Question 1

How is child support calculated in Ontario?

Accepted Answer

Ontario uses the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The basic monthly amount comes from a table set by Ottawa, indexed to the paying parent's gross annual income and the number of children. On top of that table amount, the parents share special expenses — childcare, post-secondary tuition, big extracurriculars, and health and dental costs over $100 a year not covered by insurance — in proportion to their incomes. The calculator handles both.

Question 2

What is the spousal support range in Ontario?

Accepted Answer

Ontario follows the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines — the framework lawyers and judges use when there is a spousal support claim. The Guidelines produce a range (a low, middle, and high amount, plus how long support lasts) rather than a single number. Where a case lands inside that range depends on incomes, the length of the relationship, ages, whether children are involved, and whether there is room in the budget. The calculator shows all three.

Question 3

Where do these numbers come from?

Accepted Answer

Child support uses Ontario's official tables published under the Federal Child Support Guidelines. Spousal support follows the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines that family lawyers and Ontario judges work from in practice. The tax math uses current federal and Ontario rates, plus Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions and Employment Insurance (EI) on insurable earnings.

Question 4

Is this calculator free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The calculator is free, with no signup required. You can run it as many times as you want and email yourself a PDF report of any scenario. There is also a free Cairn account — no credit card — for men who want to keep their numbers alongside the rest of their separation plan.

Question 5

Why is the spousal support a range?

Accepted Answer

Because it actually is. The Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines give a low, middle, and high number, and where you land inside that range depends on the details of your situation. The calculator shows all three so a single number does not pretend there is more certainty than there is.

Question 6

What if our kids spend equal time at both homes?

Accepted Answer

Once each parent has the kids at least 40% of the time, the child support math runs on different rules — it is not just the paying parent's table amount anymore. We are building the calculator for that case. For now this calculator handles the most common situation where the kids live mostly with one parent.

Question 7

Why ask for our ages?

Accepted Answer

Spousal support can last longer when one of you is older at separation. Under the Spousal Support Advisory Guidelines, if the length of the relationship plus the recipient's age adds up to 65 or more (with at least five years together), support can run open-ended rather than for a set number of years. We need both ages to compute the realistic range.

Question 8

Can I reduce the tax taken off my paycheque if I'm paying spousal support?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Canada Revenue Agency form T1213 asks your employer to take less tax off each paycheque to reflect the spousal support you are paying. Without it, the support deduction comes back as a refund at the end of the year. With it, the cash stays in your paycheque all year. The calculator shows both numbers side by side when you are the spousal-support payor.

Support, in the only number that matters: what hits your account.

Your income, and your spouse's

Your kids and how time is shared

Time together, and ages

The questions men ask about Ontario support.

Run a site about separation in Ontario?

Save this to a free Cairn account.