ST. JOHN’S, NL – Justice and Public Safety Minister Andrew Parsons says changes to Child Support Service Regulations will encourage parents to comply with income disclosure requirements and will also make the service more effective and efficient.
Effective today, March 1, parents who are required to pay child support under a new court order or agreement and fail to provide an annual income statement to the Recalculation Office will have their annual income automatically recalculated based on a 20 per cent increase to their most recently assessed annual income.
The service aims to help parents maintain a fair standard of support for their children by allowing a parent to have a child support order recalculated at regular intervals, based on updated financial information, without the need to return to court, according to a news release.
Several procedural and administrative issues and limitations identified by clients, staff, lawyers, court staff and judges are also addressed by the changes.
As well, parents will now receive notices by regular mail or email instead of registered mail. There will also be estimated dates of receipt.
“This recalculation service will save court costs and time when parents want to update child support payments,” Parsons said.
“The end of a marriage or relationship shouldn’t be the start of financial hardship for children and families as a result of parents ignoring their financial obligations.”
