Frequently Asked Questions

The services that the OSE provides are free to parents who receive support payments. Some fees may be charged to the person who owes support payments to offset the costs of enforcement if enforcement action is necessary.

The enforcement officer will not contact the beneficiary with each action taken on the file or when payments arrive. However, you may access your account through the OSE Website www.gnb.ca/OSE  or contact the Toll-Free Infoline 1-888-488-3767, 7 days a week to receive the latest enforcement and payment information.

These systems are updated once daily and will give you the most current information about your file. Have your OSE Case Number and PIN ready.

If you do not know your case number or PIN, call the Justice Triage Centre at 1-844-673-4499.

If you tell us that the payer has the potential to be violent, the enforcement officer can follow up with you to see if you prefer that any special precautions be taken about the support enforcement. Such precautions might involve providing advance notification to you before enforcement actions are taken, in order that you may assess what impact such an action might have on your safety. In some instances, enforcement actions may be delayed or modified if there are aggravating factors in play at a given time.

The OSE cannot guarantee that payments will be received on a consistent basis. For instance, if the payments are deducted from a payment order on wages, the payments are remitted according to the pay dates, and not the dates written in the court order or agreement.

You should know that some payers make it very difficult for us to collect – even going to the extent of leaving the country to avoid paying support. Others may have no income or assets, or may be receiving income assistance, which means it may take a long time to collect what is owed to you.

To enforce orders in an effective way, it is important to have all the necessary information regarding the payer, such as their birth date, social insurance number, address and workplace. When payer information like location or employment is unknown, often the first step is to contact the beneficiary to see if they have any new information that could be helpful in locating them.

If no new information is provided, the OSE has the authority to gain access to certain governments records (both federal and provincial) and demand information from other sources to find out the whereabouts or employment of someone who owes support payments.

Should the information that is found not lead to the collection of support, the OSE will place the case on a rotational review and will continue to pursue your payments.

The OSE has the authority under federal and provincial laws to use various methods, when necessary, to collect overdue support payments.  The OSE may:

• initiate a payment order. Some examples of monies that can be garnished include wages, pensions, income tax refunds, GST credits, workers’ compensation benefits, and bank accounts, including jointly held bank accounts;
  
  
• issue a demand for information about a payer’s location, contact information, salary, employment, assets, or any other information that is considered necessary to enforce the order. The information demands can be made to anyone and may be done through
  direct searches of designated information banks. Information demanded must be provided within 14 days;
  
  
• report a payer to a credit bureau where the payer owes an amount greater than 3 months of support payments;
  
  
• suspend or revoke a payer’s driver’s licence if the payer owes an amount greater than 4 months of support payments;
  
  
• make corporations liable for support owed by a payer where the payer or the payer’s family owns the corporation;
  
  
• ask the federal government to suspend, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew the payer’s passport and/or federal aviation or marine license if the payer owes an amount greater than 3 months of support payments OR greater than $3,000;
  
  
• bring the case to Court for a Judge or Court Administrator to decide on additional enforcement action. This is called an enforcement hearing.

We look at each case individually. The actions we choose will depend on the history of the case, how much money is owed and what type of information we know about the payer. We will proceed with the enforcement actions that will have the best chance of success.

The person who is responsible for paying support can make payments electronically via online or telephone banking, by mail (certified cheque or money order) or in-person at Service New Brunswick.

Payments may be sent to the beneficiary by regular mail or by direct deposit.

Direct deposit is the most efficient form of payment and is recommended to avoid possible delays in postal services (such as a postal strike or higher volume periods like holidays). The OSE requires a valid mailing address to process support payments. If the OSE does not have a valid mailing address, all outgoing support payments will stop, including those made by direct deposit. Payments will restart once an address is received. It is imperative to keep the OSE informed of any changes in your contact information.  Usually, payments received by the OSE are processed within 48 hours.

To receive support payments by direct deposit, please complete the Direct Deposit Banking Form.

Once you are registered with the OSE all support payments must be paid through the OSE even if your court order provides for another method of payment. You should not accept payments directly from the payer as this will make our records inaccurate and may lead to unnecessary and inappropriate enforcement action.

If you do receive a direct payment, you must report it to the OSE immediately in writing so we can update our records. Continued acceptance of direct payments may result in your file being closed.

New Brunswick has reciprocal agreements with all Canadian provinces and territories, and with several foreign countries.

First, the OSE will register the support order or agreement with the jurisdiction in which the support payer lives. Once registered, the reciprocating jurisdiction takes over enforcement of the file and sends payments to the OSE. The enforcement in other jurisdictions may not be the same as New Brunswick as they follow their own laws and regulations; however, the goal of all maintenance enforcement programs is to ensure a steady flow of support payments to families.

