Husbands and wives have a mutual obligation to support each other financially while they are married. After separation, but before divorce, maintenance for a separated spouse is known as “aliment”. Maintenance can be payable after divorce, in which case it is called “periodical allowance”, and is usually awarded for a fixed number of years, depending on circumstances. The amounts of aliment or periodical allowance can be agreed, failing which the spouse seeking the maintenance must make an application to the court. For further information click here.

Both parents have an obligation to maintain their children, whether they are married to each other or not. Where the parents are living together, this obligation is fulfilled without any money changing hands. However, when the parents separate, the children usually have their main home with one parent, who becomes the primary carer (the residential parent). The other parent (the non-residential parent) then has an obligation to assist the residential parent financially in maintaining the children. Parents can agree on the amount of maintenance to be paid, or can apply to the Child Support Agency (or, in some circumstances the court) for a maintenance assessment to be made. For more information click here.

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