Maintenance is meant to ensure that a child – and in some cases a spouse – has the means to live in a way that matches their needs and the means of the person who pays the maintenance.
01How I can help you
- setting maintenance for a minor child and for an adult child who is still in education or training,
- increasing or reducing maintenance when circumstances change,
- maintenance between spouses and a contribution towards the maintenance of a divorced spouse,
- a parents' agreement on maintenance to be approved by the court,
- enforcing maintenance arrears,
- defending against an unreasonably high claim.
02How we proceed
- Mapping needs and income – together we will put a figure on the child's justified needs and establish the abilities, means and financial circumstances of the paying parent.
- Proposed amount – based on the documents, I will propose a reasonable amount of maintenance.
- Agreement or court – we look for an agreement first; otherwise I will file a petition with the court and represent you in the proceedings.
- Enforcement – if the paying parent does not pay, I will propose further steps to recover the amounts owed.
03Frequently asked questions
- How is the amount of maintenance determined?
- According to the child's justified needs and the parent's abilities, means and financial circumstances. In principle, the child's standard of living should be the same as the parent's. The law also sets a minimum amount of maintenance.
- Can maintenance be awarded retrospectively?
- Maintenance is awarded from the day the court proceedings began. For a minor child, it can be awarded up to three years retrospectively where there are reasons deserving special consideration.
- What if my income or the child's needs change?
- If circumstances change substantially, an increase or reduction of maintenance can be applied for. Until the court decides otherwise, the original amount applies.
- What can be done if the other parent does not pay?
- Maintenance arrears can be enforced. Where payments have not been made for a long time, further legal steps may also be considered – we will choose the approach according to the specific situation.
- What is the minimum child maintenance?
- From 1 July 2026, it is €40.44 per month per child – 30% of the subsistence minimum for a dependent child. Details and an example calculation can be found on the page Child maintenance – calculation.
- Is there a court fee for a maintenance petition?
- Maintenance for a minor child falls within proceedings concerning the court's care for minors, which are exempt from court fees.
The information on this page is of a general nature and does not replace an individual legal consultation.
