Why did Québec adopt Rules for the determination of child support?
Previously, the courts and the parties involved in child supp ort cases did not have any clear rules to follow when fixing payment amounts. This lack of guidance sometimes led to the determination of unpredictable or unsuitable amounts that did not reflect the actual cost of meeting the needs of the children concerned. The Québec model for the determination of child support payments now provides clear, objective standards that make it easier to determine the amount of child support using a uniform calculation method. More specifically, the changes are intended to: affirm that both parents have a joint obligation towards their children;ensure that the needs of children are met based on their parents’ ability to pay;divide responsibility for the financial support of children between the parents in proportion to their respective incomes;require parents, after meeting their own essential needs, to give child support payments priority over other payments;ensure that, as far as possible, all
