We have joint custody of our child. I pay child support to my ex even though it is not court mandated. Can I claim the payment on my return?

[melvillem]

My ex claims the child tax credit and the child as a dependent.

[warrencheswick · Accepted solution]

No you can't. Child support (anything that is not explicitly spousal support) cannot be claimed, regardless of a court order or not.

Payments for a  court order explicitly for spousal support can be claimed, and the spouse would have to claim the income.

But in your case, no you cannot make any claims.

[TurboTaxJeffrey]

Unfortunately, regardless of whether the child support is from a court order or a written agreement, it is not a deduction.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/spprtpymnts/clm-eng.html#ftrprl