In British Columbia, child support is calculated primarily using the Federal Child Support Guidelines, a set of tables that determine a base monthly payment based on the paying parent’s gross annual income and the number of children. For most families, calculating base child support in BC is straightforward: find the payor’s province of residence, their income, and the number of children in the guidelines table, and the base amount is set. Beyond the base amount, BC also requires parents to share certain special and extraordinary expenses, such as childcare, medical costs, and extracurricular activities, in proportion to their respective incomes.
What Law Governs Child Support in BC?
Child support in BC is governed by two overlapping laws, depending on whether the parents were married or common-law, and whether a divorce is involved:
- Federal Child Support Guidelines — apply to married parents going through divorce under the Divorce Act.
- BC Child Support Guidelines — apply to common-law parents and unmarried couples separating under the BC Family Law Act.
How Is Base Child Support Calculated in BC?
Step 1 — Determine the Paying Parent’s Annual Gross Income
The starting point for child support calculation is the paying parent’s gross annual income, typically from Line 15000 of their most recent federal tax return (formerly Line 150). This includes:
- Employment income.
- Self-employment income (with adjustments for business expenses).
- Rental income.
- Investment income.
- Corporate income is attributed to a payor who owns or controls a corporation.
- EI, CPP, disability payments, and other benefits.
Income is not always as straightforward as a T4 slip. Business owners, incorporated professionals, and self-employed parents often require additional analysis to determine their true income for support purposes.
Step 2 — Look Up the Guideline Table Amount
Once income is determined, the base child support amount is found in the Federal Child Support Guidelines tables for British Columbia. These tables are updated periodically and are available on the Government of Canada website.
The table amount depends on:
- The payor parent’s province of residence (BC tables apply if the payor lives in BC).
- The payor’s gross annual income.
- The number of children entitled to support.
Example: A BC-resident paying parent with a gross annual income of $80,000 and two children would pay a base child support amount of approximately $1,283 per month (based on 2024 BC Guidelines tables). This amount changes annually as tables are updated.
Step 3 — Apply Any Parenting Time Adjustments
The standard table amount applies when the paying parent has the children less than 40% of the time.
When parents have shared custody, meaning each parent has the children at least 40% of the time, the calculation changes. In a shared parenting arrangement, BC courts look at the table amounts for both parents and may offset them, adjust based on the actual increased costs each parent bears, and consider the overall financial circumstances of each household.
What Are Section 7 Special and Extraordinary Expenses?
Beyond the base table amount, parents in BC are also required to share certain additional expenses under Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines. These are split between parents in proportion to their respective incomes, not necessarily 50/50.
Section 7 expenses include:
- Childcare costs — daycare, after-school care, and summer camp costs incurred because a parent is working, studying, or unable to care for the child.
- Medical and dental insurance premiums — the portion attributable to the child.
- Health-related expenses not covered by insurance — prescription medications, orthodontics, therapy, glasses, and similar costs over $100 per year.
- Post-secondary education expenses — tuition, books, and reasonable living costs for children in post-secondary education.
- Extracurricular activities — where they are extraordinary, given the family’s historical spending patterns and financial circumstances.
- Primary or secondary school fees — for private or special programs.
Section 7 expenses must be disclosed, documented, and agreed upon or ordered by a court. They are not automatic — a parent must claim them.
At Booth Legal, Alexandra Booth helps families across Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Richmond understand what Section 7 expenses apply to their situation and ensure full financial disclosure from both sides.
What Happens When a Parent Has a Very High or Very Low Income?
High-Income Payors (Over $150,000 Per Year)
For payors earning over $150,000 annually, the guidelines tables provide an amount for the first $150,000, but the court has discretion to determine the appropriate amount above that threshold. The court considers the table amount, the children’s actual needs, and the children’s historical standard of living.
High-income child support calculations in BC often require legal expertise, particularly when income includes corporate distributions, dividends, capital gains, or bonuses.
Low-Income Payors
If a paying parent has a very low income, a court may reduce or defer child support below the guideline amount, but only in exceptional circumstances. Child support is not waived simply because a parent is unemployed. Courts expect payors to make reasonable efforts to earn income.
If a payor is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, for example, by working fewer hours to avoid support obligations, a court can impute income at the level they are capable of earning.
Can Child Support Be Changed in BC?
Yes. Child support in BC is not permanently fixed. It can be changed when there is a material change in circumstances, including:
- A significant increase or decrease in either parent’s income.
- A change in the number of children entitled to support.
- A change in parenting time arrangements that crosses the 40% threshold.
- A child finishing school or becoming financially independent.
- A payor losing their job or changing careers.
If you need to formally change a child support order, you will need to apply to the court that made the original order. Alexandra Booth at Booth Legal helps Vancouver and North Vancouver parents navigate variation applications efficiently. See: Child Support Lawyer Vancouver
What If a Parent Refuses to Pay Child Support in BC?
Non-payment of child support in BC is taken seriously. The BC Family Maintenance Agency (BCFMA) enforces support orders by:
- Garnishing wages directly from an employer
- Intercepting federal tax refunds and GST/HST credits
- Suspending a payor’s driver’s licence
- Placing liens on property
Read more: What Happens If You Don’t Pay Child Support in BC
How Does Child Support Work for Common-Law Parents in BC?
Child support obligations are the same for common-law parents as for married parents. The Federal Child Support Guidelines apply in the same way. The fact that parents were never married has no bearing on a child’s right to support from both parents.
If you are a common-law parent separating in BC, see: Common-Law Lawyer Vancouver for information on your rights and obligations.
City-Specific Notes — Child Support in Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Richmond
Child support orders in the Lower Mainland are enforced and varied through the BC Supreme Court and BC Provincial Court registries serving Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Richmond. The BC Family Maintenance Agency operates throughout BC, including all Lower Mainland communities.
Families in North Vancouver and Richmond can access child support legal services through Booth Legal’s North Vancouver office and Richmond family law services.
Get Help With Child Support in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland
Child support calculations seem straightforward on paper, but income complexity, shared custody arrangements, and Section 7 expenses make many cases anything but simple.
Booth Legal helps families across Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond, and the Lower Mainland understand their child support rights and obligations, and negotiate or litigate when disclosure is incomplete or the figures don’t add up.
Book a Free 30-Minute Consultation with Alexandra Booth →
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support in BC
Does child support stop at age 18 in BC?
Not automatically. In BC, child support can continue beyond age 18 if a child is still financially dependent — for example, because they are in post-secondary education or have a disability that prevents them from becoming self-sufficient.
Do I still pay child support if I have 50/50 custody?
Possibly. A 50/50 parenting arrangement triggers a different calculation under Section 9 of the guidelines, but does not automatically eliminate child support. The court considers both parents’ incomes, the increased costs of shared parenting, and the actual expenses of the children.
What if my ex refuses to disclose their income?
Financial disclosure is mandatory in BC family law proceedings. If a parent refuses to disclose income, a court can impute income based on available evidence, order disclosure, and may award costs against the non-disclosing party.
Can we agree on a different child support amount?
You can agree to vary child support from the guideline amount in a separation agreement, but courts will not approve agreements that leave children without adequate support. Agreements that fall below the guideline amount are closely scrutinized.
