(289) 892-4281Toronto Child Support Lawyers
When Family Incomes
Aren’t Straightforward
Practising Exclusively in Family Law Across Southern Ontario
Complex Family Finances Shouldn’t Jeopardize
Your Children’s Future
With close to 20 years of family law practice, AP Family Law has built a trusted reputation with parents facing the complexity of navigating the complications of child support disputes.
Every parent wants to give their child stability, security, and a future free from uncertainty, but when finances get complicated, that promise can feel harder to keep. Child support issues become complex when disputes around determining income, calculating parenting time, or undue hardship get thrown into the mix. Variables like your parenting arrangement, if you are self-employed or own a business, or other lifestyle factors can make a difference as to how much support your children are entitles to, or how much you have to pay. That’s when disputes can arise and payments are suddenly up for debate.
Whether You’re Paying or Receiving, We’re on Your Side
If You’re a Parent Receiving Support
You want every dollar your children are entitled to. We calculate the correct amount under the current tables, identify additional expenses like daycare and medical costs that get shared on top, and go after your ex if they’re hiding income or refusing to pay. If enforcement is needed, Ontario’s Family Responsibility Office has powerful tools and we work with them to ensure you get paid.
If You’re a Parent Paying Support
You want to make sure the number is fair and based on your real income. Not inflated, not based on outdated tables, and not including expenses that don’t qualify. We review the calculation, push back on unreasonable claims, and help you modify the amount when your circumstances genuinely change.
If You’re Dealing with Non-Payment
Every missed payment is money your child doesn’t have for groceries, school, or activities. FRO can garnish wages, freeze bank accounts, suspend driver’s licences and passports, damage credit scores, and jail persistent non-payers. When standard enforcement isn’t enough (self-employed ex, hidden assets, cash businesses), we go further with enforcement motions, forensic accounting, and asset tracing.
If Your Situation Has Changed
Lost a job? Got a raise? Kids moved? Child finished school? The 2025 Federal Table update (the first in 8 years) produces different amounts at almost every income level. If your order is more than a year old, it may be based on outdated numbers. Either parent can apply to change it.
When Income Isn’t Straightforward
For salaried employees with a T4, calculating child support is simple. But, many families don’t fit that mould. If your ex is self-employed, runs a business, earns through a corporation, or has deliberately reduced their income, the calculation gets complicated fast. This is where most parents need experienced help, and where getting it wrong costs your children thousands.
We help families with unique income situations such as:
Self-Employed Parents
When someone controls their own income, the declared number on the tax return often doesn’t reflect reality. Expenses get inflated. Cash goes unreported. We analyze the actual business financials, not just what CRA sees, and work with forensic accountants to find the real earning capacity.
Business Owners & Corporate Income
A parent can report $60,000 in personal income while their corporation holds $300,000 in retained earnings. Salary, dividends, management fees, shareholder loans are some ways money gets taken out of a corporation. The court looks through corporate structures to determine real income. We handle these cases regularly.
Deliberately Reduced Income
Some parents quit high-paying jobs, take pay cuts, or “retire” early to reduce their obligation. The court doesn’t reward this. When a parent is intentionally underemployed, the court imputes income based on what they’re capable of earning. We build the case with work history, education, and job market evidence.
Investment & Trust Income
Dividends, capital gains, rental properties, and family trusts are often reported at artificially low levels because they’re taxed differently or deferred. The child support guidelines capture all of it. We review portfolios, trust documents, and property holdings to get the full picture.
When Your Ex Won’t Disclose
Both parents must exchange financial information every year: tax returns, notices of assessment, pay stubs, corporate financials. When the other side refuses, we go to court and force full disclosure. Non-cooperation gives the court grounds to impute an even higher income and award costs against them.
Suspect your ex’s income doesn’t add up?
Bottom line... your ex can structure their income however they want. We’ve spent 18 years unwinding those structures to get children the support they deserve.
AP Lawyers helps parents with experienced counsel, to protect their children's financial interest and their future.
