Understanding how much child support costs in New Brunswick requires knowledge of the Federal Child Support Guidelines and the updated October 2025 tables that determine monthly payment amounts based on the paying parent's gross annual income. A parent earning $50,000 annually in New Brunswick pays approximately $461 per month for one child, while a parent earning $100,000 pays approximately $897 per month for one child under the 2025 Federal Tables. These amounts can increase significantly with Section 7 extraordinary expenses for childcare, medical costs, and educational needs.
Key Facts: New Brunswick Child Support 2026
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Federal Child Support Guidelines, SOR/97-175; Family Law Act, SNB 2020, c 23 |
| Table Version | October 1, 2025 Federal Tables (reflects 2023 tax rules) |
| Minimum Income Threshold | $16,000 gross annual income ($0 support below this amount) |
| Child Support Ends | Age 19 (may continue for post-secondary education or disability) |
| Shared Parenting Threshold | 40% parenting time triggers Section 9 offset calculation |
| Recalculation Service | Available toll-free at 1-833-224-2225 |
| Court Filing Fee | $75 for parenting applications; $100 for divorce petition |
| Fee Waiver | Available for social assistance recipients and Legal Aid clients |
How Child Support Is Calculated in New Brunswick
New Brunswick child support calculations follow the Federal Child Support Guidelines, which New Brunswick formally adopted through NB Reg 2021-19 effective March 1, 2021, replacing the former provincial guidelines under the Family Services Act. The paying parent's gross annual income determines a base monthly amount from the Federal Child Support Tables, which were most recently updated on October 1, 2025, to reflect 2023 tax rules. Parents earning below $16,000 annually have a table amount of $0, increased from the previous $13,000 threshold under the 2017 tables.
The calculation process involves three primary steps that determine the final child support amount in New Brunswick:
- Determine the gross annual income of the paying parent from all sources including employment, self-employment, investments, and government benefits
- Look up the corresponding monthly table amount based on income and number of children using the 2025 Federal Child Support Tables for New Brunswick
- Add proportionate shares of Section 7 special or extraordinary expenses based on each parent's income percentage
Understanding Gross Annual Income
Gross annual income for child support purposes includes employment income, self-employment profits, investment income, rental income, pension benefits, Employment Insurance benefits, and most other income sources reported on Line 15000 of the Canadian income tax return. The Federal Child Support Guidelines, Section 16, require courts to impute income when a parent is intentionally underemployed or unemployed, when income information is incomplete, or when the parent's income has fluctuated significantly.
New Brunswick Child Support Table Amounts (2025 Federal Tables)
The Federal Child Support Tables for New Brunswick set out specific monthly payment amounts based on the paying parent's gross annual income and the number of children requiring support. The following table provides representative monthly child support amounts at various income levels under the October 2025 Federal Tables:
| Gross Annual Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $263/month | $430/month | $544/month | $615/month |
| $50,000 | $461/month | $746/month | $941/month | $1,073/month |
| $75,000 | $680/month | $1,087/month | $1,362/month | $1,547/month |
| $100,000 | $897/month | $1,414/month | $1,763/month | $1,999/month |
| $120,000 | $1,065/month | $1,672/month | $2,080/month | $2,357/month |
| $150,000 | $1,299/month | $2,044/month | $2,541/month | $2,879/month |
Note: These amounts represent base table support only and do not include Section 7 extraordinary expenses. Amounts are approximate based on the 2025 Federal Tables. Verify current amounts using the Government of Canada Child Support Look-up Tool. As of January 2026. Verify with your local clerk.
Key Changes in the 2025 Federal Tables
The updated Federal Child Support Tables that came into effect on October 1, 2025, incorporate 2023 tax rules instead of the previously used 2017 tax rules. The minimum income threshold attracting a child support obligation increased from $13,000 to $16,000 annually, meaning parents earning between $13,000 and $15,999 per year no longer owe table-amount support. Parents in the $16,000 to $45,000 income range generally see lower table amounts under the new tables, while higher-income parents see adjustments of typically 1-2% up or down from previous amounts.
