Nunavut Child Support Guidelines: Calculations, Tables, and Section 7 Expenses

Child support in Nunavut follows the Federal Child Support Guidelines — the same framework used across Canada. The amount is based on the paying parent's gross annual income, the number of children, and whether the parenting time arrangement qualifies as "shared." The calculation is formulaic, not discretionary, which means understanding the rules upfront tells you almost exactly what to expect.

The Basic Table Amount

When one parent has the child less than 40% of the year, the calculation is straightforward. Look up the paying parent's gross annual income in the Federal Child Support Tables for Nunavut. The table specifies a dollar amount based on income and number of children.

This table amount is non-negotiable. Courts rarely grant "undue hardship" reductions, and Nunavut judges have historically been skeptical of hardship claims unless the circumstances are genuinely exceptional — like supporting children from a prior relationship or carrying crushing debt from the relationship.

The 40% Shared Parenting Threshold

If both parents have the child for at least 40% of the year (146+ days each), Section 9 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines applies. This changes the calculation from a straight table lookup to a three-part analysis:

Set-off amount. Calculate the table amount for both parents as if each had sole custody. Subtract the lower amount from the higher.

Increased costs of shared parenting. Both households need bedrooms, winter clothing, food, and supplies for the child. The court evaluates the actual increased costs of running two fully functional homes.

Relative financial conditions. The court examines each parent's income, assets, debts, and standard of living to ensure the child experiences a reasonably equal quality of life in both homes.

The resulting amount is usually lower than what the higher-earning parent would pay under the sole-parenting formula, but it is not zero — the income disparity between parents still drives a payment.

Section 7 Extraordinary Expenses

Independent of the base support amount, both parents contribute to "extraordinary" expenses under Section 7. These are costs beyond ordinary living expenses that are necessary for the child's best interests. In Nunavut, Section 7 expenses commonly include:

• Licensed daycare or after-school care
• Medical and dental premiums not covered by territorial health insurance
• Orthodontic treatment
• Post-secondary education costs
• High-cost northern extracurriculars like hockey registration, snowmobile safety programs, or travel for competitive sports

Section 7 expenses are shared in proportion to each parent's net income. If Parent A earns 60% of the combined household income, Parent A pays 60% of the Section 7 costs.

The Family Support Office (FSO)

Nunavut's Family Support Office handles child support enforcement and recalculation. If the paying parent falls behind, the FSO can garnish wages, intercept federal tax refunds, suspend passports, and register liens against property.

The FSO also offers a recalculation service. As incomes change, either parent can request a recalculation without going back to court. This administrative process is faster and cheaper than filing a variation application with the Nunavut Court of Justice.

Common Mistakes

Confusing parenting time with overnight counts. The 40% threshold is calculated based on actual time the child is in your care, not just overnights. School hours during your parenting time count.

Ignoring income imputation. If a parent is voluntarily underemployed or refuses to disclose income, the court can impute income based on earning capacity. Hiding income does not reduce the support obligation — it increases judicial scrutiny.

Not claiming Section 7 expenses. Many parents pay for childcare, medical costs, or extracurriculars without realizing the other parent is legally required to share these costs proportionally.

For worksheets that help you estimate child support amounts and track Section 7 expenses, see the Nunavut Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide.

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