An Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support, R.S.Q., C. P-2.2
The Act to Facilitate the Payment of Support, R.S.Q., c. P-2.2, has been a godsend to women and children throughout Quebec! Since 1997, the Minister of Revenue of Quebec collects child and spousal support, without charge to the recipient. This saves a fortune in legal fees for the women and children who can least afford to hire a lawyer to collect the support they need in the first place! The MRQ collects the support from the debtor, and remits it to you semi-monthly, on the 1st and 15th days of each month (by automatic deposit in your bank account, if you set it up!).
Of course, this law does not take away your right to collect your alimony or child support yourself, in the event the Minister of Revenue fails to act, or is not acting fast enough. When the debtor is about to skip the country, is hiding assets or you discover he has income he failed to disclose, call your lawyer to issue seizures against him, and don't wait!
Your agent at the Minister of Revenue is supposed to keep you advised of all steps taken to execute your judgment or separation agreement. If not, do not be shy to call and ask. Your agent cannot refuse to answer. Also, the Minister of Revenue no longer has the right to make any "deals" with your debtor, without your prior approval!
Your agent at the Minister of Revenue can only collect child and spousal support that are payable regularly (weekly, monthly), and only sums that are clearly defined in a judgment. Lump sum support and provisions for costs are not collected by the MRQ. If your judgment says your ex-husband has to pay school fees or the mortgage, the MRQ will also not collect these sums, unless the figures are set out in the judgment. Last of all, the MRQ will not collect support set out in an agreement that has not been ratified by the Court.
So remember! Always get a judgment. Always specify all amounts the debtor must pay, not just "categories." Don't rely solely on an agreement. If your agent does not move fast enough, don't wait! Get your lawyer to issue a seizure!
