Answer: Child support in New Brunswick generally ends when a child reaches the age of majority at 19 years old under the Age of Majority Act (RSNB 2011, c. 103). However, child support continues beyond age 19 if the child remains unable to withdraw from parental charge due to illness, disability, or pursuit of reasonable education, as defined by NB Family Law Act, s. 9(b) and Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3, s. 2(1). There is no automatic cutoff at 19 for children enrolled in post-secondary programs. Parents cannot unilaterally stop paying child support without a court order or written agreement.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age of Majority | 19 years old (Age of Majority Act, RSNB 2011, c. 103) |
| Standard End of Support | Age 19, if the child has withdrawn from parental charge |
| Extended Support | Illness, disability, or pursuit of reasonable education (NB Family Law Act, s. 9) |
| Divorce Petition Filing Fee | $100.00 (as of March 2026) |
| Total Uncontested Divorce Cost | Approximately $110.00–$117.00 in court fees |
| Residency Requirement | 1 year ordinary residence in New Brunswick (Divorce Act, s. 3(1)) |
| Grounds for Divorce | 1 year separation, adultery, or cruelty (Divorce Act, s. 8) |
| Recalculation Service | Available; call 1-833-224-2225 |
| Court | Court of King’s Bench, Family Division (8 locations across NB) |
| Governing Federal Law | Divorce Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.) + Federal Child Support Guidelines (SOR/97-175) |
| Governing Provincial Law | Family Law Act, SNB 2020, c. 23 |
What Age Does Child Support End in New Brunswick?
Child support in New Brunswick ends at age 19 under the Age of Majority Act (RSNB 2011, c. 103), but only if the child has withdrawn from parental charge. The Divorce Act, s. 2(1) defines a "child of the marriage" as a person under the age of majority who has not withdrawn from parental charge, or a person at or over the age of majority who remains unable to withdraw from parental charge by reason of illness, disability, or other cause. New Brunswick courts apply this definition in every child support termination decision.
Under NB Family Law Act, s. 9, a "child" for support purposes includes a person who has attained the age of majority but cannot withdraw from parental charge or obtain the necessaries of life due to illness, disability, pursuit of reasonable education, or any other cause. New Brunswick’s provincial definition is broader than the federal definition because it explicitly names "pursuit of reasonable education" rather than relying on the catch-all "other cause" language in the Divorce Act. This means when does child support end in New Brunswick depends heavily on whether the child is enrolled in a post-secondary program, has a disability, or otherwise remains dependent on parental support.
Parents paying child support cannot simply stop making payments when a child turns 19. A formal court order varying or terminating the existing support order is required under Divorce Act, s. 17(1), or the parties must reach a written agreement. Unilateral cessation of child support without a court order or agreement exposes the payor to enforcement proceedings through the Office of Support Enforcement at 1-844-673-4499.
When Does Child Support Continue Past Age 19?
Child support continues past age 19 in New Brunswick when an adult child remains a "child of the marriage" under Divorce Act, s. 2(1) or meets the expanded provincial definition under NB Family Law Act, s. 9(b). New Brunswick courts regularly order child support for children aged 19 to 24 who are pursuing full-time post-secondary education, and indefinitely for children with permanent disabilities. The three recognized grounds for extended support are illness, disability, and pursuit of reasonable education.
Post-secondary education is the most common reason child support extends past 19. New Brunswick courts consider several factors when determining whether a child’s educational pursuits justify continued support: whether the program is reasonable, whether the child is making satisfactory academic progress, whether the child has demonstrated a genuine commitment to their studies, and whether the child is contributing to their own support through part-time employment or student loans. A 22-year-old enrolled full-time in a 4-year undergraduate degree program typically qualifies as a child of the marriage.
Disability-related child support can continue indefinitely. If an adult child has a physical or mental disability that prevents them from becoming self-supporting, child support obligations may persist for the child’s entire lifetime. Courts assess the severity and permanence of the disability, the child’s capacity for employment, and the financial resources available to the child through government programs.
Illness-related support covers both chronic conditions and temporary but serious health events that prevent a child from achieving independence. Courts evaluate each case individually, considering medical evidence, treatment timelines, and the child’s prognosis for eventual self-sufficiency.
How Is Child Support Calculated in New Brunswick?
Child support in New Brunswick is calculated using the Federal Child Support Guidelines (SOR/97-175), which New Brunswick adopted through NB Reg 2021-19 effective March 1, 2021. The payor’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. The minimum income threshold attracting a child support obligation increased from $13,000 to $16,000 under the 2025 tables.