Section 7 Special and Extraordinary Expenses
Beyond the base table amount, Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines requires parents to share special or extraordinary expenses proportionately based on their respective incomes. A parent earning $75,000 when the other parent earns $25,000 would pay 75% of qualifying Section 7 expenses, while the lower-income parent pays 25%. These expenses can add $200-$800 or more per month to the base child support amount depending on the children's needs.
Categories of Section 7 Expenses
The Federal Child Support Guidelines define qualifying special or extraordinary expenses as expenses that are necessary because they are in the child's best interests and reasonable given the means of the parents:
- Childcare expenses necessary due to employment, illness, disability, or education or training for employment
- Medical and dental insurance premiums attributable to the child
- Health-related expenses exceeding $100 per year not covered by insurance, including orthodontics, professional counselling, physiotherapy, speech therapy, prescription drugs, hearing aids, glasses, and contact lenses
- Extraordinary expenses for primary or secondary school education meeting the child's particular needs
- Post-secondary education expenses including tuition, books, residence, and related costs
- Extraordinary expenses for extracurricular activities
Net Costing of Section 7 Expenses
Courts calculate Section 7 expense sharing based on the net cost of expenses after deducting any tax benefits, subsidies, or other offsets. When calculating childcare expenses totaling $12,000 annually where the claiming parent receives a $2,500 tax benefit, the net cost for sharing purposes equals $9,500. Parents typically document Section 7 expenses using receipts and share costs monthly or through periodic lump-sum adjustments.
Shared Parenting Time and Child Support
When each parent has the child at least 40% of parenting time over the course of a year, Section 9 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines applies and the calculation differs from the standard sole-parenting arrangement. The court considers both parents' table amounts, the increased costs of shared parenting time arrangements, and the conditions, means, needs, and other circumstances of each parent and child. Over 95% of shared parenting arrangements use the offset method where each parent calculates their table amount and the higher-earning parent pays the difference.
Offset Calculation Example
The offset method for shared parenting child support works as follows: Parent A earns $75,000 annually with a table amount of $680 per month for one child; Parent B earns $120,000 annually with a table amount of $1,065 per month for one child. Parent B pays Parent A the difference of $385 per month ($1,065 minus $680). Both parents continue to share Section 7 expenses proportionately based on their income ratio of 38.5% (Parent A) and 61.5% (Parent B).
Calculating Parenting Time Percentage
Courts apply a strict calculation of hours spent with the child when determining whether the 40% shared parenting threshold has been met. A parent with parenting time from Friday at 6 PM through Sunday at 6 PM every week plus half of holidays may fall short of the 40% threshold required for Section 9 to apply. Courts count actual hours over the course of a year, and being even marginally below 40% means the standard Section 3 calculation applies with no offset.
When Child Support Ends in New Brunswick
Child support in New Brunswick continues until the child reaches age 19, the provincial age of majority, but may extend beyond that date for children who remain dependent due to illness, disability, or pursuit of post-secondary education. The Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3, Section 2(1) defines a child of the marriage as a child under the age of majority or a child the age of majority or over who is unable to withdraw from parental charge because of illness, disability, or other cause such as reasonable educational pursuits.
Post-Secondary Education Support
New Brunswick courts regularly order child support to continue for children attending post-secondary education full-time, with support obligations typically ending upon completion of the first undergraduate degree or diploma program. A child pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree would generally receive support until graduation at approximately age 22-23, provided they maintain reasonable academic progress and contribute to their own support through summer employment or part-time work. Courts may reduce the table amount for children over 19 attending post-secondary education who have significant independent income or who live away from both parents.
Circumstances Ending Support Early
Child support may end before age 19 when a child withdraws from parental control, becomes financially independent through full-time employment, or marries. Courts have terminated support for children who moved out of both parents' homes to live independently, refused to maintain a relationship with the paying parent while over age 16, or dropped out of school to work full-time. The paying parent must apply to court to terminate or reduce support and demonstrate that the child no longer qualifies as a dependent.