Although child support, parenting time and decision-making responsibilities provisions may be included in the same court order, they are separate issues. The OSE only enforces the terms of the child support provision and has no authority to deal with other issues. Any concerns in relation to parenting time or decision-making responsibilities should be directed to your lawyer or to the court.

The OSE will not act on behalf of either party at a variation hearing and does not have the authority to vary or change the terms of the child or spousal support. We suggest that you contact your lawyer or the court if you wish to change the terms of your order or agreement.  There is a Child Support Recalculation Service where you may be eligible to have your child support adjusted.  You can access their website at www.gnb.ca/CSRS, contact them by phone at 1-833-224-2225 or by email at [email protected].

Refer to the Family Law Publication called “Child Support - Rights and Responsibilities”, if you would like to know more information about child support.

 A court may also determine that a ‘’step-parent’’ can also be liable to pay child support.  This includes anyone who has contributed to the support of the child and stood in the place of a parent to that child.

Child support amount are determined by the Child Support Guidelines, parents need to know that their child support amounts are based upon current income.  Exchanging copies of income tax returns gives parents the information that they need to decide whether the amount of child support needs to be updated.  The parents have the option of amending their agreement, apply to court for a new court order to change the amount of their child support or contact the Child Support Recalculation Service (CSRS) to see whether they are eligible to have their order/agreement recalculated.  They can contact the CSRS at 1-833-224-2225 or by email at [email protected].

Enforcement Officers with the OSE do not have the legal authority to change the amount of support that you pay or receive.  Enforcement Officers do not facilitate or enforce the exchange of income tax returns between parents.

See Also: Frequently Asked Questions if you pay support.

The Office of Support Enforcement provides a service for both people who receive support (beneficiary), and for people who pay support (payer). Anyone who has an order or agreement for child support can enroll.

We keep accurate and detailed records of payments that both you (the payer) and the beneficiary can ask to see at any time, and many payers see us as a neutral third party and objective agency, that can help reduce conflict over child support payments.

We know that many payers will never fall behind in their payments and enforcement action against them will never be necessary. However, if you do fall behind in your payments, we will have to take action to enforce what you owe and you will not be able to withdraw from the OSE without the consent of the beneficiary.

The services that OSE provides are free, however certain fees may be charged to the person who owes support payments to offset the costs of enforcement, if enforcement action is necessary.

Once your case is enrolled with the OSE, you are required to send payments to us. Payments can be made:

Online through SNB

In addition to over-the-counter payments at Service New Brunswick, you can now pay online or by calling 1-888-762-8600.

Electronically

The Office of Support Enforcement (OSE) can receive support payments made electronically through your bank using services such as telephone banking and internet or online banking.

Contact your online or telephone banking service provider and set up your electronic payment as you would with other bills. You can also set up your OSE payment as a recurring payment. Your account number for this purpose is your OSE account number, which begins with the letters SE.If you do not know your account number, call the Grand Falls Office at 1-844-673-4499.

By Mail

Money orders, business cheques and certified personal cheques must be made payable to the Minister of Finance and may be sent by mail directly to the Central Payment Unit (CPU) in Fredericton. Uncertified personal cheques are not accepted. Please indicate your OSE case number on all payments.

      OSE Central Payment Unit
      PO Box 6000
      Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5H1

Over the Counter at Service New Brunswick

In-person payments will only be accepted at Service New Brunswick (SNB) locations. To find SNB locations and operating hours, please call 1-888-762-8600 or visit www.SNB.ca. Payments can be made in person with cash, money order, debit, Visa, MasterCard, certified personal cheque or business cheque. Money orders, business cheques and certified personal cheques must be made payable to the Minister of Finance.

Arrangement with Income Source

You can arrange with your employer to have the amount of your regular support payments deducted from your income and forwarded to the OSE on an on-going basis. If you choose this method, you and your employer must complete the Notice of Arrangement with Income Source and return the signed original to the OSE.  (This form can be obtained by contacting 1-844-673-4499.)

You may also request that the OSE arrange for deductions with your employer and/or income source through a voluntary payment order. This service is free. If you choose this option, you must provide the following information to the OSE:

Your employer’s name ______________________________________
Payroll contact name _______________________________________
Payroll contact phone number ________________________________
Employer’s address _________________________________________
Employer’s e-mail (if applicable) ______________________________

Usually, payments received by the OSE are processed within 48 hours and are sent to the person receiving support by mail or direct deposit.

You are enrolled with the OSE because the person who receives support (beneficiary) chose to enroll your support order or agreement with us.

The OSE is not just for payers who have missed payments. Many people enroll with us simply because it’s easier to have us collect and track their payments.

