- The starting point for child support is the table amount for the paying parent's income and number of children, plus any special or extraordinary expenses.
- The table used is the one for the province where the paying parent lives, and only the tables in the Federal Guidelines are official.
- Shared parenting, split parenting, high incomes and undue hardship can all change the result.
If you are separating or divorcing in Prince Edward Island, one of the first money questions is usually how much child support will be paid. The answer is not a guess or a negotiation from scratch. In most cases it starts with a formula set out in the Federal Child Support Guidelines.
This article explains how that formula works, what information it uses, and the situations where the result can be different. It cannot give you a dollar figure, because that depends on your income and your family's arrangements.
This article covers the law of Prince Edward Island.
The starting point: the table amount
Under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, the presumptive amount of child support is the table amount for the number of children under the age of majority, based on the paying spouse's income. Any special or extraordinary expenses are added on top.
The table is the one for the province or territory where the paying parent lives. It is matched to that parent's income and the number of children, and the amounts are monthly. So if the paying parent lives in Prince Edward Island, the Prince Edward Island table applies.
Only the tables in the Federal Guidelines themselves are official. Simplified tables and the Justice Canada online look-up, which asks for the payer's income, the number of children and the province, are estimation tools. Table amounts can change when the tables are updated, so check the current version rather than relying on an old figure.
How income is worked out
Income is not simply what you think you earn. The Guidelines start from the "Total income" line of the T1 General tax return, adjusted under Schedule III. The court can also look at three years of income rather than one.
If a parent is intentionally under-employed, the court can impute income, which means it can treat the parent as earning more than they actually do. The parties can agree in writing on an income figure, but the court accepts that agreement only if it finds the amount reasonable.
Situations that change the table amount
The table amount is the presumptive starting point, but the Guidelines set out several exceptions. These are the main ones:
| Situation | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Special or extraordinary expenses | Costs such as child care, medical and dental premiums, health costs over $100 a year, and education or extracurricular costs can be added, generally shared in proportion to income. |
| Income over $150,000 | The court may use the table amount for the first $150,000 plus a percentage of the excess, or a different amount it considers appropriate if the table result is inappropriate. |
| Child at or over the age of majority | The amount is the table amount as if the child were a minor or, if that is inappropriate, an amount based on the child's circumstances and each spouse's ability to contribute. |
| Split parenting | Where each spouse has the majority of parenting time with at least one child, the order is the difference between the amounts each would pay. |
| Shared parenting | If each spouse has a child at least 40% of the time over a year, the court considers both table amounts, the increased costs of shared arrangements and each spouse's circumstances, not just the table amount. |
| Undue hardship | A court may depart from the standard amount if a spouse or child would suffer undue hardship, but the claim fails if the claimant's household would have a higher standard of living than the other's. |
Parenting time and child support are linked
How much time the child spends with each parent can affect support. The 40% threshold for shared parenting is measured over a year. Parenting time itself is decided by what is in the child's best interests, and the Divorce Act does not presume equal time.
Parenting rules are not only in the Divorce Act. Prince Edward Island's Children's Law Act also covers parenting for unmarried and separated parents. Because child support and parenting time affect each other, it helps to think about both together.
What to do next
Before you reach for a number, get your information together. Justice Canada advises agreeing on child support, parenting arrangements, spousal support and property before applying, because unresolved issues lead to a longer and costlier court process.
- Find the paying parent's recent tax returns, especially the Total income line, for up to three years.
- Write down the number of children and where each child spends their time over a year.
- List costs that might be special or extraordinary expenses, such as child care, medical or dental premiums, and extracurricular activities.
- Use the official Federal Guidelines table or the Justice Canada look-up for an estimate, and remember it is only an estimate.
- Speak with a lawyer if income is high, parenting time is close to equal, or income is disputed.
Frequently asked questions
Is child support a set amount in Prince Edward Island?
Usually it starts from a set table amount based on the paying parent's income and the number of children. The table is the one for the province where the paying parent lives. Special expenses and the exceptions in the Guidelines can change the final figure.
Can I just use an online calculator?
An online look-up can give you an estimate if you enter the payer's income, the number of children and the province, but it is not the official source. Only the tables in the Federal Guidelines are official. A lawyer can confirm the correct figure for your situation.
Does shared parenting reduce child support?
It can. If each parent has a child at least 40% of the time over a year, the court looks at both parents' table amounts, the higher costs of shared arrangements and each parent's circumstances rather than only the table amount. The result depends on the facts.
What if the paying parent earns a very high income?
For income over $150,000, the court may use the table amount for the first $150,000 plus a percentage of the excess, or a different amount it considers appropriate if the table result is inappropriate. This is an area where legal advice is especially useful.
Sources
- Justice Canada – How to Apply for a Divorce — justice.gc.ca
- Divorce Act, s. 16 (Justice Laws) — Justice Laws (federal)
- Children's Law Act (PEI) — princeedwardisland.ca
- Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175 — Justice Laws (federal)
- Justice Canada – Federal Child Support Guidelines Step 6 — justice.gc.ca
- Justice Canada – 2025 child support table look-up — justice.gc.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
This is a family law question
Ask our Team for a quote. We reply by email.