---
title: "Child Support Determination Form Quebec (Schedule 1): How to Complete It ✦ Goldwater Droit"
meta:
  "og:description": "The child support determination form isn't just paperwork — which Division you use and how you report income can change the amount by hundreds of dollars a month."
  "og:title": "Quebec's Child Support Formula Explained: How Schedule 1 Actually Works"
  description: "Plain-language guide to Quebec's child support calculation form — income disclosure, custody divisions, special expenses, and when courts can depart from the formula."
---

# Child Support Determination Form (Schedule 1)

## Overview

The **Child Support Determination Form (Schedule 1)** is the prescribed instrument for applying the Quebec child support model whenever support for a child is established, modified, or reviewed. The form translates each parent's income, custody time, and the children's specific expenses into a calculated annual support figure that courts in Quebec must consider in every child support proceeding.

The _Civil Code of Québec_ and the _Regulation respecting the determination of child support payments_ establish a formula-driven model producing a presumptive support amount. This amount is determined by annually indexed [basic parental contribution tables](https://www.quebec.ca/en/family-and-support-for-individuals/separation-divorce/children-responsibility/child-support/contribution-tables), which are calibrated to cover a child's ordinary everyday needs. The parties can derogate from these tables by consent or by application of either parent in consideration of special expenses tied to the child's particular situation.

This child support calculation form is required whether separated parents resolve support through mediation, a notarized agreement, or contested proceedings.

Note: Practitioners often refer to this form simply as a "Schedule 1" or by its French equivalent, an "Annexe 1".

> ⚠️ The Government of Quebec has an online [tool for the calculation of child support payments](https://cpa.justice.gouv.qc.ca/en). The Child Support Determination form (Schedule 1) must still be filed if you wish to file a child support application with the Court.

## What Does the Child Support Determination Form (Schedule 1) Do?

The form applies the Quebec Child Support Model and determines the amount of child support payable from one parent to the other. The form can be filled out by the mother, the father, both of them jointly, or by the court.

**Part 1** identifies the names of the parents and the dates of birth of their common children for whom the application is made.

**Parts 2 and 3** establish each parent's **disposable income** — gross income from all sources minus a prescribed basic deduction, union dues, and professional fees — and derive the **distribution factor** reflecting each parent's proportional share of combined income.

**Part 4** cross-references combined disposable income and number of children against a government table to produce the **basic parental contribution**, then adds each parent's proportional share of net child care costs, post-secondary education expenses, and specified special expenses.

**Part 5** calculates annual support based on the actual custody arrangement across four Divisions: sole custody, extended visiting rights, split custody, and shared custody.

**Part 6** caps support at 50% of the paying parent's disposable income, reflecting the principle that a parent cannot be required to pay support that exceeds capacity.

**Part 7** applies when parents agree to a different support quantum than the formula produces. Under [article 587.3 of the _Civil Code of Québec_](https://canlii.ca/t/z35#se:587_3), courts scrutinize these departures with precise written reasons required.

**Part 8** determines payment frequency (monthly, weekly, biweekly, or other). If payments are made through the Minister of Revenue via the [Act to facilitate the payment of support](https://canlii.ca/t/xm6), frequency may be adjusted according to the Act's terms.

**Part 9** records each parent's assets and liabilities. While child support is determined by income, custodial time, and special expenses, this section verifies financial disclosure credibility and provides an evidentiary basis for imputing income or justifying a departure from the guidelines.

**Part 10** is where each parent signs and declares under oath that the information provided is accurate and complete. A person authorized to administer oaths (such as a licence commissioner of oaths or attorney not representing either party) must witness and sign.

> ⚠️ The Child Support Determination Form must be completed whenever child support is established or reviewed, whether in a judicial or non-judicial context.

## When Do You Need the Child Support Determination Form?

The Child Support Determination form is required whenever support for a child is established, modified, or reviewed before a Quebec court or within a formal out-of-court settlement. This includes initial separation or divorce proceedings, variation applications where income or custody time has changed materially, and periodic reviews under the Act to facilitate the payment of support. The form covers only **common children** of the listed parents.

