Paying and Receiving Child Maintenance

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Child maintenance is often an issue after a relationship break up. It can be part of a marriage separation or divorce, or the ending of a civil partnership.

All parents, whether they are married, separated, living together, or have never lived together, have an obligation to support their children based on what they can afford.

Depending on the circumstances, child maintenance can be agreed voluntarily, with legal help and mediation or by a court order made by a judge.

A maintenance debtor is the person who makes child maintenance. A maintenance creditor is the person who receives the maintenance payments.

You will find Information on voluntary maintenance agreements, maintenance orders and what steps to take if maintenance is not being paid here: https://services.courts.ie/Family-Law/maintenance

Find out more about the income tax considerations for parents who pay or receive maintenance payments: https://www.revenue.ie/en/additional-incomes/maintenance-payments/maintenance-payments-for-children.aspx