As most families are aware, the new Canada Child Benefit (“CCB”) effective July 1, 2016 is the replacement for the Child Canada Tax Benefit (“CCTB”) & the Universal Child Care Benefit (“UCCB”). Prior to the implementation of this new regime, we often found parties with a shared parenting arrangement negotiating the rotation of benefits and we often saw arrangements where one parent would have the benefits on even numbered years and the other in odd numbered years because Revenue Canada would not split the benefit between the parties monthly. Under the new regime, where there is a shared parenting regime, each eligible parent will get 50% of the payment he/she would have received if the child lived with them all of the time. There is no option to change this under the new legislation.
The good news is, that in the case of the CCB, parents earning what they were earning under the old regime, will be getting more monies than they received via CCTB and UCCB. However, because these benefits are higher, we see a reduction, in most situations, of spousal support as a result. If you have any other questions on how this and other recent court decisions impact spousal support, feel free to contact our office to speak with one of our lawyers.
Written by Anna Preston, Family Law Lawyer at Galbraith Family Law. If you would like to book a consultation with Anna please click here, or by visiting our website at www.GalbraithFamilyLaw.com.