Family Support Orders Service
Family Support Orders Service (FSOS) is a program implemented by the New Brunswick Department of Justice that monitors and enforces support orders. The service is free of charge and strives to attain full compliance with support orders and agreements.
How does the FSOS work?
Once support orders are filed with the FSOS, payments are received from the payor (the person making the support payment) and the FSOS keeps records of all payments made. When necessary, the FSOS takes steps to prompt the payor to make the required payments. Once a payment is received, FSOS forwards it to the beneficiary (the person receiving the support payment).
The FSOS cannot vary your support order or agreement and cannot act as legal advisor, nor does it have the role of counsellor. It is strictly a means to facilitate monitoring and enforcement of support payments.
How is a support order filed with the FSOS?
To benefit from this enforcement service, the support order must be filed with the FSOS.
Support orders can be made under the federal Divorce Act (http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/D-3.4/index.html), or under the provincial Family Services Act (http://www.gnb.ca/0062/acts/acts/f-02-2.htm). Those made under the Family Services Act are automatically filed with the FSOS. However, the beneficiary can choose to receive the payments directly from the payor and not through the FSOS by filing a Notice Not to File A Support Order Form.
Support orders made under the Divorce Act are not automatically filed with the FSOS. A beneficiary living in New Brunswick can however choose to file the order with the FSOS by filing a Notice to File a Support Order Form. If you are a beneficiary residing outside of New Brunswick, contact the support enforcement office in your area for more information.
The forms indicated above are available through your local FSOS office.
Can a support agreement be enforced through FSOS?
Yes. Consult your local FSOS office for details.
Enforcement
If a support payment becomes overdue, federal and provincial laws give the FSOS authority to use different methods to collect payments from the payor.
Garnishment:
This permits the FSOS to initiate a payment order on the payor's income, such as wages, pensions, income tax refunds, GST credits, worker's compensation benefits, employment insurance benefits, etc.
Enforcement hearing:
The FSOS can bring your case to court before a judge who will decide on additional enforcement methods.
Passport/license suspension:
If the payor owes more than $3,000 in support, the FSOS can ask the federal government to suspend, refuse to issue or to renew the payor's passport, federal aviation licence or marine licence.
How to make support payments:
Payments may be made in person with cash, certified cheque, money order, debit card or credit card at the local FSOS support enforcement office. Payments by certified cheque or money order may also be sent by mail.
Certified cheques and money orders must be made payable to the Minister of Finance for the Province of New Brunswick .
FSOS support enforcement offices
Bathurst |
Miramichi |
Campbellton |
Moncton
|
| Edmundston 121 Church St. PO Box 5001 Edmundston, NB E3V 3L3 Tel: (506) 735-2028 |
Saint John 110 Charlotte St. PO Box 5001 Saint John, NB E2L 4Y9 Tel: (506) 658-2400 |
| Fredericton 427 Queen St. PO Box 6000 Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1 Tel: (506) 453-4286 |
Woodstock 689 Main St. PO Box 5001 Woodstock, NB E7M 5C6 Tel: (506) 325-4463 |
FSOS Infoline
This line is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day to answer support payment questions. Have your Court file number and PIN ready when you call.
Fredericton clients: 444-FSOS (3767)
All other NB clients, toll-free at: 1-888-488-FSOS (3767)
Clients living outside NB: 1-506-444-FSOS (3767)
Link
The New Brunswick Justice Department's Family Support Orders Service http://www.gnb.ca/0062/fsos/index-e.asp
Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick
(click here for a list of Court of Queen's Bench locations)