What is maintenance?
Maintenance is financial support (money) paid by a person for the benefit of a dependent spouse/civil partner and/or dependent children. Spouses/civil partners are required to maintain each other according to their means and needs. Parents, whether married or not, are responsible for the maintenance of their dependant children.
If the parties cannot reach an agreement about maintenance an application can be made to the court for a maintenance order.
Maintenance for spouses/civil partners
A spouse/civil partner applying to the court for maintenance must establish that the other spouse/civil partner has failed to provide such maintenance as is proper in the circumstances. The court decides what maintenance is proper in the circumstances of each individual case.
Maintenance for cohabitating couples
There is generally no responsibility on either party in a cohabitating relationship to pay maintenance where a relationship comes to an end. However, a ‘qualified cohabitant’ claiming to be financially dependent on an ex-partner may apply to the court for a ‘Compensatory Maintenance Order’.
Maintenance of children
Both parents have a responsibility to support their children financially. This applies to all parents, whether married, separated, living together or if they have never lived together. The parent with custody of the children has to take care of them and look after their day-to-day needs. The parent who does not have custody usually has to pay money to the parent with custody. This is to help cover the costs of taking care of the children.
A cohabitant of a person who is a parent, or a cohabitant of a person who has the day-to-day care (loco parentis) of a child may have to financially maintain the child, if that cohabitant is a guardian and is not the parent.
Who can apply for maintenance?
Parents, whether married or not, can apply for maintenance from the other parent for their children. A parent, legal guardian, health board or any person holding legal status in relation to a dependent child can apply for maintenance for the child.
A spouse/civil partner can apply for maintenance for themselves even if they are living with the other spouse/civil partner.
Age limits
A dependant child is a child under eighteen years of age, or a child under 23 who is in full time education, or a child of any age who is dependant on its parents due to disability.
What are your next steps?
If you have a potential family law case you want to speak about, you should chat to Aine McGuigan, or a member of McGuigan Solicitors LLP. To get in touch please either fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page or call (0)49 952 9986 (Cavan office) and (0)1 441 1457 (Dublin office).
