The Department of Justice works to ensure that Canada's justice system is as fair, accessible and efficient as possible. The Department helps the federal government to develop policy and to draft and reform laws as needed. At the same time, it acts as the government's legal adviser, providing legal counsel and support, and representing the Government of Canada in court.

The Federal Guidelines are a set of rules and tables used to determine child support when parents divorce, and are the law

• to establish a fair standard of support for children so that they continue to benefit from both parents’ incomes after the separation or divorce
• to reduce conflict and tension between parents by making the calculation of child support more objective
• to ensure that parents and children in similar situations are treated the same
• to make the legal process more efficient and encourage settlements by giving courts and parents guidance about child support 

This guide has general information, instructions and worksheets, as well as other tools to help you make decisions about child support when you separate or divorce 

The Federal Child Support Guidelines: Step-by-Step

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