Nova Scotia Child Support Laws 2026
Table of Contents
Overview of Child Support in Nova Scotia
In Nova Scotia, child support is the right of the child. Both parents have a legal obligation to contribute financially to their child’s upbringing, regardless of whether they were married, living common-law, or have never lived together. The Parenting and Support Act governs provincial matters, while the federal Divorce Act applies to married couples seeking divorce.
Federal vs. Provincial Guidelines
Understanding which guidelines apply to your situation is the first step.
- Federal Child Support Guidelines: These apply if you are divorced or in the process of divorcing.
- Nova Scotia Provincial Child Support Guidelines: These apply if you were never married, are separated but not divorcing, or are in a common-law relationship.
Fortunately, the Nova Scotia provincial guidelines largely mirror the federal ones. Both use the same income calculations and rely on the Federal Child Support Tables for Nova Scotia to determine the base amount.
How to Calculate Child Support
The calculation generally follows three main steps.
1. Determine Annual Income
The paying parent’s annual income is usually determined by Line 15000 (formerly Line 150) of their most recent Income Tax Return or Notice of Assessment. If income varies significantly, an average of the last three years may be used.
2. Find the Table Amount
Using the 2026 Federal Child Support Tables for Nova Scotia, look up the paying parent’s income and the number of children requiring support. This provides the “base” monthly amount. This amount is mandatory and covers basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing.
3. Adjust for Parenting Time
- Primary Care: If the child lives with one parent more than 60% of the time, the other parent pays the full table amount.
- Shared Parenting: If each parent cares for the child at least 40% of the time, support is calculated by taking the table amount each parent would pay the other, and finding the difference (offset method).
- Split Parenting: If there are multiple children and each parent has primary care of at least one child, you calculate what each would pay for the child(ren) in the other’s care and offset the amounts.
Special or Extraordinary Expenses (Section 7)
On top of the base table amount, parents may have to share “Section 7” expenses. These are costs that are necessary and reasonable given the family’s means. They typically include:
- Child care expenses incurred to allow a parent to work or study.
- Medical and dental insurance premiums for the child.
- Health-related expenses not covered by insurance (e.g., orthodontics, counseling).
- Extraordinary expenses for primary or secondary education.
- Post-secondary education expenses.
- Extraordinary expenses for extracurricular activities.
These expenses are usually shared in proportion to the parents’ incomes, after deducting any subsidies or tax benefits.
Enforcement of Support
In Nova Scotia, the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) helps collect court-ordered support payments. Once enrolled, the MEP enforces the order by collecting payments from the payor and sending them to the recipient. They have strong powers to enforce payment, including garnishing wages, seizing bank accounts, and suspending driver’s licenses.
Changing a Support Order
Life circumstances change. If there is a “material change in circumstances,” you can apply to change (vary) a child support order. Examples include:
- A significant increase or decrease in the payor’s income.
- A change in the child’s living arrangements.
- The child finishing school or becoming independent.
Under the Administrative Recalculation Program, some orders can be updated annually based on income tax returns without going back to court.
Frequently Asked Questions