Terms of Service

Australian Child Support Calculator

auschildsupport.com.au

Last updated: January 29, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Australian Child Support Calculator service (the "Service") at auschildsupport.com.au (the "Website"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("you" or "User") and ChildSupport Direct (ABN: 27 925 351 253) ("we", "us", or "our").

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Service.

By clicking "I agree", submitting information through our forms, or continuing to use the Service, you confirm that:

• You are at least 18 years of age
• You have read and understood these Terms
• You agree to comply with all applicable Australian laws

2. Service Description

What we provide:

We operate a free online child support calculator that estimates child support payments based on the Services Australia child support formula. Our Service includes:

• Calculator Tool: Implements the official 8-step child support assessment formula with 6 formula variants
• Instant Estimates: Provides immediate calculations based on information you provide
• Complexity Detection: Identifies situations that may benefit from professional legal advice
• Lawyer Referral Service: Connects users with independent family law practitioners (optional)
• Educational Content: Blog articles and resources about Australian child support law

What we DON'T provide:

• Legal advice: We are not lawyers and do not provide legal advice
• Financial advice: We are not financial advisors or accountants
• Official assessments: Only Services Australia can provide binding child support assessments
• Guaranteed accuracy: Calculator results are estimates only (see Section 3)
• Lawyer services: Lawyers we refer are independent contractors (see Section 5)

Our role: We provide a free estimation tool and connect users with independent legal professionals. We do not practice law, provide professional advice, or guarantee outcomes.

3. Calculator Accuracy & Limitations

CRITICAL: Please read this section carefully.

3.1 Estimates Only, Not Legal Advice

The calculator provides estimates only. Results are not:

• Official child support assessments
• Legal advice or recommendations
• Financial advice or tax guidance
• Binding determinations of your obligations

3.2 Why Results May Differ from Services Australia

Our calculator implements the official Services Australia formula, but results may differ from official assessments due to:

Data Quality Issues:

• Incomplete or inaccurate information you provide
• Estimates vs. actual income figures
• Missing details about your specific situation

Formula Complexity:

• Edge cases not fully captured by our implementation
• Rounding differences in multi-step calculations
• Timing differences (assessment periods, income years)

Special Circumstances:

• Court orders that override standard formula
• Change of Assessment applications (10 special factors)
• Binding child support agreements
• International cases or reciprocating jurisdictions
• Income from self-employment, trusts, or complex sources

3.3 Do Not Rely Solely on This Calculator

WARNING: Do not make important legal or financial decisions based solely on calculator results.

• Consult Services Australia for an official child support assessment
• Seek legal advice from a qualified family lawyer if your situation is complex
• Get financial advice if you have questions about tax implications or financial planning
• Verify all information before taking action based on calculator results

3.4 No Professional Relationship

Using this calculator does not create:

• A lawyer-client relationship
• An accountant-client relationship
• A financial advisor-client relationship
• Any professional duty of care owed to you

4. User Obligations

4.1 Accurate Information Required

You agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and current information
• Update information if your circumstances change
• Not deliberately enter false or misleading data
• Use reasonable care when entering financial figures

4.2 Prohibited Uses

You must NOT:

• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to scrape, copy, or reverse-engineer the calculator
• Submit false information to test or abuse the system
• Use automated tools (bots, scripts) to access the Service
• Interfere with the Service's operation or security
• Impersonate another person or provide false identity information
• Use the Service to harass, threaten, or harm others
• Violate any applicable Australian laws or regulations

5. Lawyer Referrals

5.1 How the Referral Service Works

If our complexity detection identifies that your situation may benefit from legal advice, we may:

1. Display an alert recommending you speak with a family lawyer
2. Offer to connect you with independent family law practitioners
3. Collect your contact information (with your consent)
4. Share your case summary with lawyers who may be able to assist

This is optional. You can use the calculator without providing any contact information or requesting lawyer referrals.

