Child support is a responsibility and obligation that was legislated to help ensure children receive financial support after their parents separate or divorce. Whether you are the payor or recipient parent, understanding child support laws in Saskatchewan is important for prioritizing the best interests of your child and making informed decisions.
At Panko Collaborative Law, our child support lawyers in Saskatchewan provide guidance to help parents navigate legal responsibilities and obligations, calculations, and enforcement measures with clarity and confidence.
Child Support Laws in Saskatchewan: What You Need to Know
In Saskatchewan and in other provinces and territories, child support is governed by federal and provincial legislation. These laws outline:
Who pays child support – The parent with less parenting time is often the payor of child support payments.
Who receives child support – The parent who has more parenting time is often the recipient of child support payments.
How payments are determined – Payment amounts are based on each parent’s income, how parenting time is shared, how many children there are, as well as other factors. You can use an online calculator like mysupportcalculator.ca to help you estimate what child support amount may be appropriate in your situation. You may want to consult with a lawyer to help you better understand all the factors that contribute to determining child support payment amounts.
When support obligations end – Child support usually continues until the child turns 18, but it may extend if the child is still in school or has special needs. There may be other factors as to why child support payments continue past the age of 18. Discussing with a lawyer how long obligations will continue may be helpful.
If you have questions about your child support obligations, a child support lawyer in Saskatchewan at our firm can help you navigate the specifics of your situation and provide you with the legal information you need.
How is Child Support Calculated?
Child support payment amounts in Saskatchewan typically follow the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The amount is based on several factors that are helpful to know:
1. The Paying Parent’s Income
One of the primary factors in calculating child support is the income of both parents. This is typically verified using tax returns, pay stubs, or other financial documentation.
2. The Number of Children
Another determining factor is the number of children. If the people who are separating or divorcing have multiple children, the child support payment amount will be higher than for families who have fewer children.
3. Parenting Time Arrangements
Sole Parenting: If one parent has the majority of the parenting time, the other parent will likely be required to pay child support.
Shared Parenting: If the parents have a close to equal parenting arrangement, there may be child support owing to one parent depending on the financial circumstances of both parents.
Split Parenting: In a split parenting arrangement where there are two or more children, each parent has the majority of the parenting time with at least one child. In this type of situation there may be child support obligations following both ways depending on the specifics of the parenting arrangement and the financial circumstances of the family in two homes.
4. Special or Extraordinary Expenses (Section 7 Expenses)
Beyond basic support, parents may also need to share additional expenses such as:
✔ Medical or dental costs not covered by insurance,
✔ Extracurricular activities (sports, music lessons, etc.),
✔ Post-secondary education expenses, and;
✔ Daycare or childcare costs.
The sharing of these costs is usually equal and proportionate to each parent’s earnings, however, sometimes creative agreements are made to meet the unique needs of the children.
Tools & Resources for Managing Child Support
Managing child support effectively requires clear documentation and communication between co-parents. Here are some tools that can help you:
✔ MySupportCalculator.ca – An online tool that provides an estimate of child support payments based on income and parenting time.
✔ Child Support Service – This administrative calculation or recalculation service helps families ensure a fair level of support for their children without the need to go to court.
✔ OurFamilyWizard – A co-parenting app that helps parents track expenses, maintain records of payments, and communicate effectively about child-related costs.
✔ The Maintenance Enforcement Office (MEO) – Whether you are the recipient or payor, you may register your child support order or agreement. Registration helps to ensure that parents do not have to deal directly with one another about support payments. MEO can also enforce missed or late payments and keeps track of all payments that are made.
Using these tools can help you stay organized, avoid disputes, and ensure financial stability for your children.
What Happens If Child Support Payments Are Missed?
If a child support order or agreement is registered with the Maintenance Enforcement Office (MEO) and a parent fails to pay, MEO may take the following actions:
- Garnishment – of money from the payor’s wages, other income or bank accounts; garnishing can also be on payments that the payor may receive from the federal government, such as Employment Insurance, Canada Pension, Old Age Security, grain advances, Revenue Canada refunds, or GST rebates;
- Enforcement Against a Corporation – the order or agreement can be enforced against a corporation that is owned either solely by the payor or by the payor and related family members;
- Report to a Credit Bureau – MEO may report unpaid child support to a credit bureau;
- Property Seizure – MEO may seize and sell the payor’s personal property, such as a vehicle;
- Lien Against Property – a lien may be put on real estate that the payor owns to prevent the payor from selling, remortgaging or leasing it without making payment arrangements with the MEO first;
- Pension Contributions – if a payor has made pension contributions, MEO may attach outstanding child support payments;
- Suspension of Licenses – the payor’s driver’s licence, passport, or hunting or angling licence may be suspended if payments are not made; or
- Court Appearance Requirement – the payor to appear in court to explain why payments have not been made. The judge presiding over the hearing may make an order to put the payor in jail for up to 90 days for contempt of the support order or agreement.
If you are struggling to meet your child support obligations or need to modify an existing order, consulting a child support lawyer in Saskatchewan can help you explore your legal options. Our team is always here to help.
Why Legal Guidance is Helpful for Child Support Matters
Child support can be a complex and difficult issue. Whether you’re seeking to establish, enforce, or modify a child support agreement or order, legal advice can help ensure your child’s best interest remains the top priority.
At Panko Collaborative Law, our experienced child support lawyers in Saskatchewan work with parents to:
✔ Understand legal rights, responsibilities, and obligations,
✔ Ensure child support calculations are accurate,
✔ Navigate enforcement or changes, and;
✔ Resolve disputes through mediation or Collaborative Law and avoiding unnecessary court proceedings.
Need guidance on child support?
Call us at (306) 975-7151 or email us to learn how we can support your family.
Additional Resources
The Family Maintenance Act,1997, SS 1997, c F-6.2
Federal Child Support Guidelines | Government of Canada