Child Maintenance Calculator Germany

Under § 1601 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch - BGB), lineal relatives are obligated to maintain one another. While the BGB does not define exact Euro figures, German Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgerichte) have universally adopted the Düsseldorfer Tabelle as judicial guidelines since 1962.

The table establishes minimum maintenance requirements (Mindestunterhalt) based on statutory existential minimums defined in child tax allowance legislation.

Before locating a parent's tier on the table, their raw net salary must be adjusted to calculate bereinigtes Nettoeinkommen. Allowable deductions include:

• Work-Related Expenses (Berufsbedingte Aufwendungen): Flat-rate deduction of 5% of net income (minimum €50, maximum €150/month).
• Old Age Provision (Altersvorsorge): Up to 4% of gross salary for private or company pension schemes.
• Pre-Existing Debts: Repayment of marital loans taken out before separation, subject to court reasonableness review.

Under German law, the paying parent's own subsistence is strictly protected. The Selbstbehalt guarantees that an employed parent must retain at least €1,450 per month (or €1,200 if unemployed) for their own housing and living needs.

If income is insufficient to pay full table maintenance while preserving the Selbstbehalt, a Mangelfall (shortfall situation) occurs. Available funds above the Selbstbehalt are distributed pro-rata among dependent children of equal rank under § 1609 BGB.