Categories
Family Law

CHILD MAINTENANCE

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO PAY TOWARDS CHILD MAINTENANCE?

The duty to pay towards chid maintenance rests on both parents of the child according to the means of each parent

CAN A PARENT WITHOLD CHILD MAINTENANCE IF HE/SHE DOES NOT HAVE CONTACT WITH THE CHILD?

No. Paying towards child maintenance and not having any contact with the child is two separate matters. A parent is not entitled to stop contributing towards child maintenance if for example he/she remarries, or if he/she is not allowed any contact with the child.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A PARENT DOES NOT PAY CHILD MAINTENANCE?

Failure and/or refusal to make payment in accordance with the Divorce Settlement Agreement and/or Maintenance Agreement, which is an order of court, you are guilty of a criminal offence and you can be liable to pay a fine as ordered by the court, or alternatively the court can order you to a period of imprisonment.