The Federal Child Support Guidelines establish different calculation methods depending on the parenting arrangement:
- Standard parenting (one parent has child more than 60% of the time): Guidelines, s. 3 — full table amount based on payor’s income
- Shared parenting time (each parent has child 40% or more of the time): Guidelines, s. 8 — court considers both parents’ table amounts, increased costs of shared arrangements, and the child’s needs
- Split parenting (each parent is primary parent for at least one child): Guidelines, s. 9 — each parent pays their table amount for the child in the other parent’s care, with the difference owed
Beyond the base table amount, Guidelines, s. 7 requires parents to share special or extraordinary expenses in proportion to their incomes. Section 7 expenses include:
- Childcare expenses necessary due to employment, illness, disability, or education
- Medical and dental insurance premiums for the child
- Health-related expenses exceeding $100 per year not covered by insurance
- Extraordinary expenses for primary or secondary education
- Post-secondary education expenses
- Extraordinary extracurricular activity expenses
Parents can look up estimated child support amounts using the Government of Canada’s online table lookup tool, which provides table amounts based on province of residence, number of children, and gross annual income.
What Is the Process to Terminate Child Support in New Brunswick?
Terminating child support in New Brunswick requires either a court order under Divorce Act, s. 17(1) or a written agreement between both parents. The applicant must demonstrate a material change in circumstances under Divorce Act, s. 17(4), such as the child reaching age 19 and no longer being enrolled in education, completing a post-secondary program, getting married, or becoming financially self-sufficient. Filing a variation application with the Court of King’s Bench, Family Division costs $100.00 as of March 2026.
The step-by-step process to terminate child support in New Brunswick:
- Confirm the child no longer qualifies as a "child of the marriage" under Divorce Act, s. 2(1) or a dependent child under NB Family Law Act, s. 9
- File a variation application with the Court of King’s Bench, Family Division in your judicial district (8 locations across New Brunswick)
- Pay the $100.00 filing fee (fee waivers available for individuals receiving social assistance or experiencing financial hardship under Form 72FF)
- Serve the other parent with the application and supporting documentation
- Provide financial disclosure, including income tax returns, notices of assessment, and pay statements
- Attend a case conference or hearing before a judge
- Obtain a court order varying or terminating the support obligation
Alternatively, parents may use the NB Child Support Recalculation Service (1-833-224-2225) to adjust support amounts annually without returning to court. This service is available when both parents reside in New Brunswick, the payor’s gross annual income is under $150,000, and income is not primarily from self-employment. The recalculation service adjusts amounts based on updated income information but does not terminate support orders.
Can a Child Voluntarily End Their Right to Support?
A child under 19 can effectively end their right to support by voluntarily withdrawing from parental charge, which means leaving the family home and becoming financially independent without parental consent or encouragement. Under Divorce Act, s. 2(1), a child who "has withdrawn from their charge" is no longer a "child of the marriage" regardless of age. New Brunswick courts require clear evidence that the withdrawal was genuinely voluntary and not caused by family conflict, parental neglect, or the child being pushed out.
Marriage also terminates a child’s dependent status. When a child under 19 marries, they are considered to have achieved independent legal status and are no longer entitled to parental support under standard circumstances. However, this does not apply to common-law relationships.
A child over 19 who was receiving support due to education may lose their entitlement by dropping out of school, failing to maintain reasonable academic progress, or refusing to contribute to their own support through reasonable employment. Courts expect adult children receiving support to demonstrate genuine effort toward self-sufficiency.
What Happens to Child Support When a Child Finishes University?
Child support typically ends when an adult child completes their post-secondary education and obtains the capacity to become self-supporting. Under NB Family Law Act, s. 9(b), the "pursuit of reasonable education" ground for extended support ceases to apply once the child graduates or otherwise concludes their studies. Courts generally allow a reasonable transition period of 3 to 6 months after graduation for the child to find employment before formally terminating support.
New Brunswick courts evaluate reasonableness when determining whether continued education justifies extended child support. Relevant factors include:
- Whether the program leads to a recognized credential or employable skills
- Whether the child is enrolled full-time (part-time enrollment may reduce or eliminate support)
- Whether the child is maintaining satisfactory grades
- Whether the child has changed programs multiple times without completing any
- Whether the child is contributing to their own expenses through employment or loans
- The length of the program (a 4-year undergraduate degree is generally reasonable; a second graduate degree may face more scrutiny)
If a child graduates from a bachelor’s program at age 22 and immediately enrolls in a master’s program, New Brunswick courts will assess whether the additional education is reasonable given the child’s career goals and the parent’s financial capacity. There is no automatic entitlement to support through graduate school.