Have Questions?
Call or Book a Consultation.
How Child Support Works in Ontario
Child support is your child’s legal right, not yours, not your ex’s.
It exists from the moment you separate, whether you were married or common-law, whether there’s a court order or not.
What the Numbers Look Like
The amount comes from the Ontario or Federal Child Support Tables, and is based on three things: the paying parent’s gross income, the number of children, the province where the paying parent lives and your parenting arrangement.
On top of these base amounts, both parents share additional expenses like daycare, uninsured medical costs, extracurriculars, and post-secondary education, proportionally based on income. In Toronto, where infant daycare runs $1,500–$2,200/month and the average home exceeds $1.1 million, these extras add up fast.
Above $150,000, the court has discretion to adjust based on the children’s actual needs and the family’s pre-separation lifestyle. We regularly handle high-income cases.
Want to know your number?
Call Us For a Consultation
Why Choose AP Lawyers for Child Support Disputes
Litigation is an established part of AP Lawyers practice. Our lawyers regularly represent clients throughout the court process, from the commencement of proceedings through conferences, motions, and when necessary trial.
But the benefits of family lawyers with litigation experience goes beyond success in the courtroom.
We Focus on Settlement
We keep families out of court, saving thousands in fees and months of stress. When court is necessary, we’re prepared.
Experienced Counsel
Over 18 years fighting for families rights, we know what your children are entitled to and make sure they get what they are due.
Current on the 2025 Tables
The Federal Child Support Tables changed October 2025, the first update in 8 years. We use the current numbers on every file.
We Find Hidden Income
Not every family lawyer has litigation experience. Other family lawyers may regularly negotiate separation agreements and resolve matters outside of court or represent client’s at conferences; but only some lawyers appear at trials or have any courtroom experience at all.
Recognized and Credentialed
Led by Angela Princewill, recognized by Best Lawyers™ Canada, Top Choice Winner for 11 years, Law Society member, certified mediator.
Aggressive Enforcement
FRO can garnish wages, freeze accounts, and suspend licences. When that’s not enough, we pursue enforcement motions and asset tracing.
What Most People Get
Wrong About Child Support
MYTH
Child support ends when my child turns 18
Under Ontario law, support continues through full-time university and for children with illness or disability. Courts routinely order support through a four-year degree.
MYTH
My ex is self-employed, there’s nothing I can do.
Courts can assign a higher income when someone’s lifestyle doesn’t match their tax return. We work with forensic accountants to trace income through corporations, numbered companies, and trusts.
MYTH
With 50/50 custody, nobody pays child support.
Both parents’ incomes are calculated and the higher earner pays the difference. It’s rarely zero. Additional expenses are still shared on top.
MYTH
Once it’s set, it can’t be changed.
Either parent can apply when circumstances change: income, parenting time, a child finishing school, or the 2025 table update producing a different number.
How We Work: From First Call to Resolution
Step 1: Strategy Session
We review your situation and give you the honest picture: what your children are likely entitled to, your options, and how long it’ll take. No pressure. No sales pitch.
Step 2: Numbers and Evidence
We gather financial documents, calculate the correct amount under the 2025 tables, and identify every additional expense your children are entitled to.
Step 3: Resolution
We push for settlement first, through negotiation, collaborative law, or mediation. When the other side won’t cooperate, we’re ready for court.
Step 4: Enforcement
Every resolution goes into a binding separation agreement or court order, registered with FRO for automatic enforcement.
Contact us if you’re going through a divorce or separation
Frequently Asked Questions
We've Handled it Before
Our team practices in every area of family law, whatever comes your way.
Practising Exclusively in Family Law for Close to 20 Years.
Our experienced negotiators and accomplished litigators serve Toronto and GTA (Greater Toronto Area), York Region (Markham, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Newmarket), Durham Region (Pickering, Ajax, Oshawa) and Peel Region (Brampton) with offices in Toronto and Pickering.
Our team includes associates fluent in English, Arabic, Yoruba, Tamil.
