To change an existing child or spousal support order in Ontario, you generally bring a "motion to change" in the court that made the order, and you must show a material change in circumstances since the order was made — something substantial, generally continuing, and not foreseen at the time. If both parties agree on the new terms, a consent motion to change (Form 15C or 15D) can be filed without a contested hearing; if you disagree, the motion proceeds through the regular contested process.
- You must show a material change in circumstances — a change that is significant, ongoing, and was not foreseen when the original order was made.
- A motion to change is brought in the court that issued the original order (or, in some cases, the court in the area where either party now lives).
- If both parties agree on the new support terms, a consent motion to change can be filed using the applicable consent form without a contested court appearance.
- If you disagree, the motion proceeds as a contested matter, generally requiring a financial statement and supporting disclosure from both sides.
- The Family Responsibility Office (FRO) enforces whatever order is currently in place — it does not decide whether support should change; only a new court order (or a properly filed consent) updates what FRO collects.
- An existing support order stays in effect, and arrears continue to accrue, until a new order is actually made — simply agreeing informally to pay less is not the same as changing the order.
What Is a Motion to Change?
A motion to change is the formal court process for altering an existing support order (or other final order, such as parenting terms) after it has already been made. It exists because the court does not automatically revisit orders as life changes — a support order from three years ago remains legally binding at today’s income levels until someone formally asks the court to update it.
This applies whether you’re trying to increase support because the paying parent’s income has grown, or decrease it because your own income has genuinely dropped, a child has become independent, or parenting time has shifted substantially.
The "Material Change in Circumstances" Standard
Courts will not revisit a final order simply because one party is unhappy with it or wants a second opinion. You must show a material change in circumstances — generally understood as a change that is substantial, has some degree of permanence rather than being purely temporary, and was not foreseen or accounted for at the time the original order was made.
- A significant, lasting increase or decrease in either party’s income.
- Job loss, disability, or retirement that genuinely changes earning capacity.
- A child ceasing to be eligible for support (reaching independence) — or, conversely, remaining dependent longer than expected due to school or disability.
- A substantial change in the parenting time schedule that affects the underlying support calculation.
A short-term drop in income — a few months between jobs, a temporary reduction in overtime — generally does not meet the threshold on its own. Courts look for changes that appear likely to persist, not momentary fluctuations, which is one reason timing a motion to change matters.
Consent vs. Contested Motions
If both parties already agree on new support terms, the process is considerably simpler: a consent motion to change can be filed with the court, reflecting the agreed changes, generally without a contested hearing. If the parties don’t agree, the motion proceeds through the contested process — financial disclosure is exchanged, each side files a financial statement, and the matter may require case conferences or a hearing before a judge decides.
Even where you expect your co-parent to agree, put the proposed change in writing and get it formally filed as a consent order rather than relying on an informal understanding. An informal agreement to pay less (or accept less) has no effect on the legally binding order on file — or on what FRO is enforcing — until a new order actually exists.
The Forms Involved
A contested motion to change generally uses Form 15 (motion to change), with a response on Form 15B. Where the parties consent to the new terms, a consent motion to change form applies instead — court guidance distinguishes between forms depending on whether the agreed changes involve support alone or support together with other terms. Because court forms and their exact scope are periodically updated, confirm the current, correct form with the court office or with your lawyer before filing rather than relying on an older template.
Financial disclosure requirements also differ: a contested motion generally requires each party to file a financial statement, while some consent motions involving only child support may not require financial statements to be filed, depending on what the parties indicate in the form itself.
Where the Family Responsibility Office Fits In
It’s a common misunderstanding that the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) can adjust a support amount. It cannot. FRO’s role is strictly to enforce and collect whatever order is currently on file with it — garnishing wages, intercepting tax refunds, and pursuing arrears according to the existing terms.
Once a motion to change results in a new order (or an approved consent), that updated document is filed with FRO, which then adjusts what it collects going forward. Until that happens, FRO continues enforcing the old terms, including any arrears that accrued — regardless of informal arrangements between the parties.
The Practical Process
- Identify the material change and gather documentation supporting it — pay records, a termination letter, medical documentation, or evidence of the new parenting schedule.
- Try to reach agreement with the other party where possible — this opens the door to the faster consent process.
- File the correct motion to change form with the court that made the original order (or the applicable court for your current circumstances).
- Exchange financial disclosure if the motion is contested, and attend any required case conference.
- Obtain the new order and ensure it is filed with FRO so enforcement reflects the updated terms going forward.
A father paying child support is laid off and, six months later, finds new employment at a lower salary that appears likely to be his long-term earning level in that industry. Rather than simply paying less and hoping for the best, he brings a motion to change, provides his termination letter, new pay stubs, and a job-search history, and reaches an agreement with the mother on a revised amount reflecting his new income — filed as a consent motion and sent to FRO so enforcement matches the new terms going forward.
Need to change a support order — or responding to one someone else is trying to change? Our Toronto family lawyers can walk you through the process. Call 416-274-2222 for a free 30-minute consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Courts generally require a change that is significant (not minor or temporary), that has some permanence to it, and that was not anticipated or accounted for when the original order was made — common examples include a substantial change in either party’s income, a child no longer being eligible for support, or a major shift in parenting time.
No. The existing order remains legally binding — and arrears continue to accumulate — until it is formally changed through a new order or a properly filed consent. Unilaterally reducing or stopping payments without a new order puts you at risk of significant arrears and enforcement action, even if your income genuinely dropped.
Both are used for consent motions to change where the parties agree on new terms, but they are scoped slightly differently and the current court guidance should be checked before filing — generally, one is used where the agreed changes involve support terms together with other matters, and the other is used for support-only consent changes. Confirm the current form requirements with the court office or your lawyer before filing, as court forms are periodically updated.
It is not legally required, particularly for a straightforward consent motion where both parties already agree. A contested motion to change — especially one involving disputed income, self-employment, or allegations that a parent is deliberately underemployed — benefits significantly from legal representation given the financial disclosure and legal argument involved.
Generally in the court that made the existing order, though in some circumstances it can be filed in the court for the area where either party currently lives. Which court applies can depend on your specific order and current circumstances, so confirm with the court office before filing.
Once a new order (or a filed consent reflecting new terms) is issued, it is filed with the Family Responsibility Office, which then enforces and collects according to the updated terms. FRO itself does not have authority to change the amount owing — it only enforces whatever order is currently on file.
Yes — a motion to change can ask the court to adjust support going forward and, where appropriate, to order a retroactive adjustment for a past period. Retroactive claims involve their own legal framework around how far back a court is willing to go.