Undue Hardship Claims Under Section 10
Section 10 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines permits a court to award child support different from the table amount if paying the guideline amount would cause undue hardship to the paying parent or a child. Undue hardship claims succeed in fewer than 10% of cases because the applicant must prove both that paying the table amount causes genuine hardship and that their household standard of living remains lower than the recipient household's standard of living.
Recognized Hardship Circumstances
The Federal Child Support Guidelines list specific circumstances that may constitute undue hardship:
- Unusually high debts reasonably incurred to support the family before separation or to earn a living
- Unusually high expenses for exercising parenting time with a child, such as travel costs when parents live in different provinces
- Legal duty to support another person under a judgment, order, or written separation agreement
- Legal duty to support a child other than a child of the marriage
- Legal duty to support a person unable to obtain necessaries of life due to illness or disability
Standard of Living Comparison
Even when a parent demonstrates undue hardship circumstances, courts must deny the application if the paying parent's household would have a higher standard of living than the recipient parent's household after paying the table amount. Courts compare household incomes including new partners' incomes, the number of dependents in each household, and reasonable household expenses. Schedule II of the Federal Child Support Guidelines provides a detailed methodology for comparing household standards of living.
Child Support Recalculation Service in New Brunswick
New Brunswick's Child Support Recalculation Service, launched in 2022, allows families to update child support amounts annually without returning to court. The service recalculates child support based on updated income information from the Canada Revenue Agency and issues a new Recalculation Decision that has the same legal effect as a court order. Parents can reach the service toll-free at 1-833-224-2225 or apply online through the Government of New Brunswick website.
Eligibility Requirements
The Child Support Recalculation Service accepts applications when both parents live in New Brunswick, the existing court order or agreement has been in place for at least one year, and the paying parent's gross annual income does not exceed $150,000. Parents may apply 120 days before the one-year anniversary date of their order for first-time enrollment. The service cannot recalculate support when a parent's income is primarily based on self-employment or when one parent lives outside New Brunswick.
Income Verification Process
Enrolled parents must provide a completed Income Questionnaire and Notice of Assessment or Reassessment from the Canada Revenue Agency each year. When both parents' incomes determine the child support amount (such as in shared parenting arrangements or when splitting Section 7 expenses), both parties must submit income documentation. The service will impute income to a parent who fails to provide required documentation, typically using the previous year's income increased by an inflation factor.
How to Apply for Child Support in New Brunswick
Parents can apply for child support through New Brunswick's Court of King's Bench, Family Division, which has offices in eight judicial districts: Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston, Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton, Saint John, and Woodstock. The court filing fee for a parenting application including child support is $75, while a divorce petition costs $100 plus $10 for a Clearance Certificate from the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings. Parents receiving social assistance under the Family Income Security Act or represented by Legal Aid New Brunswick qualify for fee waivers under Rules of Court, Rule 72.24(2).
Required Documentation
Applications for child support require financial disclosure including income tax returns for the past three years, recent pay stubs, Notices of Assessment, and documentation of any other income sources. The Federal Child Support Guidelines mandate full financial disclosure from both parents, and courts may impute income to parents who fail to provide complete documentation. Additional documents include proof of extraordinary expenses, childcare receipts, and medical expense records when claiming Section 7 contributions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much child support will I pay for one child in New Brunswick?
Child support for one child in New Brunswick depends entirely on the paying parent's gross annual income under the Federal Child Support Tables effective October 1, 2025. A parent earning $50,000 annually pays approximately $461 per month, a parent earning $75,000 pays approximately $680 per month, and a parent earning $100,000 pays approximately $897 per month for one child. These base amounts increase when adding Section 7 extraordinary expenses for childcare, medical costs, or education.
Does New Brunswick use the Federal Child Support Guidelines?
New Brunswick adopted the Federal Child Support Guidelines through NB Reg 2021-19 effective March 1, 2021, replacing the former provincial guidelines under the Family Services Act. Both married parents divorcing under the Divorce Act and unmarried parents separating under the provincial Family Law Act use the same Federal Child Support Tables to calculate monthly support amounts. The October 2025 Federal Tables apply to all new orders and requests for recalculation from that date forward.
What income is used to calculate child support in New Brunswick?
