Child Support in Germany. Life in Germany. Child support is a major worry for divorced parents, as they need to figure out how much to pay for their children. The amount is determined by clear rules found in the “Düsseldorf Maintenance Table.” This table is Germany’s official guide for calculating child support and offers important details for parents in this situation.
Child Support in Germany: Who Pays After a Divorce?
By using this table, parents can see exactly how much each needs to pay for their child’s support, making sure financial responsibilities are shared fairly after a separation or divorce. We’ll next explain a specific example to show how these rules work and how the child support amount is calculated. If the child is under six years old, the parent who does not live with the child must pay at least €437 per month.
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Kinderunterhaltsrente when parents take care of the children equally
For older children, the maintenance amount increases. The parent who pays child support must keep at least €1,370 for themselves. This rule is based on the idea that the child lives with one parent after separation, while the other parent provides financial support. Many families now share time with their children more equally after separation, with the children spending time with both their father and mother.
German law has not fully adapted to the reality where parents share childcare more equally. It still assumes that one parent primarily cares for the children. For instance, if one parent takes care of the children for 12 days a month and the other for 19 days, this does not affect the right to child support. The key factor in calculating maintenance is the number of nights the children spend with each parent. The idea is that the parent who provides more childcare time (between 30% and 49% of the time) should pay less in child support.
Monthly maintenance pension?
Minimum child support after a separation is based on the child’s basic needs and the Minimum Maintenance Ordinance. As of January 1, 2024, the parent who does not live with the child must pay at least €480 per month for children under six years old, up from €437 in 2023. For older children, the required amounts are higher.
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These minimum amounts apply, but if your income is higher, you may need to pay more. The Düsseldorf table provides the monthly child support amounts based on the net income of the paying parent and the child’s age. It includes 15 income levels and four age groups. For example, if Anton earns €2,600 a month, he falls into the third income bracket (€2,301 to €2,700). With a seven-year-old child in the second age group, the Düsseldorf 2024 table shows that Anton should pay €607 per month in child support.