BC Child Support

Child support is an important issue for parents in British Columbia. It is a payment made by one parent to the other to help cover the costs of raising their children. Child support is a legal obligation and is regulated by the British Columbia Family Law Act and the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The two Acts outline the guidelines for calculating child support and set out the rights and responsibilities of both parents and step-parents.

Calculating Child Support

The amount of child support that is paid is determined by the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The Guidelines take into account the income of both parents, the number of children, and the amount of time each parent spends with the children. The payment of child support is based on not just what a parent does earn, but the potential earning capacity of the parent. The guidelines are designed to ensure that the children receive a fair and consistent level of support.

Parents can agree on the amount of child support that is to be paid, but if they cannot agree, they can ask the court to make a decision. The court will use the Guidelines to determine the amount of child support that should be paid.

Special and Extraordinary Expenses

In addition to regular child support payments, parents may also be required to contribute to special or extraordinary expenses. These are expenses that are over and above the normal cost of raising children, such as medical expenses, educational expenses, or extracurricular activities. These expenses are usually shared in proportion to the parties respective incomes.

Special expenses are expenses that are related to the children’s health and well-being and are deemed necessary for their proper care. Examples of special expenses include medical and dental expenses, therapy, and specialized equipment or services.

Extraordinary expenses are expenses that are unusual in nature and not a normal part of raising children. Examples of extraordinary expenses include private school tuition, summer camp, and extracurricular activities such as music lessons or sports teams.