5.2 Lawyers Are Independent Contractors

IMPORTANT: Lawyers in our referral network are independent legal practitioners. They are NOT:

• Our employees
• Our partners or joint venture participants
• Our agents or representatives
• Under our supervision or control

5.3 No Endorsement or Guarantee

We do NOT:

• Endorse or recommend any specific lawyer
• Guarantee the quality, competence, or suitability of any lawyer
• Supervise or monitor lawyer conduct or case outcomes
• Verify lawyer credentials beyond basic registration checks
• Guarantee that a lawyer will accept your case

5.4 Not Liable for Lawyer Conduct

We are NOT liable for:

• Lawyer negligence, errors, or professional misconduct
• Disputes between you and a lawyer
• Case outcomes or legal results
• Lawyer fees, billing disputes, or refund claims
• Breach of lawyer-client confidentiality by the lawyer
• Any loss or damage arising from lawyer services

Your relationship with the lawyer is separate from your use of our Service. Any disputes with a lawyer must be resolved directly with them or through appropriate professional complaint channels (e.g., Legal Services Commissioner).

6. Privacy & Data Handling

6.1 Privacy Policy Governs

Our collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy.

What we collect:

• Calculator inputs (income, children, care arrangements)
• Contact information (if you request lawyer referrals)
• Usage data (analytics, page views, device information)

How we use it:

• To provide calculator results
• To connect you with lawyers (with your consent)
• To improve our Service
• To comply with legal obligations

Your rights:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate information
• Request deletion (subject to legal obligations)
• Withdraw consent for lawyer referrals
• Complain to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

6.2 Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures including:

• Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Access controls and audit trails
• Secure database hosting (Supabase, Sydney region)
• Time-limited access tokens for lawyer lead viewing

However, no system is 100% secure. You acknowledge that internet transmission carries inherent risks.

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Our Ownership

We own or license all intellectual property in the Service, including:

• Calculator software and algorithms
• Website design, layout, and user interface
• Blog content, articles, and educational materials
• Trademarks, logos, and brand assets
• Database structure and compiled data

7.2 Limited License to Use

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:

• Access and use the calculator for personal, non-commercial purposes
• View and read our educational content
• Print or save calculator results for your own records

8. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability

8.1 Service Provided "AS IS"

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

We disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

• Accuracy: Calculator results may contain errors or inaccuracies
• Availability: Service may be interrupted, delayed, or unavailable
• Fitness for Purpose: Service may not meet your specific needs
• Security: Data transmission and storage carry inherent risks

8.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY AUSTRALIAN LAW:

We are NOT liable for any loss or damage arising from:

• Calculator errors, inaccuracies, or miscalculations
• Reliance on calculator results for legal or financial decisions
• Service interruptions, downtime, or technical failures
• Data loss, corruption, or unauthorized access
• Lawyer conduct, negligence, or case outcomes
• Third-party services (hosting, analytics, email providers)

Maximum liability: If we are found liable despite these limitations, our total liability is limited to $100 AUD or the amount you paid to use the Service (whichever is greater). Since the Service is free for users, this means $100 AUD maximum.

8.3 Australian Consumer Law Rights Preserved

IMPORTANT: Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any consumer rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) or other applicable Australian consumer protection laws that cannot be excluded by agreement.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Australian Child Support Calculator, its officers, directors, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any applicable laws or regulations
• Your violation of any third-party rights
• Your provision of false, inaccurate, or misleading information
• Your misuse of calculator results or reliance on inaccurate estimates
• Any dispute between you and a lawyer you engaged through our referral service

10. Termination

You may stop using the Service at any time. You may request deletion of your personal information by contacting privacy@auschildsupport.com.au.

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service immediately, without notice, if you violate these Terms or engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity.

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Privacy Complaints

If you have a complaint about how we handle your personal information, contact us at privacy@auschildsupport.com.au. We will investigate and respond within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

11.2 Other Disputes

For disputes not related to privacy, contact us at support@auschildsupport.com.au. If informal resolution fails, disputes will be resolved through the courts of New South Wales, Australia.

11.3 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia. You irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Australia.

12. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date. For material changes that reduce your rights or increase your obligations, we will provide at least 14 days notice.

Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. General Provisions

• Severability: If any provision is found invalid, the remaining provisions continue in full force.
• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement.
• No Waiver: Our failure to enforce any provision does not constitute a waiver.
• Assignment: You may not assign your rights under these Terms without our consent.

14. Contact Information

These Terms of Service are effective as of January 27, 2026.

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