How Does the 2025 Child Support Table Update Affect New Brunswick Families?
The updated Federal Child Support Tables effective October 1, 2025, changed child support amounts for many New Brunswick families by incorporating 2023 tax rules instead of the previously used 2017 tax rules. The minimum income threshold attracting a support obligation rose from $13,000 to $16,000 annually, meaning parents earning between $13,000 and $15,999 per year may no longer owe table-amount support. Individual support amounts may have increased or decreased depending on income level, number of children, and the interaction between federal and provincial tax brackets.
Parents with existing child support orders based on the pre-October 2025 tables may apply for a variation under Divorce Act, s. 17 if the new tables produce a materially different amount. The NB Child Support Recalculation Service at 1-833-224-2225 can also recalculate amounts using the updated tables without requiring a court appearance. Both parents should review whether their current support amounts align with the 2025 tables, particularly if the payor’s income falls near a threshold where table amounts changed significantly.
What Are the Grounds for Reducing Child Support Before It Ends?
Child support in New Brunswick can be reduced before termination if a material change in circumstances has occurred under Divorce Act, s. 17(4). Common grounds for reduction include a significant decrease in the payor’s income (job loss, disability, or retirement), a change in the parenting time arrangement to shared parenting (40% or more time with each parent under Guidelines, s. 8), the child earning substantial independent income, or an undue hardship claim under Guidelines, s. 10.
| Scenario | Effect on Support | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Child turns 19 and is not in school or disabled | Support may be terminated | Divorce Act, s. 2(1); NB Family Law Act, s. 9 |
| Child turns 19 and is in full-time university | Support continues during reasonable education | NB Family Law Act, s. 9(b) |
| Child has permanent disability | Support may continue indefinitely | Divorce Act, s. 2(1); NB Family Law Act, s. 9(b) |
| Child gets married before 19 | Support may end | Divorce Act, s. 2(1) — withdrawal from charge |
| Child drops out of university | Support may end after reasonable transition | NB Family Law Act, s. 9(b) |
| Payor loses job | Support amount may be reduced (not eliminated) | Guidelines, s. 10; Divorce Act, s. 17 |
| Parenting time changes to 40/60 or more equal | Support recalculated under shared parenting formula | Guidelines, s. 8 |
| Child earns substantial employment income | Support may be reduced; court considers child’s contribution | Divorce Act, s. 15.1 |
Undue hardship claims under Guidelines, s. 10 allow courts to adjust child support when the guideline amount causes excessive financial strain. Recognized hardship factors include unusually high debts from the marriage, high costs of exercising parenting time (such as travel for long-distance arrangements), and obligations to support another person (such as children from a new relationship). The court compares household standards of living before granting an undue hardship reduction.
How Does the NB Child Support Recalculation Service Work?
The New Brunswick Child Support Recalculation Service, launched in 2022, recalculates child support amounts annually based on updated income information without requiring parents to return to court. The service is available when both parents reside in New Brunswick, the payor’s gross annual income is under $150,000, and the payor’s income is not primarily from self-employment. Parents can contact the service at 1-833-224-2225 to enroll or request a recalculation.
The recalculation service operates under NB Family Law Act, ss. 32–48. The service requests income information from both parents, applies the current Federal Child Support Tables, and issues a recalculated amount. If neither parent objects within 30 days, the recalculated amount replaces the previous court-ordered amount. If a parent objects, the matter proceeds to court for a judge’s determination.
This service adjusts amounts but does not terminate child support. To end child support entirely, a parent must either file a variation application with the Court of King’s Bench, Family Division or reach a written agreement with the other parent.
What Court Handles Child Support in New Brunswick?
The Court of King’s Bench, Family Division handles all child support matters in New Brunswick, including initial orders, variations, and termination applications. New Brunswick has 8 judicial districts with Family Division offices in Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston, Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton, Saint John, and Woodstock. The filing fee for a divorce petition or variation application is $100.00 as of March 2026. Fee waivers are available for parties receiving social assistance or experiencing financial hardship under Form 72FF.
