How Much Child Support Will I Pay in Nova Scotia?

You have just separated and you want a number. How much will leave your account each month, and what is it based on? It is a fair question, and the honest answer starts with how the system works rather than with a single dollar figure.

In Nova Scotia, child support follows the federal Child Support Guidelines and the provprovince's own matching Guidelines. This article explains the steps that produce the amount, what income counts, what extras can be added, and when the usual approach changes. It does not quote dollar amounts, because the table changes over time and should be checked at the source.

This article covers the law of Nova Scotia.

The basic rule: a table amount plus extras

For a child under the age of majority, the child support amount is the table amount for the payor's province, plus any section 7 amount. The payor is the parent who pays support. Nova Scotia's Provincial Child Support Guidelines adopt Schedule I of the federal Guidelines, and they use the table of the province where the payor ordinarily lives.

That last point matters if the two parents live in different provinces. The table that applies follows the payor, not the parent receiving support.

How your income is worked out

Table support is based on the payor's annual income. Income is determined under sections 15 to 20 of the federal Guidelines, starting from the 'Total income' figure on the T1 General tax return. The court may look at income over the last three years. It may also impute income, meaning it may treat a parent as earning an amount it considers appropriate, even if that is not what the parent actually reports.

In practice, this means a recent tax return and notice of assessment are the starting point. If your income changes a lot from year to year, or if you recently lost or left a job, the number is less simple, and a lawyer can help you understand how it may be viewed.

Once you know the payor's income, you look up the amount in the current Nova Scotia table. Check the current Schedule I table before relying on any figure, since it is amended from time to time.

Extras on top of the table amount

Section 7 of the Guidelines lets the court, on request, add amounts for specific costs. They are:

• Child care costs.
• The child's share of medical and dental insurance premiums.
• Health-related costs above insurance of $100 or more a year.
• Extraordinary primary or secondary school costs.
• Post-secondary education.
• Extraordinary extracurricular activities.

These expenses are shared by the parents in proportion to their incomes, after deducting any contribution from the child. The court must also take into account any subsidies, benefits, or tax deductions or credits relating to the expense. So the real cost to you of, say, daycare may be lower than the sticker price.

When the usual approach changes

The table amount is the starting point for most families, but there are recognized exceptions. A few of the main ones are below.

What to do next

Before you estimate anything, gather what the figure depends on. A lawyer can confirm how the current table and the exceptions apply to you.

• Your last three years of T1 General returns and notices of assessment.
• Recent pay stubs or business income records.
• A written list of child care, medical, school and activity costs that might fall under section 7.
• A rough record of how many nights each parent has the children across a year.
• Details of any debts, or other children you support, that you think affect your finances.

Then look up the current Nova Scotia table for the payor's income. If you and the other parent can agree on a number, it is worth having a lawyer check it before you sign, so you know how it compares with the table amount plus any section 7 amount.

Frequently asked questions