Child Support Calculator for Manitoba: Table Amounts Explained

You want a quick idea of what child support might be after separation. A calculator can give you a starting figure, but only if you put in the right information and understand what the figure does and does not cover.

This article explains how the Manitoba table amounts work, what to gather before you use a calculator, and the situations where a simple estimate can be off.

This article covers the law of Manitoba.

Where Manitoba's table amounts come from

Manitoba's guidelines are the Manitoba Child Support Guidelines Regulation, M.R. 52/2023, made under The Family Law Act. They have been in force since July 1, 2023. Older pages and commercial sites may still refer to the earlier Family Maintenance Act rules, so check the date of anything you read.

Manitoba does not set its own tables. Schedule I of the regulation adopts the current federal tables. The table that applies is generally the one for the province where the parent against whom the order is sought habitually resides, with exceptions for parents living outside Canada.

The federal Child Support Guidelines say their objectives include establishing a fair standard of support for children, reducing conflict between spouses and promoting consistent treatment of similar cases.

What a calculator needs from you

The basic amount depends on the paying parent's pre-tax income and the number of children. For children under the age of majority, the usual starting point is the table amount for that income and number of children, plus any section 7 special or extraordinary expenses.

• The paying parent's annual income, starting from the 'Total income' line of the T1 General tax form and adjusted under Schedule III of the Guidelines
• The number of children the support is for
• The province where the parent against whom the order is sought habitually resides
• The approximate share of time each child spends with each parent
• A list of any childcare, medical, education or activity costs

Income is not always just last year's figure. Section 17 lets the court look at the last three years if the standard figure would not be fair, and section 19 lets the court impute income, for example where a parent is intentionally under-employed.

What a calculator leaves out

A table estimate is only the first layer. Extra costs such as childcare, health, education and extracurricular activities may be added, and both parents' incomes are considered when sharing them. A basic calculator often does not include these.

Shared parenting and equal time

Section 9 applies when each parent has not less than 40% of parenting time over a year, so a 50/50 schedule meets the threshold. The court considers each parent's table amount, the increased costs of shared parenting, and the circumstances of each parent and the child.

The usual starting point is the set-off, which is the difference between the two table amounts, paid by the higher-income parent. It is a starting point, not a fixed rule, so equal time does not automatically cancel support.

Using an estimate sensibly

Use a calculator for planning, and check that it uses the current federal tables. Actual table dollar amounts change over time, so this article does not list figures. The Justice Canada calculator and the current tables are the places to check.

• Run the numbers with your best income figures, then again with a higher and lower income to see the range.
• Add up expected childcare, medical and activity costs separately.
• Keep your recent tax returns and Notices of Assessment ready.
• Speak with a family lawyer if your case involves high income, shared parenting, a stepparent or hardship.

Frequently asked questions