Surrey Child Support Lawyers
Helping Surrey parents navigate BC child support with clear, practical guidance
Every child deserves financial support from both parents. At Legalbird, our Surrey family lawyers help parents understand and fulfill their child support obligations under British Columbia law. We make complex legal matters simple, offering consultations in Punjabi, French, and Gujarati alongside English.
Child support isn’t optional or negotiable – it’s your child’s legal right. Whether you’re receiving support, paying it, or need to modify existing arrangements, Benti Atwal and our family law team work to ensure fair outcomes that prioritize children’s needs.
How Much Child Support Will I Pay or Receive?
British Columbia uses the Federal Child Support Guidelines to calculate basic support amounts. These guidelines create consistency across cases while ensuring children receive adequate financial support. The calculation primarily depends on the paying parent’s gross annual income and the number of children.
The guidelines include detailed tables showing exact monthly amounts.
For example, a parent earning $60,000 annually with two children typically pays $865 monthly. These amounts increase with income and number of children. Self-employed parents face additional scrutiny as courts examine business expenses and potential income manipulation.
Shared parenting arrangements affect calculations differently. When children spend at least 40% of time with each parent, both incomes factor into support calculations. The higher-earning parent usually pays the difference between what each would owe. Split parenting, where siblings live with different parents, creates separate calculations for each child with amounts offset against each other.
What Are Section 7 Extraordinary Expenses in BC?
Beyond basic support, parents share extraordinary expenses under Section 7 of the Guidelines. These special expenses go beyond normal child-rearing costs and require separate consideration and calculation.
Common Section 7 expenses include:
- Childcare costs for work or education
- Medical and dental insurance premiums
- Health-related expenses exceeding $100 yearly
- Extraordinary educational expenses
- Post-secondary education costs
- Extraordinary extracurricular activities
Not all activities qualify as extraordinary. Regular sports or music lessons might be covered by basic support unless costs are unusually high or the child shows exceptional talent requiring specialized training. Courts consider your family’s spending patterns during the relationship when determining what’s extraordinary.
Parents share Section 7 expenses proportionally based on income after considering subsidies, tax benefits, and insurance coverage. If one parent earns $70,000 and the other $30,000, they might split expenses 70-30. Both parents must consent to extraordinary expenses before incurring them, except for necessary medical treatments.
Need Assistance With Child Support Obligations?
When Does Child Support End in BC?
Child support doesn’t automatically end at age 19 in British Columbia. Support continues while children remain dependent, which includes full-time education, illness, disability, or other dependency reasons.
For children attending post-secondary education, support typically continues through their first degree or diploma. Parents share tuition, books, and living expenses based on income ratios. However, children must demonstrate reasonable progress and genuine educational efforts. Gap years or extended programs may affect support obligations.
Adult children with disabilities may receive indefinite support. Courts assess whether disabilities existed before age 19 and prevent self-sufficiency. Mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, or chronic illnesses can extend support well into adulthood.
Children who marry, leave school voluntarily, or become self-sufficient typically lose support eligibility. However, temporary employment during school breaks doesn’t end support. Courts examine the child’s overall circumstances and genuine efforts toward independence.
How Do I Change Existing Child Support Orders in BC?
Material changes in circumstances allow child support modifications. Income changes exceeding 15% often justify recalculation. Job loss, promotion, career changes, or retirement can trigger review. However, voluntary income reduction rarely succeeds unless reasonable, such as returning to school or accepting lower-paying but stable employment.
Changes in parenting time affect support obligations. Moving from sole custody to shared parenting dramatically alters calculations. Document all parenting time carefully, as courts require proof of actual time spent, not just agreement terms.
Children’s changing needs also justify modifications. New medical conditions, educational requirements, or extracurricular opportunities may warrant increased support or Section 7 contributions. The process requires formal application unless both parents agree. Even with agreement, filing consent orders protects both parties and ensures enforceability.
Helping You Meet Your Child Support Obligations
What If Child Support Payments Aren't Being Made?
Missing child support payments can create immediate financial hardship for your children. British Columbia offers strong enforcement tools through the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP), a free government service that collects support on your behalf.
FMEP’s enforcement powers include:
- Garnishing wages directly from employers
- Intercepting tax refunds and GST credits
- Seizing funds from bank accounts
- Placing liens on property and assets
- Suspending driver’s licenses and passports
- Reporting to credit bureaus
Registration with FMEP is straightforward and costs nothing. Once enrolled, they handle all collection efforts, removing stress from difficult situations. The program works even when the paying parent is self-employed, though these cases require additional documentation and patience.
For payments missed before FMEP registration, you may need separate court applications to recover arrears. Interest accumulates on unpaid support at approximately 4% annually. These debts don’t disappear through bankruptcy and can be collected years later.
Protect Your Child’s Future with Support Reflecting Their Needs
Child support ensures your children maintain appropriate living standards regardless of parental separation. Complex calculations and changing circumstances demand professional guidance to protect everyone’s interests. At Legalbird, Benti Atwal combines strong negotiation skills with litigation experience to achieve optimal outcomes.
Our Surrey family law team understands the cultural and financial pressures facing local families. We offer trauma-informed services recognizing that separation affects entire families, not just parents. Whether through negotiation, mediation, or court proceedings, we advocate effectively for fair support arrangements.
Contact Legalbird today for your free 30-minute case evaluation. We’ll calculate appropriate support amounts, explain your rights and obligations, and develop strategies for your unique situation.
Book online or call our Surrey office to start securing your children’s financial stability.