Residency requirements under Divorce Act, s. 3(1) mandate that at least one spouse must have ordinarily resided in New Brunswick for at least 1 year immediately before filing. For provincial family law matters under the NB Family Law Act, the court in the judicial district where the child resides typically has jurisdiction.
The Office of Support Enforcement (1-844-673-4499) enforces existing child support orders in New Brunswick. Enforcement tools include garnishment of wages, seizure of federal payments (tax refunds, EI benefits), suspension of passports and federal licenses, and reporting to credit bureaus.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does child support end in New Brunswick if my child is not in school?
Child support in New Brunswick generally ends at age 19 if the child is not enrolled in post-secondary education, does not have an illness or disability, and has withdrawn from parental charge. The payor must obtain a court order or written agreement to formally terminate support under Divorce Act, s. 17(1). Simply stopping payments without legal authorization exposes the payor to enforcement action through the Office of Support Enforcement.
Does child support automatically end at 19 in New Brunswick?
Child support does not automatically end at 19 in New Brunswick. While 19 is the age of majority under the Age of Majority Act (RSNB 2011, c. 103), the payor must apply to court or reach a written agreement to formally terminate the support order. Automatic termination only occurs if the original court order specifies a fixed end date, which is uncommon in New Brunswick family law practice.
How long does child support last if my child goes to university?
Child support typically continues throughout the duration of a reasonable post-secondary education program under NB Family Law Act, s. 9(b). A 4-year undergraduate degree for a child aged 19 to 23 is generally considered reasonable. Courts expect the child to maintain satisfactory academic progress and contribute to their own expenses through part-time work or student loans. Support usually ends within 3 to 6 months after graduation.
Can I stop paying child support if my child drops out of school?
You cannot unilaterally stop paying child support if your child drops out of school. You must apply to vary the support order under Divorce Act, s. 17 by demonstrating a material change in circumstances. Courts will consider whether the dropout is temporary or permanent, whether the child intends to return to school, and whether the child has the capacity to become self-supporting.
What if my child is 19 and working but still lives at home?
A 19-year-old who is employed and living at home may no longer qualify as a "child of the marriage" under Divorce Act, s. 2(1) if they are capable of withdrawing from parental charge. The payor should file a variation application with evidence of the child’s employment income, work history, and capacity for independence. Courts consider whether the child is contributing to household expenses and whether remaining at home is a choice rather than a necessity.
How much does it cost to file a child support variation in New Brunswick?
Filing a variation application with the Court of King’s Bench, Family Division costs $100.00 as of March 2026. Additional costs include $10.00 for a clearance certificate and $7.00 for a certificate of divorce if applicable. Fee waivers are available under Form 72FF for parties receiving assistance under the Family Income Security Act or experiencing financial hardship. Verify current fees with your local court office.
Can child support be extended beyond a first university degree?
New Brunswick courts may extend child support through a graduate program if the additional education is reasonable given the child’s career goals, academic record, and the parent’s financial capacity. There is no automatic entitlement to support through graduate school. Courts assess whether the program leads to enhanced employability and whether the child has made reasonable efforts to contribute to their own support.
What happens to child support if the paying parent dies?
Under NB Family Law Act, s. 29(1), child support orders terminate upon the obligor’s death, but any unpaid arrears become a debt of the estate. Courts may relieve the estate from this liability under s. 29(2) if enforcement would be "grossly unfair." Life insurance requirements in the original support order may provide continued support for the child. The recipient parent should consult a lawyer promptly to protect the child’s interests against the estate.
Does the child’s income affect when child support ends?
A child’s employment income can influence both the amount and duration of child support. Courts consider a child’s income when assessing whether they remain unable to withdraw from parental charge. An adult child earning $40,000 or more per year in full-time employment would likely not qualify for continued support, while a child earning $5,000 per year from part-time work during university would still typically qualify.
How do I enforce child support if my ex stops paying before the order ends?
Contact the New Brunswick Office of Support Enforcement at 1-844-673-4499 to register your support order for enforcement. The office can garnish wages, intercept federal payments including tax refunds and Employment Insurance benefits, suspend the payor’s passport and federal licenses, and report arrears to credit bureaus. Enforcement is available at no cost to the recipient parent. Arrears accumulate interest and remain collectible for up to 6 years after each missed payment.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general legal information about child support in New Brunswick as of March 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client relationship. Laws and filing fees change frequently. Verify all information with the Court of King’s Bench, Family Division or a licensed New Brunswick family lawyer. Filing fees stated are as of March 2026 — verify with your local court clerk.