Child Support in Quebec: How the Amount Is Set, Collected and Changed

In Quebec, "pension alimentaire" is the term for support payments: money one person pays to help another meet their needs. Most often it is child support after a separation, but it can also be spousal support owed to a former spouse. Child support is not a number parents pick out of the air: it is calculated with Quebec's own model, which looks at both parents' incomes and parenting time, and it is generally collected by Revenu Québec.

Child support vs spousal support in Quebec

The Civil Code sets out two separate obligations. Child support is owed by both parents, whether they were married, in a civil union or living together as de facto spouses. It belongs to the child, not to the parent who receives it, which is why a judge reviews the amount even when the parents say they have already agreed.

Spousal support concerns the adults. It turns on different factors — one person's needs, the other's means, how long the relationship lasted, the roles each played — and it is not available to every couple, as explained below.

How is child support calculated in Quebec?

Quebec uses its own child support determination model. In practice, parents complete the child support determination form, which goes with any court application or any agreement submitted for approval. The calculation rests on three main elements:

• Both parents' incomes. Unlike the federal tables, the Quebec model does not look only at the paying parent's income: the contribution is shared according to what each parent earns.
• The number of children and parenting time. Sole custody, shared custody and extended access rights do not lead to the same result.
• Special expenses. Childcare, post-secondary studies or a child's particular needs can be added to the base amount and are shared according to income.

The Quebec Ministère de la Justice publishes the tool for calculating child support payments, which reproduces the form and gives the base amount for a given situation. The result is a starting point: a court can depart from it in some circumstances, such as undue hardship.

Which table applies: Quebec's or the federal Guidelines?

The Quebec model relies on its own table for determining the basic parental contribution, which is updated periodically. That is what the form and the calculation tool use, so it is safer to run the official tool than to rely on a figure from a forum.

The Federal Child Support Guidelines apply in other situations, mainly in a divorce where one parent lives outside Quebec. If your case crosses provincial lines, have that point checked before relying on any number.

How Revenu Québec collects support payments

In Quebec, support is normally not paid directly from one parent to the other. It goes through the support payment collection program run by Revenu Québec, which collects it from the paying parent — often by withholding from wages — and pays it to the receiving parent. Parents can ask to be exempted from collection under certain conditions, but collection by the state remains the default.

What happens when child support is not paid?

When support goes unpaid, Revenu Québec can take recovery measures against the parent who owes it, such as seizures. In most cases the receiving parent does not have to chase the other parent personally, but it helps to report missed payments promptly and keep your file up to date.

The reverse matters too: an informal arrangement between parents does not change the ordered amount. Until a judgment or approved agreement is formally changed, the old amount remains owed.

Changing the amount when circumstances change

Child support is not set for good. A real change in circumstances — a job loss, a significant rise or drop in income, a change in custody — can justify revising it. That takes a new approved agreement or a new judgment.

Where the situation fits, the administrative child support adjustment service (SARPA) can adjust the amount without a court hearing. If the parents disagree or the finances are complicated, the matter goes back before a judge.

Is child support taxable?

As a general rule, child support is neither taxable for the parent who receives it nor deductible for the parent who pays it. Periodic spousal support is usually deductible for the payer and taxable for the recipient. The tax rules come with specific conditions, so confirm your own situation with a professional.

Spousal support: married vs de facto spouses

Married spouses and civil union spouses can claim support from each other on separation or divorce. De facto spouses have no right to spousal support under the Civil Code of Québec, even after a long relationship. Their obligation toward their children is the same as that of married parents.

Since June 30, 2025, unmarried couples who have or adopt a child together on or after that date are automatically in a parental union. It creates a parental union patrimony (mainly the family residence, household furniture and family vehicles) and some other protections, but it still does not give either partner a right to spousal support.

To find out whether a claim is possible and on what basis, a spousal support lawyer can review your situation. Éducaloi also explains these rules in plain language.

Mediation or a lawyer: when to get help

Many parents reach an agreement without going to court. Separating couples with children have access to a number of free family mediation hours through the Quebec Ministère de la Justice. Mediation helps parents agree on custody and support, and the agreement can then be approved by the court.

It is worth speaking to a lawyer when:

• income is hard to pin down — self-employment, a business, or income from abroad;
• the other parent will not disclose what they earn;
• custody is disputed or about to change;
• spousal support is on the table;
• arrears have built up, or one parent lives outside Quebec.

Because support depends on parenting time, a child custody lawyer can help you deal with both questions together.

Compare and book a lawyer on JustiConnect

On JustiConnect you can compare spousal and child support lawyers, review their profiles and availability, and book a consultation online. For a broader separation, the family law lawyers page covers the other family questions. If you are torn between two profiles, the guide on how to choose a lawyer in Quebec covers what to ask in a first meeting.

Frequently asked questions

How much is child support in Quebec?

There is no single figure. It depends on both parents' incomes, the number of children, parenting time and special expenses. The government's calculation tool gives the base amount for a given situation.

How long does child support last in Quebec?

For as long as the child is not self-sufficient. It can continue past the age of majority, for example while the child is in full-time studies, so it is not tied to a particular birthday.

Is child support the same as the child benefit?

No. Child support is paid by a parent. Family benefits such as the Quebec family allowance and the Canada child benefit are paid by governments and follow their own rules.

Can parents just agree on their own amount?

They can propose one, but a court can refuse to approve an agreement that leaves the child with materially less than the rules provide, because the right belongs to the child.