Savard and Crosland (Child support)

The case of *Savard and Crosland* concerned a dispute over child support payments. The applicant, Savard, sought to have a decision of the Child Support Registrar reviewed. The core of the dispute revolved around the percentages of care attributed to each parent, which directly impacts the child support assessment.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar had erred in determining the likely future pattern of care for the child. Specifically, the court had to consider if there had been a change in the likely pattern of care since the last assessment and, if so, how that change should be reflected in the child support calculation.

Senior Magistrate Ellis affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the evidence did not establish a sufficient change in the likely pattern of care to warrant a reassessment. The court applied the principles governing child support assessments, which require a consideration of the actual and reasonably foreseeable future care arrangements for the child. In this instance, the Magistrate was not satisfied that the applicant had demonstrated a substantial and ongoing shift in care responsibilities that would justify altering the existing child support assessment.