Sorting out child maintenance in Ireland

If you're looking to arrange or understand child maintenance in Ireland, the Courts Service of Ireland has information on how maintenance applications work through the family law courts. Before going to court, you might find it helpful to explore mediation with an accredited family mediator, the Mediators' Institute of Ireland can help you find one in your area.

For support around separation and parenting, One Family offers the askonefamily helpline, courses on separation and parenting, and counselling to help you through this. Barnardos Ireland also provides family support services and can help children affected by separation. If you're experiencing domestic abuse, Women's Aid Ireland offers a 24-hour National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900.

Ireland does things differently from the UK: there is no state agency that collects child maintenance for you. Most parents sort it out between themselves, with a mediator, or, if that is not possible, by applying to the District Court. That sounds daunting, but the process is designed to be usable without a solicitor, and it costs nothing to apply. Here is what is worth knowing before you start.

• There is no fixed legal formula in Irish law: a judge looks at both parents' income, assets, outgoings and other dependents, and decides what is fair in your situation (courts.ie).
• Since January 2026 there are official Child Maintenance Guidelines and a free online calculator from the Department of Justice; it estimates an amount from both parents' income, parenting time and your children's ages, but the figure is a starting point for discussion, not legally binding (citizensinformation.ie; gov.ie).
• Applying to court costs nothing: the Courts Service does not charge a fee for family law applications, and you do not need a solicitor to apply to the District Court (courts.ie).
• The District Court can order up to €150 per week per child; higher amounts mean applying to the Circuit Court instead (courts.ie).
• Something many parents do not realise: since 4 June 2024, child maintenance you receive is excluded from the means test for social welfare payments, so it will not reduce your payment (citizensinformation.ie).

Checked August 2026 against courts.ie, citizensinformation.ie and gov.ie.

Child maintenance is money towards a child's everyday living costs, usually paid by the parent the child lives with less of the time.

• You can agree an amount privately, use an online calculator as a guide, or apply to the statutory service if you cannot agree.
• Amounts are based on income, the number of children, and how many nights they stay over.
• Keep a clear record of what is agreed and paid.
• ParenThing can log payments so both of you have the same record.