Québec has introduced new rules establishing how financial contributions will be calculated to support children born as a result of sexual assault. The Regulation respecting the financial contribution as support for the needs of a child born as a result of sexual assault, made by the Minister of Justice under article 542.33 of the Civil Code of Québec, provides a structured formula for determining the minimum financial contribution owed by a debtor while allowing adjustments based on individual financial circumstances and the child’s needs.

Under the new framework, the financial contribution begins with a minimum amount calculated according to a specific formula. This amount may be increased where necessary to reflect the debtor’s overall financial situation or known and foreseeable costs associated with the child’s special needs. The approach is designed to provide a predictable baseline while ensuring that courts retain flexibility to address circumstances where the minimum calculation does not adequately reflect available resources or the child’s requirements.

The minimum contribution is determined through the formula A × (B + C). The first component, A, represents the lesser of two amounts: 10% of the debtor’s disposable income or a fixed indexed amount of $10,882. Disposable income is calculated using the debtor’s annual income after deducting the applicable basic deduction established under Québec’s parental contribution rules and any union and professional dues. The fixed amount is adjusted annually according to changes in the Pension Index under the Québec Pension Plan, with the updated amount published by the Minister of Justice in the Gazette officielle du Québec.

The second component, B, represents the number of years from the child’s birth until the date of judgment or until the child reaches sufficient autonomy, whichever occurs first. Certain years are excluded from the calculation, including periods when the child’s legal filiation with the debtor was established and periods covered by financial contributions granted to an adult child under article 542.35 of the Civil Code. The regulation presumes that a child reaches sufficient autonomy at age 21.

The third component, C, accounts for inflation and the number of years remaining until the child reaches sufficient autonomy. A schedule included in the regulation establishes inflation factors ranging from 1.00 for one remaining year to 25.78 for 21 remaining years. These factors ensure that future financial needs are considered when determining the contribution amount.

The regulation provides detailed rules for determining the debtor’s annual income. Income includes wages, salaries, employment-related compensation, third-party support received for personal needs, employment insurance benefits, parental insurance benefits, pension and compensation benefits, taxable dividends, investment income, rental income, and business or self-employment income.

Quebec (1125/2026) July 22, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.