Maybe a co-worker mentioned it over coffee, or your former spouse sent a link with a pointed note: the tables changed. If your child support order was made before October 1, 2025, the number in it came from tables that no longer apply to new calculations. The federal child support tables were updated on that date, and many Alberta parents have not heard about it.
That does not mean your order is wrong, and nothing changed automatically. It does mean the figure is worth checking, particularly if it has sat untouched for years.
Short answer
The 2025 Federal Child Support Tables took effect on October 1, 2025 and were updated to reflect more recent tax rules, but they do not automatically change an Alberta child support order made before that date, which stays payable as written until it is varied. A gap between the old table amount and the current one may support a review.
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Orders made from November 22, 2017 to September 30, 2025 used the 2017 tables.
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Nothing updates on its own. Someone has to agree, apply, or use the recalculation program.
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An income change usually matters more than a table change, so check both.
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Retroactive claims can run either way, including against the parent asking for the review.
What are the federal child support tables?
The federal child support tables are schedules published by the Department of Justice Canada that set the base monthly amount of child support. Each province has its own table, and the one that applies is the table for the province where the payor lives, so a payor in Edmonton, Alberta uses the Alberta table.
The tables are built from average tax and spending data rather than the cost of raising a particular child, which is why the amount turns on three inputs: guideline income, the number of children, and the payor's province. Alberta's guidelines adopt the same federal tables, so married and unmarried parents use the same figures. Our complete guide to child support in Alberta covers the rest.
What changed on October 1, 2025?
On October 1, 2025, the 2025 Federal Child Support Tables replaced the previous version for new calculations. They were updated to reflect more recent tax rules, since the amounts derive in part from tax rates and credits that shift over time.
This was a technical update, not a change in policy. The formula and the three inputs stayed the same. What moved is the figure attached to a given income and number of children, and how far it moved depends on where the income falls.
Which table applies to which period
| Period | Table in effect | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Before November 22, 2017 | Earlier federal tables | An order this old is likely out of date |
| November 22, 2017 to September 30, 2025 | 2017 Federal Child Support Tables | Most current Alberta orders use these |
| October 1, 2025 onward | 2025 Federal Child Support Tables | New calculations only, not old orders |
Do the 2025 child support tables automatically change my Alberta order?
No. The 2025 child support tables for Alberta do not automatically change an order made before October 1, 2025. The amount in a court order stays payable until it is varied by consent order, by a court application, or through the Alberta Child Support Recalculation Program.
This catches many people by surprise, and it cuts both ways. A payor who assumes the amount dropped and pays less is building arrears. A recipient who assumes it rose may count on money that is not owed.
What the change can do is support an argument. Where the table amount for the same income is now meaningfully different, that gap may be a change in circumstances justifying a review.
How to check whether your child support order is out of date
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Find your most recent order or filed agreement and note its date.
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Note the guideline income it was based on, often recited in the document.
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Confirm how many children it covers and whether any child is past 18 or finished school.
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Look up the current Alberta table amount for that income and number of children.
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Compare it to the amount being paid, and compare the payor's current income to the income the order used.
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If either gap is meaningful, get advice before changing what you pay.
Is an income change more important than a table change?
Usually, yes. A change in the payor's guideline income moves the table amount considerably more than the shift from the 2017 tables to the 2025 tables does at most income levels. That is why income is the first thing to compare, not the table. If income has risen or fallen since the order was made, that is normally the stronger basis for a review. Where income climbed and nobody adjusted the number, the real exposure is not the table update, it is the difference accruing since then.
How do you change a child support order in Alberta?
There are three routes, and the right one depends on how much agreement there is.
The first is agreement. If both parents accept a new figure it can be filed as a consent order, and time-sensitive consent orders can proceed through the Desk Process under the Family Focused Protocol rather than a court appearance, as our Alberta Family Focused Protocol guide describes.
The second is the Alberta Child Support Recalculation Program, which recalculates the table amount and the proportionate share of section 7 expenses each year from updated tax information. Eligibility conditions apply, and it does not decide parenting.
The third is a court application to vary, the route when income is in dispute or a parent will not disclose. If a marriage is also ending, our guide on how to get a divorce in Alberta covers how support fits in.
One caution before you ask for a review
Remember, asking a court to look at child support opens the whole number, not only the part you want changed. If the payor's income rose while the order stayed flat, a review can produce a retroactive order as well as a higher going-forward amount.
Courts weigh the reason for any delay, the payor's conduct, the child's circumstances, and the hardship a retroactive award would cause. The Alberta government's summary of the table changes is a starting point before taking a position.
Frequently asked questions
Did my child support automatically change on October 1, 2025?
No. The 2025 Federal Child Support Tables apply to calculations made from that date forward. An Alberta order keeps its amount until varied by consent order, court application, or the recalculation program. Paying a different amount on your own is not a variation and creates arrears.
How do I find out what the current table amount would be?
Start with the payor's current guideline income, usually line 15000 of the most recent tax return, then the number of children covered and the payor's province. The Department of Justice Canada publishes the tables, and the Alberta table applies to a payor in Alberta. Compare it to your order.
Can a change in the tables alone justify varying my order?
Sometimes. A meaningful difference between the old table amount and the current one may amount to a change in circumstances supporting a review. Whether a court agrees depends on the size of the gap and the rest of the situation. In most files, income change is the stronger argument.
Which tables applied before October 1, 2025?
The 2017 Federal Child Support Tables applied from November 22, 2017 to September 30, 2025, so most current Alberta orders were set under them. Orders made before November 22, 2017 used earlier tables. Knowing which set applied helps you see how far the figure has moved.
What if my ex refuses to update the amount?
You can apply to vary the order. A court can impute income where a parent will not disclose, meaning support is set on what that parent could earn. Financial disclosure is an ongoing obligation in Alberta, and non-disclosure can lead to costs awards and retroactive orders.
Talk to an Edmonton family lawyer
An order that has quietly gone out of date is easier to sort out than many parents expect, and knowing where you stand brings real peace of mind. If your child support order predates October 1, 2025, the team at Demas Schaefer can review whether the number still reflects the current tables and the current income, and our child support services page explains how we work. We offer a free 15-minute telephone or video consultation so you can see how we can help. Call 780-423-2643 or set up an appointment with one of our family lawyers.
About the author
Aditya Parihar is a Lawyer at Demas Schaefer LLP in Edmonton, Alberta. His work includes child and spousal support, parenting arrangements and applications to vary orders. Read more on Aditya Parihar's profile.
Last reviewed: September 14, 2026.
This article provides general information about family law in Alberta and is current as of September 14, 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Family law outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. If you need advice about your own situation, speak with a lawyer.