A Practical Guide to German Child Maintenance
If you are separating or divorcing and need to understand child maintenance in Germany, the starting point is the Düsseldorfer Tabelle 2026.
This guide explains what the Düsseldorfer Tabelle is, how child maintenance is calculated, what parents actually pay in practice, the protections in place for the paying parent, and how shortfalls are handled.
It is written for parents, lawyers, and international families who need clarity rather than jargon.
What is the Düsseldorfer Tabelle?
The Düsseldorfer Tabelle acts as the standard guideline across Germany for calculating monthly child maintenance, known as Kindesunterhalt.
It is not legislation. However, all Higher Regional Courts in Germany apply it, and each court issues local guidance that closely mirrors the table.
In practice, it forms the backbone of child maintenance calculations throughout Germany.
How child maintenance is calculated in 2026
From 1 January 2026, German courts calculate child maintenance by reference to two key factors.
Net income of the paying parent
The Düsseldorfer Tabelle contains 15 income groups based on the net monthly income of the paying parent. The income ranges are structured as follows:
Group 1 covers net income up to €2,100 per month
Group 15 covers net income up to €11,200 per month
Each higher income group represents an uplift on the minimum maintenance rate. By way of example, Group 2 represents 105 percent of the minimum rate, while Group 15 represents 200 percent.
Age of the child
As a child gets older, the Düsseldorfer Tabelle increases maintenance and divides it into four age brackets:
0 to 5 years
6 to 11 years
12 to 17 years
18 years and over
The applicable age bracket is a core driver of the maintenance figure.
Maintenance need versus what you actually pay
Parents often confuse the maintenance need shown in the table with the amount they actually pay.
The Düsseldorfer Tabelle sets out the child’s total monthly maintenance need, known as the Bedarf. This is not the final payment amount.
Deduction of child benefit
The paying parent deducts child benefit, known as Kindergeld, from the maintenance need.
For 2026, child benefit is €259 per child per month.
Under section 1612b of the German Civil Code:
For minor children, the paying parent deducts half of the child benefit, €129.50.
For adult children, the paying parent deducts the full €259.
The actual payment amount
The official payment table, known as the Zahlbeträge, already reflects this deduction.
By way of illustration, in income group 1:
A child aged 0 to 5 results in a payment of €356.50 per month
A child aged 12 to 17 results in a payment of €523.50 per month
These are the figures parents usually pay in practice.
Special child maintenance situations
Adult children living at home
Where an adult child lives at home, the court calculates maintenance using the fourth age bracket. Parents remain jointly responsible for maintenance.
Students living independently
Where a child studies and lives away from home, the court applies a standard monthly maintenance figure.
For 2026, this amount is €990 per month. It includes €440 for rent, utilities, and heating.
The court may adjust the amount depending on the parents’ standard of living or specific additional needs.
This figure does not include health insurance, long-term care insurance, or university tuition fees.
Protection for the paying parent
German law provides safeguards to ensure that the paying parent can still meet their own basic needs.
Necessary self-retention
Necessary self-retention applies when a parent pays maintenance for minor children or privileged adult children under 21 who live at home and remain in education.
For 2026, the thresholds are:
€1,200 per month if the parent is unemployed
€1,450 per month if the parent is employed
These figures include a rent allowance of €520.
Adequate self-retention
Adequate self-retention applies when a parent pays maintenance for non-privileged adult children.
The minimum threshold is €1,750 per month and includes a rent allowance of €650.
Requirement control amount
Each income group includes a requirement control amount designed to ensure proportionality.
If the paying parent’s remaining income falls below this level after paying maintenance, the court may move the parent into a lower income group. This mechanism prevents disproportionate financial hardship.
What happens if income is not sufficient?
Where the paying parent cannot meet all maintenance obligations after deducting self-retention, the court treats the case as a shortfall situation, known as a Mangelfall.
In these cases, the court distributes the remaining available income proportionally between dependants of equal legal rank. Children have the highest priority under German law, ensuring they remain protected even where resources are limited.
Why this matters in international divorce cases
For families with international connections, the Düsseldorfer Tabelle often remains relevant even where parents live outside Germany, including in England and Wales.
The table may apply where German law governs child maintenance or where a German court has jurisdiction over the case.
Early clarity is critical in international cases, as misunderstandings can quickly lead to disputes, arrears, and enforcement action across borders.
Need advice on German child maintenance?
German child maintenance rules are structured and precise, but they can be unforgiving if misunderstood.
If your case involves international elements, relocation, high or complex income, affordability disputes, or cross-border enforcement, specialist advice is essential.
Paradigm Family Law advise on complex international family law matters, including cases involving German child maintenance rules alongside proceedings in England and Wales. Our founding partner, Frank Arndt is a dual-qualified solicitor and Rechtsanwalt.
If you would like more details on this or want to discuss your family law matter, please do not hesitate to contact Frank or Evelyn. Paradigm Family Law offers a free initial consultation with a top rated divorce lawyer and our fixed fee solutions cover financial proceedings from start to finish. You can call us on 01904 217225 or email us to info@paradigmfamilylaw.co.uk.
