How Much Maintenance Should I Pay For A Child?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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So for example, if it is decided that the monthly costs of the child are R6 000, and parent A earns R20 000 per month, and parent B earns R40 000 per month, parent A will have to pay

one-third of the child's costs (R2 000) each month, and parent B will pay two-thirds (R4 000) per month

.

What is child maintenance supposed to be used for?

Child maintenance is money

to help pay for your child's living costs

. It's paid by the parent who doesn't usually live with the child to the person who has most day-to-day care of the child. It's also called ‘'.

Do I have to pay child maintenance if it's 50 50 custody?


If you have shared care for at least 52 nights a year, you don't need to pay any child maintenance

.

How much should a father pay for child support in South Africa?

Final child maintenance amount:

The Paying parent would pay two thirds of the child's expenses which equates to R 666 – 00 per month. And the custodian parent would thus cover the balance of

R 334 – 00 per month

.

How much does the father pay for child support?

Assuming you're on the basic rate, you'll need to pay:

12% of your gross weekly income for one child

. 16% of your gross weekly income for two children. 19% of your gross weekly income for three or more children.

How is the amount of maintenance calculated?

The maintenance amount is calculated

by taking into account the total monthly take home income (ie. without tax) of both the spouses

. The educational background of the spouses, the number of years of marriage, number of children and child custody are also major factors, which govern the maintenance amount.

Do I have to pay more than child maintenance?


Yes, you are not obliged to pay anything more than your child maintenance sum

. I would however encourage you to consider any requests on a case by case basis. Ultimately the money is to pay for your child and so you may want to pay a little extra on one-off occasions so that your child doesn't go without.

Do I still pay child maintenance if my ex remarries?

The answer is no.

When parents divorce, the absent parent (“paying parent”) is obliged by law to pay child maintenance to the parent caring for the child (“receiving parent”)

.

Do I have to pay child maintenance if my ex earns more?

As it stands

you are required to pay CSA no matter what your ex earns

, this will be a percentage of your weekly take home pay, less 50% as you have boys 50% of the time.

Do mothers have more rights than fathers UK?

The short answer to your question is yes,

fathers do have the same parental rights as mothers

. However, you should know that in the UK, whereas a mum automatically obtains parental responsibility as soon as her child is born, the situation is a bit more complicated for the dad.

Should I pay child support with shared custody?


If both parents equally share the care of the children, then neither parent will make child maintenance payments or be responsible for child support arrangements

.

Does child maintenance cover swimming lessons?

As well as the bare necessities,

child maintenance can cover

; childcare. activities like swimming lessons.

Does an unemployed father have to pay maintenance?

[1]

If a parent is unemployed and does not receive an income the Maintenance Court may order that assets be attached and sold to pay for the maintenance of the minor child

. In the worst-case scenario failure to pay maintenance can also be deemed a criminal offence and may be susceptible to criminal prosecution.

How is maintenance calculated in South Africa?

How do you calculate maintenance? Upkeep is calculated

by taking into consideration the kid(s) monthly expenses and the earnings of the person supposed to pay towards child support

.

How do you win a maintenance case?

  1. Capable of working ( Add the info past and present job details )
  2. Well Qualified ( add the info of her education )
  3. Prima Face Case.
  4. Approach the Court with Unclean Hand.
  5. Deserted to Husband without sufficient cause.

When can I stop paying child maintenance?

Maintenance does not stop at 18

Most people believe that maintenance stops when a child becomes a major. This is wrong in law. A parents' duty to support their child does not terminate when the child becomes a major,

when the child turns 18 years old

, but only when they become self supporting.

Can child maintenance be reduced?


If payments are reduced or stopped (unless agreed between you), you will be in breach of the court order

. If you genuinely can't meet payments because your income has fallen, you can ask the court to reduce the amount of child maintenance you need to pay.

What is the law on child maintenance UK?

Paying child maintenance is a legal responsibility, although one separate from parental responsibility. Child maintenance must be paid for any child:

under the age of 16

.

under the age of 20 if in full-time non-advanced education (e.g. A-levels or equivalent)

How can I avoid paying maintenance for my wife?

  1. you can file petition for restitution of conjugal rights but you cannot force your wife to stay with you . …
  2. if order of maintenance is passed against you and you are aggrieved you can go in appeal against the said order before sessions court . …
  3. even if you take personal loans your maintenance wont be reduced .

Can a working wife claim maintenance?

With the passage of time, the ‘home maker' status of women in India has undergone considerable changes. A woman is no more tagged as just a housewife. Infact, she has successfully established herself as a working woman.

Can educated wife claim maintenance?


No an well educated wife is not entitled to maintenance

. The courts are of the view that the wife cannot act force the husband to milk out cash in favour of the wife. Like for example, the recent judgment of Delhi High Court of Mamta Jaiswal.

Does child maintenance include clothes?


Child maintenance covers the cost of the everyday care of the child, such as food, clothes, and housing

. Expenses such as school fees do not fall under child maintenance – parents who are getting a divorce can make a “Family Based Arrangement” to deal with costs like this.

How many nights a year is shared care?

We call it ‘shared care' if a child stays overnight with the paying parent+. If shared care happens for an average of one night a week or more (

at least 52 nights a year

), this can affect child maintenance payments.

Does child maintenance include clubs?

Unfortunately,

the answer is usually “no”

. If the non-resident parent is paying child maintenance in accordance with the relevant child maintenance guidelines, there is no obligation on them to provide additional financial support to cover the cost of clubs and other activities.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.