Parenting Arrangements & Child Support in London Ontario
When children are involved, emotions run high. Megan helps parents focus on what matters most and reach practical, child-focused agreements that support the next chapter..
Parenting through a separation is one of the most emotionally charged aspects of family law, and one of the most important to get right. How you structure your parenting arrangements affects not just the logistics of daily life, but the stability and wellbeing of your children for years to come.
Megan approaches parenting matters with both legal expertise and a deep understanding of family dynamics. The goal is always a practical, child-focused agreement that reflects the best interests of the children and the realities of both households, reached by agreement, not imposed by a court.
Decision-making responsibility
Decision-making responsibility refers to the authority to make significant decisions about a child's life, including education, health care, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities.
Sole decision-making responsibility means one parent holds this authority. The other parent still has parenting time, but major decisions rest with one person.
Joint decision-making responsibility means both parents share this authority. Significant decisions require agreement. This is the most common arrangement for parents who are able to communicate effectively and cooperate in their children's best interests.
Note: decision-making responsibility and parenting time are separate issues.
A parent can have significant parenting time without having decision- making responsibility, and vice versa.
Parenting time
Parenting time refers to the time each parent spends with the children. There is no one-size-fits-all parenting schedule, arrangements range from primary residence with one parent and scheduled time with the other, to roughly equal parenting time, to a variety of creative arrangements that reflect the specific needs of the family.
The appropriate parenting schedule depends on many factors: the age and needs of the children, the proximity of the parents' homes, each parent's work schedule, the existing relationships between children and each parent, and the parents' capacity to communicate and cooperate.
The 40% threshold is significant for child support calculations. When each parent has parenting time of at least 40% of the time (approximately 146 days per year), child support is calculated differently, often using the set-off method under Section 9 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines rather than the standard table amount.
What guides parenting decisions — the best interests of the child
All parenting decisions in Ontario are governed by the best interests of the child standard. This is not a formula, it is a holistic assessment of what arrangement will best serve the child's physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing.
Factors considered include each parent's ability to care for the child, the child's existing relationships and bonds, the child's own views (depending on age and maturity), geographic proximity of the parents, and any history of family violence or conflict.
Agreements reached by the parents, rather than orders imposed by a court, are more flexible, more durable, and far better for children than contested proceedings. Megan's focus is always on helping parents reach agreements they can live with and build on over time.
Child support in Ontario
Child support is a legal obligation, not a negotiable preference. Every child has the right to financial support from both parents
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Child support in Ontario is calculated using the Federal Child Support Guidelines, updated most recently in October 2025, the first comprehensive table revision since 2017. The calculation is primarily based on:
The paying parent's gross annual income (from Line 15000 of the T1 tax
return)
The number of children
The province of residence
The Guidelines produce a table amount, a standardized monthly figure based on these inputs. This amount is presumed to be the appropriate base amount of support and is not typically negotiable downward without specific legal grounds.
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Beyond the base table amount, parents are also required to share special or extraordinary expenses proportionally based on their respective incomes.
These include:
Childcare costs required for employment or education
Health-related expenses not covered by insurance (orthodontics,
therapy, prescription medications)
Extraordinary extracurricular activities
Post-secondary education costs
These expenses are not split 50/50, they are divided in proportion to each parent's income, sometimes parents with comparable incomes go with 50/50.
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When each parent has at least 40% of parenting time, child support is calculated using the set-off method under Section 9 of the Guidelines: each parent's table amount is calculated based on their income, and the higher- income parent pays the difference to the lower-income parent.
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Child support obligations generally continue until a child turns 18 and is no
longer financially dependent. They may extend beyond 18 for children who are enrolled in post-secondary education or who are unable to become self- supporting due to illness, disability, or other circumstances.
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Child support can be varied when there has been a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in either parent's income, a change in parenting time, or a change in the child's needs. Agreements should be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain accurate and fair.
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Most parenting matters are resolved through negotiation, with or without formal mediation. Megan focuses on helping clients reach workable agreements, with empathy for how difficult these conversations can be, and firmness about what the law requires.
If you and your co-parent are struggling to find common ground, family law mediation may be a helpful option. Megan will be offering mediation services soon.
For matters that cannot be resolved through negotiation or mediation and require court intervention, Megan will connect you with a trusted litigator in her network.
→ See also: Separation & Divorce, Spousal Support, Family Law Mediation
Ready to take the next step?
The first step is a consultation. Megan will listen to your situation, explain your options honestly, and help you decide whether Strachan Family Law is the right fit, no pressure, no obligation.