What if we don’t agree on the amount of child support?
If you cannot come to an agreement on your own you may still be able to reach an agreement with the help of a mediator or lawyer. Resolving issues by agreement gives parents complete control over both the process and the agreement they will make. For more detailed information visit Family Law Saskatchewan’s Resolving Disputes website pages.
If you have to go to court
It is a lot less stressful if parents can work out a child support agreement on their own, but that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes court is the only option left available to ensure that children get the financial support they need when their parents separate.
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Note: Every person commencing a family law proceeding involving child support, custody or access is required to attend parent education programming. More information is available here. |
The paying parent must provide proof of their present income, together with their recent income tax returns, and other financial documents that may be important. In most cases, such as when the parents are paying for special or extraordinary expenses, or when the parenting arrangement is shared, the receiving parent will also be required to provide financial documents.
The judge will make a child support order based on the Child Support Guidelines. The judge will make a decision about how much child support should be paid, who should pay it, and how often. Parents have to obey court orders.
Detailed information about child support and a step-by-step guide to court applications in Saskatchewan is available at the Family Law website.
What if a parent doesn’t pay child support?
The Maintenance Enforcement Office (MEO) is a service established by the provincial government to help parents receive their child support payments. “Maintenance” is another term used to describe support.
If you register with the service, staff at MEO will monitor your child support order and enforce it if payments are late or unpaid. MEO staff will contact the non-paying parent and arrange for payment to be made. There is no cost to enroll and there is no time limit when a parent can file their child support agreement or order.
When necessary, MEO has a variety of means to enforce support agreements and orders including the power to takewages or other income, such as EI benefits and income tax refunds.