Does Child Support Continue After Age 18 in Alberta?

Your child has turned 18, or soon will, and you are wondering whether child support stops. Many parents assume it ends on the birthday. In Alberta, it generally does not work that way.

Whether support continues depends on the child's situation, especially whether they are still dependent, for example because they are in school full-time. This article explains how that works, how university or college costs are handled, and what to do when the situation changes.

This article covers the law of Alberta.

Is 18 the end of child support in Alberta?

Alberta's Age of Majority Act sets the age of majority at 18. Support for a child who is 18 or older is not automatically cut off at a fixed age. It depends on whether the child remains a dependent, such as a full-time student.

For divorcing parents, the Divorce Act talks about a "child of the marriage". That can include a child who is of age but unable, because of illness, disability or other cause, to withdraw from their parents' charge or obtain the necessaries of life. Whether your child's situation fits that wording depends on the facts, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer.

There is no single birthday that ends support in every case. If you are unsure where your family stands, a lawyer can look at your order or agreement and your child's circumstances.

Which law applies to you?

Divorcing spouses are under the Divorce Act, and the Federal Child Support Guidelines apply unless both are habitually resident in a province designated by order. Unmarried parents, separated-but-not-divorced spouses and adult interdependent partners proceed under Alberta's Family Law Act and the Alberta Child Support Guidelines.

The route differs, but the table amounts are the same, because the Alberta guidelines adopt the federal tables.

How much is paid for an adult child?

For a child under the age of majority, the amount is the table amount plus any special or extraordinary expenses. For a child who is the age of majority or over, the court can use the table amount, or a different amount if it finds the table amount inappropriate.

In deciding on a different amount, the court considers the child's condition, means and needs, and the parents' ability to pay. A young adult who works part-time, has savings or lives away from home may lead to a different result than a child living at home.

• The table amount is based on the paying parent's income, the number of children and the payer's province.
• A different amount is possible for an adult child if the court finds the table amount inappropriate.
• Income is generally taken from the 'Total income' line of the T1 General tax form, adjusted under Schedule III.

University, college and other post-secondary costs

On a spouse's request, the court may provide an amount for post-secondary education expenses as a special or extraordinary expense. These costs are generally shared by the spouses in proportion to their incomes, after deducting any contribution from the child.

The court must also take into account subsidies, benefits, and income tax deductions or credits related to the expense. That includes things like bursaries and tax credits.

• Tuition, fee and housing estimates for the program
• Any scholarships, bursaries or student aid the child receives
• The child's own earnings or savings available to contribute
• Each parent's most recent income information

Enforcement through the Maintenance Enforcement Program

The Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) only continues enforcing past the age of majority where the child is financially dependent as a full-time student. MEP can enforce only a filed court order or eligible agreement that sets an enforceable amount.

Terms found only in documents such as Reasons for Judgment, Endorsements, Minutes of Settlement or Separation Agreements cannot be enforced by MEP. Either the payor or the recipient can register, and only one needs to.

Changing or ending support, and what to do next

If your child is no longer dependent, do not simply stop paying. Under the Divorce Act, a court may vary, rescind or suspend a child support order, retroactively or prospectively, on application by either or both former spouses. Before varying, the court must be satisfied that a change of circumstances has occurred.

For a table-based order, a change in circumstances is any change that would result in a different child support order. Updated federal tables took effect October 1, 2025, and existing orders are not changed automatically; a different result under the new tables may count as a change in circumstances.

• Read your order or agreement for any end date or conditions
• Confirm whether your child is still a full-time student or dependent
• Gather recent tax returns and notices of assessment
• Once an MEP file is open, pay through MEP rather than directly to the recipient, and check with a lawyer before changing payments
• Speak with a lawyer before changing payments

Frequently asked questions