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.

Parents can arrange child maintenance in a few ways:

1. Directly

Many parents choose to make private arrangements for child maintenance directly between themselves.

2. With help

They can do so with help from:

• private mediators
• solicitors
• services like the Family Mediation Service within the Legal Aid Board.

3. Through the courts

Arrangements for child maintenance can be made through the courts system if needed.

Find out more about the Legal Aid Board’s free Family Mediation Service here: legalaidboard.ie/en/our-family-mediation-service/

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