- The basic child support amount comes from a table, and section 7 special or extraordinary expenses can be added on top of it.
- Child care, certain health costs, and education or extracurricular costs are examples of expenses that can be added.
- Section 7 expenses are generally shared in proportion to income.
Child support is not always the end of the costs. Daycare, dental work, tutoring or hockey registration can add up quickly, and many parents wonder whether the table amount already covers them.
This article explains in plain terms how section 7 special or extraordinary expenses fit into child support in Prince Edward Island, what kinds of costs can be added, and how the sharing is generally worked out. Your own situation may differ, so a lawyer can confirm how the rules apply to you.
This article covers the law of Prince Edward Island.
Where section 7 expenses fit
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, plus any special or extraordinary expenses under section 7. So these expenses are separate from the table amount and are added to it.
The table used is the one for the province or territory where the paying parent lives, matched to the payer's income and the number of children. Only the tables in the Federal Guidelines are official. Simplified tables and online look-up tools are estimation tools only.
What can count as a special or extraordinary expense
Section 7 expenses that can be added include child care, medical and dental premiums, health costs over $100 a year, and education or extracurricular costs. Whether a particular cost qualifies, and how much of it, depends on the facts, so it is worth getting advice on borderline items.
- Child care, such as daycare or after-school care.
- Medical and dental insurance premiums.
- Health-related costs over $100 a year.
- Education costs.
- Extracurricular costs, such as sports or lessons.
How the cost is shared
Section 7 expenses are generally shared in proportion to income. A parent who earns more is generally expected to cover a larger share than a parent who earns less.
Income is generally taken from the Total income line of the T1 General tax return, adjusted under Schedule III. The court can look at three years of income, and it can impute income, for example where someone is intentionally under-employed. If you and the other parent agree in writing on income, the court accepts that figure only if it finds the amount reasonable.
Situations that can change the picture
Other parts of the Guidelines can affect how support and expenses work together. They are exceptions to the usual approach.
| Situation | What can happen |
|---|---|
| Split parenting | Each spouse has the majority of parenting time with at least one child, and 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, increased costs of shared arrangements and each spouse's circumstances. |
| Income over $150,000 | The court may use the table amount for the first $150,000 plus a percentage of the excess, or another amount it considers appropriate. |
| Child at or over the age of majority | The amount may be the table amount, or an amount based on the child's circumstances and each spouse's ability to contribute. |
| Undue hardship | A court may depart from the standard amount, but the claim fails if the claimant's household would have a higher standard of living than the other's. |
What to do next
Justice Canada advises agreeing on child support, parenting arrangements, spousal support and property before applying, because unresolved issues lead to a longer, costlier court process. Settling how section 7 costs will be shared is part of that.
- List the recurring costs for your children, such as child care, premiums, health costs and activities.
- Gather receipts and invoices so you can show what each cost.
- Collect your recent T1 General returns and those of the other parent, if you have them.
- Check the official tables or the Justice Canada look-up for the table amount, keeping in mind that look-ups are estimates.
- Talk to a lawyer about whether a cost qualifies and how to write the sharing into an agreement or order.
Frequently asked questions
Is daycare included in the regular child support amount?
The table amount is separate from section 7 expenses, which are added to it. Child care is one of the costs that can be added. How it applies to you depends on your facts.
How are special expenses split between parents?
They are generally shared in proportion to income. Income is generally taken from the Total income line of the T1 General, adjusted under Schedule III.
Do all medical costs count?
Medical and dental premiums can be added, as can health costs over $100 a year. Smaller costs may not qualify, so confirm with a lawyer.
Can the other parent just agree on our incomes?
You can agree in writing, but the court accepts the agreed income only if it finds the amount reasonable. The court can also impute income, for example for intentional under-employment.
Sources
- Justice Canada – How to Apply for a Divorce — justice.gc.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.
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