Once your case is enrolled with the OSE, you should not pay the beneficiary directly as this will make our records inaccurate and may lead to unnecessary enforcement action against you.

We understand that there are circumstances that may make it difficult for you to make all your payments on time and in full. There is a Child Support Recalculation Service where you may be eligible to have your child support adjusted.  You can access their website at www.gnb.ca/CSRS, contact them by phone at 1-833-224-2225 or by email at [email protected].

If you are having trouble making your scheduled support payments, you may need to obtain a new court order or agreement. We cannot do this for you, nor do we have the authority to change the terms of the order or agreement.  Keep in contact with the OSE when your circumstances do change and we will work with you to come up with a plan for paying the arrears in addition to your ongoing support payments. If we cannot come to a voluntary payment arrangement with you, we will then consider enforcement action to make sure the beneficiary receives what they are legally owed under the support order or agreement.

The OSE has the authority under federal and provincial laws to use various methods, when necessary, to collect overdue support payments.  The OSE may:

• initiate a payment order. Some examples of monies that can be garnished include wages, pensions, income tax refunds, GST credits, workers’ compensation benefits, and bank accounts, including jointly held bank accounts;
• issue a demand for information about a payer’s location, contact information, salary, employment, assets, or any other information that is considered necessary to enforce the order. The information demands can be made to anyone and may be done through direct searches of designated information banks. Information demanded must be provided within 14 days;
• report a payer to a credit bureau where the payer owes an amount greater than 3 months of support payments;
• suspend or revoke a payer’s driver's licence if the payer owes an amount greater than 4 months of support payments;
• make corporations liable for support owed by a payer where the payer or the payer’s family owns the corporation;
• ask the federal government to suspend, refuse to issue, or refuse to renew the payer’s passport and/or federal aviation or marine license if the payer owes an amount greater than 3 months of support payments OR greater than $3,000;
• bring the case to Court for a Judge or Court Administrator to decide on additional enforcement action. This is called an enforcement hearing.

If there is a court order or agreement that requires you to pay child support, then you must pay it. It is a legal obligation.

Although child support, parenting time and decision-making responsibilities provisions may be included in the same court order, they are separate issues. The OSE only enforces the terms of the child support provision and has no authority to deal with other issues. Any concerns in relation to parenting time or decision-making responsibilities should be directed to your lawyer or to the court.

If there is a court order or agreement that requires you to pay child support, then you must pay it. It is a legal obligation.

Once your order or agreement is enrolled with us, we are required to make sure you pay the support you owe. If you think your order or agreement should be changed, then it is up to you to apply to the court to have it changed.

The OSE enforces the support payments as stated in the court order. Only the court can change the terms of the order or agreement. If there is a disagreement about any of the following, either the payer or the beneficiary should seek legal advice to change the order:

- The child or spousal support amount,
- The amount of arrears (the amount you are behind in your payments),
- When payments are due, or
- Any change in circumstances for either the payer, beneficiary or the children.

This depends on the circumstances surrounding the support order or agreement. The duty to pay child support generally lasts until the child reaches the age of majority, which is 19 years of age in New Brunswick. The order may last longer if the child is in a full-time educational program or is disabled. The court may end an order before a child reaches the age of majority if the child gets married or withdraws from parental control.

You should seek legal advice, and in the meantime, keep the OSE informed of any change in your dependant’s information or circumstances.

The OSE will not act on behalf of either party at a variation hearing and does not have the authority to vary or change the terms of the child or spousal support. We suggest that you contact your lawyer or the court if you wish to change the terms of your order or agreement.  There is a Child Support Recalculation Service where you may be eligible to have your child support adjusted.  You can access their website at www.gnb.ca/CSRS, contact them by phone at 1-833-224-2225 or by email at [email protected].

Refer to the Family Law Publication called “Child Support - Rights and Responsibilities”, if you would like to know more information about child support.

A court may also determine that a ‘’step-parent’’ can also be liable to pay child support.  This includes anyone who has contributed to the support of the child and stood in the place of a parent to that child.

Child support amount are determined by the Child Support Guidelines, parents need to know that their child support amounts are based upon current income.  Exchanging copies of income tax returns gives parents the information that they need to decide whether the amount of child support needs to be updated.  The parents have the option of amending their agreement, apply to court for a new court order to change the amount of their child support or contact the Child Support Recalculation Service (CSRS) to see whether they are eligible to have their order/agreement recalculated.  They can contact the CSRS at 1-833-224-2225 or by email at [email protected].

Enforcement Officers with the OSE do not have the legal authority to change the amount of support that you pay or receive.  Enforcement Officers do not facilitate or enforce the exchange of income tax returns between parents.

See Also: Frequently Asked Questions if you receive support.