> ⚠️ The form is required even when parents agree — a consensual arrangement does not waive the obligation to complete and exchange it as the basis of the agreement.

## Who Must File the Child Support Determination Form?

Both parents are expected to complete the form jointly wherever possible, each providing full financial disclosure. When joint completion is not feasible, the initiating parent completes their own sections and may include any known information about the other parent. Where a matter proceeds to court, the judge may establish the form on the basis of evidence presented. Both parents must sign Part 10 — a declaration under oath — before a person authorized to administer oaths. Each parent signs separately; one parent cannot sign on behalf of the other.

## How Do You Use the Child Support Determination Form?

Complete the form sequentially. Parts 2 and 3 require annual income figures — current year or projected over the next 12 months; monthly figures must be converted to annual totals before entry. Part 9 requires full disclosure of each parent's assets and liabilities.

The Division is not a choice — it is determined by the actual custody arrangement, measured in days per year. Complete only the Division that reflects your situation. The completed form is filed with the Quebec Superior Court in the relevant district. In Montreal, family division filings are made at the Palais de Justice de Montréal at 10 Rue Saint-Antoine E, Montréal, QC H2Y 1B5.

**Division 1 — Sole Custody (visiting time at 20% or less)**

Apply Division 1 when one parent has full custody and the other's visiting and outing time represents 20% or less of the year — roughly 73 days or fewer. The non-custodial parent pays their proportional share of the total annual contribution. This is the simplest calculation path on the form.

**Division 1.1 — Extended Visiting Rights (between 20% and 40%)**

Apply Division 1.1 when the non-custodial parent's visiting and outing time falls between 20% and 40% of the year. A compensation mechanism reduces the non-custodial parent's support obligation in proportion to the time above the 20% floor. Parents frequently dispute how to count days, so accuracy is critical.

**Division 2 — Split Custody**

Apply Division 2 when each parent has sole custody of at least one child from the relationship. Each parent's contribution is calculated for the child or children in the other's custody; the net difference is the support payable. Division 2 is uncommon but arises where siblings are placed with different parents.

**Division 3 — Shared Custody (40% or more for each parent)**

Apply Division 3 when each parent has at least 40% of custody time across all the children — approximately 146 days or more per year for each parent. In _Droit de la famille — 191664_ (2019, QC CA), the court emphasized that this 40% threshold is measured in actual days, not estimated percentages, and that this calculation materially affects support. Each parent's basic contribution is reduced by their actual custody share, and the net difference is the support payable. Support under Division 3 is typically lower than under sole custody arrangements because both parents absorb direct costs during their custody time.

The 40% threshold is calculated to the day. Parents whose arrangement sits close to this line should count actual custody days before completing the form — a difference of a few days determines which Division applies and can alter annual support by a material amount.

**Division 4 — Mixed Arrangements**

Apply Division 4 when more than one type of arrangement applies across the children — for example, one child in sole custody and another in shared custody. Division 4 runs a separate calculation for each child group and aggregates the results.

> ⚠️ Supporting documents must be submitted separately — the form's instructions explicitly prohibit stapling documents to it.

## What Documents and Information Do You Need?

- **Provincial tax return and assessment notice** for the last fiscal year, or federal equivalents if the provincial return has not been filed
- **Last three pay slips** for employed income
- **Financial statements** for self-employment or business income
- **Income and expense statement** for rental properties
- **Net child care costs** after government credits and reimbursements
- **Post-secondary education invoices** and applicable reimbursements
- **Receipts or invoices** for any special expenses at line 405
- **Complete assets and liabilities information**: property values, mortgage and loan balances, pension amounts, and all outstanding debts

> ⚠️ Missing or incomplete supporting documents are among the most common reasons for delays in processing. Gather all income documentation before beginning the form.

## Understanding Income, Custody, and Special Expenses

**Income characterization** is frequently contested. The form requires gross income from all sources, but the correct treatment of self-employment earnings, dividends, and non-standard benefits directly affects the disposable income figure. A self-employed parent in Westmount or NDG may have reported income that does not reflect amounts genuinely available for support.