Gross annual income for child support includes employment income, self-employment profits, investment returns, rental income, pension benefits, Employment Insurance benefits, and most income reported on Line 15000 of the Canadian income tax return. Courts may impute higher income to a parent who is intentionally underemployed or unemployed, has an irregular income pattern, or fails to provide complete financial disclosure. Self-employment income may require averaging over several years to determine annual income for support purposes.
How do shared parenting time arrangements affect child support?
When each parent has at least 40% parenting time with the child over the course of a year, Section 9 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines applies and courts use the offset method for calculating support. Each parent's table amount based on their income is calculated, and the parent with the higher table amount pays the difference to the other parent. A parent earning $120,000 with a table amount of $1,065 who shares parenting time with a parent earning $75,000 (table amount $680) would pay $385 per month in offset support.
When does child support end in New Brunswick?
Child support typically ends at age 19, the provincial age of majority, but continues for children who remain dependent due to illness, disability, or full-time post-secondary education. Support for a child attending university usually continues until completion of the first undergraduate degree, provided the child maintains reasonable academic progress and contributes to their own support through employment. Support may end earlier if a child under 19 marries, becomes financially independent, or withdraws from parental control.
What are Section 7 extraordinary expenses in child support?
Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines requires parents to share special or extraordinary expenses in proportion to their incomes, beyond the base table amount. Qualifying expenses include childcare necessary for employment or education, medical and dental insurance premiums, uninsured health-related expenses exceeding $100 per year, extraordinary primary or secondary education expenses, post-secondary education costs, and extraordinary extracurricular activities. Parents typically share these costs monthly based on their income ratio.
Can I get child support recalculated without going to court?
New Brunswick's Child Support Recalculation Service recalculates child support annually without requiring a court appearance when both parents live in New Brunswick, the paying parent earns $150,000 or less, and income is not primarily from self-employment. Contact the service toll-free at 1-833-224-2225 to enroll, then submit annual income documentation for automatic recalculation each year on the anniversary of your order. The service issues a Recalculation Decision with the same legal effect as a court order.
What happens if I don't pay child support in New Brunswick?
Failure to pay child support in New Brunswick triggers enforcement through the Family Support Orders Service (FSOS), which can garnish wages up to 50% of net income, intercept federal payments including income tax refunds, suspend driver's licenses and passports, report arrears to credit bureaus, and pursue contempt of court proceedings. Arrears accumulate interest and cannot typically be reduced retroactively, meaning unpaid amounts from previous months continue to be owed even if current income decreases. The FSOS enforces both provincial orders and registered orders from other provinces.
How do I modify a child support order in New Brunswick?
Child support modifications require demonstrating a material change in circumstances since the original order, such as significant income changes for either parent, changes in the child's needs, or reaching a new parenting time arrangement. For enrolled families, the Child Support Recalculation Service handles annual adjustments automatically. Other modifications require filing an application with the Court of King's Bench, Family Division, paying the $75 filing fee, and providing updated financial disclosure. Courts do not reduce child support retroactively to before the date of the modification application.
Can child support be waived in New Brunswick?
Parents cannot contractually waive a child's right to support in New Brunswick because child support belongs to the child, not the parents. While parents can agree to an amount different from the table amount, courts retain authority to review child support agreements and may order the table amount if the agreed amount is substantially inadequate. Courts are particularly skeptical of agreements where one parent accepts reduced child support in exchange for other benefits like a larger share of property division.
Resources for New Brunswick Child Support
- Government of Canada Child Support Look-up Tool
- Federal Child Support Tables - New Brunswick
- New Brunswick Court of King's Bench - Family Division
- Child Support Recalculation Service
- Family Law New Brunswick
- Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick
This guide provides general information about child support in New Brunswick as of January 2026 and does not constitute legal advice. Child support calculations depend on specific circumstances including income verification, parenting time arrangements, and special expenses. Consult a New Brunswick family law lawyer for advice about your particular situation.
Reviewed by: Antonio G. Jimenez, Esq. | Florida Bar No. 21022 | Covering New Brunswick divorce law