Child maintenance using the Düsseldorf Table, hardship cases, shared custody and spousal maintenance — free and anonymous in 5 minutes.
Child maintenance in Germany follows the Düsseldorfer Tabelle 2026 with 15 income brackets and age groups. This free calculator computes maintenance amounts considering self-retention thresholds, shortfall cases, and shared custody.
Important: Maintenance may be claimed retroactively from the date of the written request (§ 1613 BGB).
From data entry to your full results
Net income of the paying parent, children and age groups, and where applicable the other parent's income.
Adjusted income, Düsseldorf Table 2026, child benefit deduction, minimum subsistence check, hardship case analysis.
What-if: income slider simulates the effect of income changes on maintenance obligations.
Under § 1613 BGB, child maintenance may potentially only be claimed retroactively from the date the paying parent was informed in writing. Early documentation could therefore be important.
Complete maintenance assessment under current law
15 income groups × 4 age brackets. Automatic calculation of adjusted net income with 5% flat rate for work-related expenses.
Automatic check whether the minimum subsistence (€1,450 employed / €1,200 not employed) is maintained — with hardship case warning.
When income is insufficient for all maintenance obligations: proportional distribution according to the statutory priority ranking. Minor children take precedence.
Calculation under BGH XII ZB 161/15: total need based on combined income, child benefit apportioned equally, proportional equalisation between the parents.
Separation maintenance (§ 1361 BGB) and post-divorce maintenance (§§ 1569 ff. BGB) using the differential method: 45% of the income difference if the paying spouse is employed, otherwise 50% (equal sharing principle) — Düsseldorf Table 2026, section B.
Full maintenance analysis with your calculation data and legal basis — for when the other parent may be paying too little.
This information was compiled based on current German legislation.
1. Calculate adjusted net income: 5% is deducted for work-related expenses (min. €50, max. €150). 2. Determine income group: the adjusted income is assigned to one of 15 groups in the Düsseldorf Table. 3. Read off the need amount: based on the child's age group (0–5, 6–11, 12–17, 18+), the table amount is determined. 4. Deduct child benefit: half the child benefit (€129.50) is deducted for minor children; the full amount (€259) for adult children. The result is the monthly cash maintenance amount.
The minimum subsistence (Selbstbehalt) is the minimum the paying parent must retain after payment. In 2026: employed against minor children: €1,450/month; not employed: €1,200/month. If the minimum is not met, a hardship case arises (§ 1609 BGB). The available funds are then distributed according to the statutory priority ranking: minor children have the highest priority.
In shared custody arrangements (approximately 50/50 care), the total need of the children is determined based on the combined income of both parents (BGH XII ZB 161/15). Half the child benefit per child is first deducted from the need (§ 1612b BGB). The remaining cash need is shared in proportion to the parents' incomes; since each parent already covers half through equal care, the higher-earning parent only pays the difference as an equalisation amount. With equal incomes the equalisation is €0. Any additional need of the dual household is determined individually and is not added as a flat surcharge here.
Separation maintenance (§ 1361 BGB) applies during separation until the divorce is legally final. It may maintain the standard of living. Post-divorce maintenance (§§ 1569 ff. BGB) applies after divorce only in one of the statutory cases (e.g. childcare, illness, age). It may be time-limited (§ 1578b BGB). Both are calculated using the differential method: if the paying spouse is employed, the quota is 45% of the income difference (employment bonus); if not employed, equal sharing at 50% applies (Düsseldorf Table 2026, section B).
Child maintenance may be claimed retroactively from the date the paying parent was requested in writing to pay (§ 1613 BGB). Important: the request must be in writing and clearly specify when payment should begin. Retroactive claims beyond this date are only possible in narrow exceptional circumstances (e.g. default, pending proceedings). A formal request can document the date.
The full maintenance calculation — including the Düsseldorf Table 2026, minimum subsistence check, hardship case, shared custody and scenario analysis — is free.
The need amounts in the Düsseldorf Table 2026 are calibrated for two dependants (note A of the table). With only one dependant, the calculator therefore moves one income group up (upgrading); with three or more, correspondingly down. In addition, the calculator checks the control amount (Bedarfskontrollbetrag): if the paying parent would be left with less than the group's control amount after payment, the next lower group is used (note A of the table). Both adjustments are shown in the result; a court may deviate in an individual case.
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