**Custody time** is determinative, not descriptive. The threshold between extended visiting rights (Division 1.1) and shared custody (Division 3) is 40% of annual custody time — approximately 146 days. A difference of a few days changes the applicable Division and can materially alter annual support. Parents sharing children informally without a formal schedule are particularly exposed to disputes at this boundary.

**Special expenses** under lines 403–405 are not standardized — whether a therapy, activity, or educational program qualifies is frequently contested. The court retains discretion to accept, adjust, or reject the calculated figure — particularly where the paying party has extraordinary financial means or the capacity-to-pay cap applies.

## Illustrative Scenario

> 📌 **Parent A** and **Parent B** separated after a ten-year relationship and have two children. **Parent A** is salaried; **Parent B** operates a consulting business from a home office in NDG. The children spend just over 40% of their time with each parent, placing the arrangement in shared custody under Division 3.**Parent B** reports modest net income after business expenses, but **Parent A** disputes the figure, asserting that personal expenses are being run through the business. The form requires financial statements to support the self-employment income claim, and the court orders three years of business records before accepting the disclosed amount. Once income is correctly established, the resulting calculation under Division 3 is substantially lower than a sole custody arrangement would have produced.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the threshold for shared custody under this form?

Shared custody under Division 3 applies when each parent has at least 40% of annual custody time — approximately 146 days — calculated by dividing actual days of custody by 365. Arrangements between 20% and 40% fall under Division 1.1 and typically produce a higher support obligation for the non-custodial parent.

### Can parents agree on a different support amount than what the form calculates?

Yes, with court approval. Part 7 requires both the calculated and agreed amounts on the form, with a precise written explanation of why they differ. Under [article 587.3 of the _Civil Code of Québec_](https://canlii.ca/t/z35#se:587_3), courts scrutinize these departures to confirm children's needs are met. A general reference to parental agreement will not satisfy that review.

### What types of costs qualify as special expenses?

Special expenses must pass a two-part test — they must be reasonable given the parents' means, and they must reflect a need specific to that child. This is why competitive hockey training might qualify while recreational skating would not, since routine leisure is already built into the basic parental contribution. Disputes over whether a given expense qualifies are resolved by the court if parents cannot agree.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Selecting the wrong Division in Part 5** is the most consequential error. Division selection requires an actual count of custody days — estimating rather than counting risks completing the wrong formula entirely.
- **Entering monthly figures rather than annual amounts** distorts every downstream calculation.
- **Omitting special expenses already paid directly** — lines 403–405 require net amounts regardless of which parent currently pays them.
- **Leaving Part 9 incomplete** — the oath in Part 10 covers the entire form. Omitting a significant asset — a rental property, an RRSP balance — is not a clerical error under oath.
- **Providing insufficient reasons in Part 7** when departing from the calculated amount. The court requires a substantive explanation; "the parties agree" does not qualify.

## When to Get Legal Help

Self-completing the determination form is workable in straightforward cases — salaried income, a clear custody schedule, no disputed expenses. Risk increases substantially where a parent is self-employed or has non-standard income, because an incorrect income figure propagates through every calculation that follows.

Where custody time is near the 40% threshold, a difference of a few days changes which Division applies and can alter annual support materially. For Montreal-area families at this boundary, legal advice is a practical necessity.

Parents considering a departure from the calculated amount under Part 7 should have a lawyer review the reasons section before filing — courts do not automatically approve these agreements, and an insufficiently justified departure can be rejected.

## Speak with a Family Lawyer

The determination form is more than paperwork — it is the mechanism through which courts establish support obligations that will extend for a decade or more of your child's minority. A single error in Division selection, income reporting, or custody day counting can shift the result by hundreds of dollars monthly. If your situation involves self-employment income, contested custody percentages, or special expenses, legal guidance before completing the form is a sound investment.

Goldwater Droit advises Montreal-area families on child support calculation, including form completion, income disclosure strategy, and custody time documentation. Contact us for a consultation.

[Contact Goldwater Droit](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/contact)

Written and reviewed by [**Émylia Morin**](https://goldwaterdroit.com/en/our-team/emylia-morin)

Published on **April 1, 2026**

Last reviewed **April 1, 2026**

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