario routes exist. It describes the federal rules under the Divorce Act. If you were never married, Ontario's own legislation applies, and a lawyer can confirm how it works for you.

When an order can be changed

A court may vary, rescind or suspend a child support order, either going forward or retroactively, on application by either or both former spouses. It must first be satisfied that a change of circumstances, as defined in the Guidelines, has occurred since the order was made or last varied.

Any change in circumstances that would result in a different child support order counts. A drop in the payor's income after a job loss is one example. A significant raise could work the other way, because the table amount depends on the payor's annual income.

Updated federal tables took effect on October 1, 2025. They do not automatically change an existing order, but a difference between the old amount and the 2025 table amount may count as a change in circumstances that lets a parent ask for an update.

The routes in Ontario

There are two main ways to ask for a change. The right one depends on your situation.

Court forms also include a Form 13 financial statement with a Form 13A certificate of financial disclosure. Fees and forms can change, so check the current details before you file.

The online service is not available in several situations. These include shared or split parenting time, a parent or child living outside Ontario, a child over 17.5 or married, or an order that involved undue hardship or imputed income. It is also unavailable if the payor is self-employed, earns over $150,000 or under $12,000, earns cash income, or is a partner or majority shareholder in a business.

What proof you will need

Whatever route you use, income is the heart of the matter. In court you generally need three years of tax returns, notices of assessment and proof of current income. If you were unemployed in the last three years, you must also file a Record of Employment or other proof and a statement of any benefits still owed, such as severance.

• Income for child support starts from Total income on the T1 General tax return and is adjusted under Schedule III.
• If income varies, such as seasonal work or self-employment, the court may consider the last three years.
• A self-employed spouse must also provide three years of financial statements and a breakdown of payments to non-arm's-length persons.
• A court may impute income if a spouse is intentionally under-employed or unemployed, but not where this is required by a child's needs or by the spouse's reasonable educational or health needs.

This is why a voluntary pay cut or a move to a lower-paying job may not be treated the same as a layoff. The reason for the change matters, and it is worth discussing with a lawyer.

Asking for annual income updates

You may not need a full application to keep support current. On written request, no more than once a year, the paying spouse must provide updated income documents within 30 days, or 60 days if living outside Canada and the U.S.. Ontario guidance also says the paying parent must give the other parent proof of income, the last tax return and notice of assessment or reassessment, every year, unless they agree on another timeframe.

Those updates can show whether a change of circumstances has occurred and whether it is worth applying.

What to do next

Do not simply pay a different amount than the order says. The Family Responsibility Office cannot change the amount owed, only a judge can, and arrears keep building under the existing order until it is changed. Payors who lose their job should contact the Family Responsibility Office immediately.

• Find your current order or agreement and note the date it was made, since orders made before October 1, 2025 are not changed automatically by the new tables.
• Gather three years of tax returns, notices of assessment and proof of current income.
• Collect any Record of Employment and severance information if you lost a job.
• Decide whether the other parent is likely to consent, which affects whether Form 15 or Form 15D applies.
• Check whether the online service is available to you before choosing a route.
• Speak with a family lawyer about timing and whether a retroactive change may be possible.

Frequently asked questions