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| INFORMATION SOURCES AT A GLANCE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Call 1-888-373-2222 Answers to questions about the Guidelines and how they work, as well as publications. http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca REVENUE CANADA Call 1-800-959-8281 (english ) Call 1-800-959-7381 ( french ) Answers to income tax questions. ONTARIO GOVERNMENT Call 1-800-980-4962 General information about the court process and the federal Guidelines. http://www.gov.on.ca/ATG/english /maghome.html. COURT STAFF Check the blue pages of your tele- phone directory, or call Ontario's toll free line at 1-800-980-4962. Information about the court process and local services. |
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Federal Child Support Guidelines WHAT ONTARIANS NEED TO KNOW |
| DO THE GUIDELINES APPLY TO YOU: If I have a child support order or agreement that was made prior to May 1, 1997, do I have to do anything ? If you are satisfied with your current arrangements and your court order or agreement was made before the federal law changed on May 1, 1997, you don't have to do anything. These changes do not affect your child support arrangements unless one or both parents ask the court for a new child support order on or after May 1, 1997. How do I know which law my support order was made under - federal or provincial ? Look at your child support order. It should say whether it is an order under the Divorce Act or an order under the Family Law Act. The Ontario Court (Provincial Division) cannot make an order under the Divorce Act, so if your order is from that court, your situation is not covered by the federal Guidelines. OUT -OF-COURT AGREEMENTS: What if I negotiate a child support agreement out-of-court ? You are not bound to the Guidelines if you negotiate a settlement for child support out-of-court. However, you may want to use the Guidelines to help you dtermine the amount of child support. If you want to change your agreement later, the court must look at the Guidelines. What if I already have a child support agreement that was negotiated out-of-court ? If you and the other parent have an existing agreement and want to make changes to the amount of child support being paid,you do not have to go to court, as long as the both of you can agree on the new amount. If you or the other parent can't agree, then either one may apply to the court and request that the new amount be ordered under the federal divorce law, so the Guidelines will apply. TAX CHANGES : How do the tax changes for child support work ? The federal government has changed the income tax rules as they apply to child support orders or agreements made on or after May 1, 1997. The parent who receives child support will not pay income tax on the child support payments. The parent who pays child support will not be able to deduct those payments for income tax purposes. Do federal income tax changes affect child support orders or agreements under the provincial Family Law Act ? If those orders or agreements are made after May 1, 1997, the answer is yes - the income tax changes apply. |
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| Alternative Legal Services offers a free consultation to those in Barrie and surrounding areas. |