Trinidad & Tobago Family Court & Guardianship Act 2026 Chap. 46:08 • Court Assessment Guidelines • Attachment of Earnings Scheme: Family Court of Trinidad and Tobago

Child Maintenance Calculator Trinidad

Calculate child maintenance obligations in Trinidad and Tobago under the Family Law (Guardianship of Minors, Domicile and Maintenance) Act Chap 46:08.

In Trinidad and Tobago, child maintenance applications are determined by the Family Court. Magistrates assess both parents' real earning capacities, actual child living costs, and enforce orders via CourtPay and Attachment of Earnings.

Family Court of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad Child Maintenance Calculator

Evaluates parental net incomes in TTD, child educational and medical needs, and Family Court guidelines

Chap 46:08 Standard

Paying Parent Net Income (TTD $/month) Net monthly take-home salary

Receiving Parent Net Income (TTD $/month) Primary carer monthly income

Number of Children Under 18 or in education

Trinidad Family Court Benchmark CourtPay Standard

Child Estimated Cost

TT$2,325.00

Estimated Monthly Need

Payer Proportion

Ratio of Net Means

Monthly Maintenance Due

TT$1,425.00

Family Court Order

Annual Sum Due

TT$17,100.00

Via CourtPay Portal

Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago

CourtPay Digital Disbursement & Enforcement Framework

CourtPay System

Online Payments via CourtPay

Maintenance in Trinidad is collected electronically through CourtPay. Payers can pay online or at authorized National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) payment kiosks island-wide.

Attachment of Earnings Orders

Under the Attachment of Earnings (Maintenance) Act, Magistrates can order employers in Trinidad to deduct maintenance directly from salaries and pay it to CourtPay.

Statutory Duty Under Trinidad and Tobago Law

Under the Family Law (Guardianship of Minors, Domicile and Maintenance) Act Chap 46:08, both parents have a legal obligation to provide maintenance for their children. Applications are adjudicated in the specialized Family Court division of the High Court or the Magistrates' Courts.

Judicial Assessment Criteria

When making a maintenance order, the court takes into account:

The financial needs, earning capacity, and other resources of both parents.
The financial needs of the child, including educational supplies (SEA preparations), books, uniforms, and medical expenses.
Any physical or mental disability of the child.

Modernizing Payments with CourtPay

Historically, maintenance required parents to stand in line at court cashier counters. The Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago created CourtPay, a secure cashless electronic payment and disbursement system that transfers maintenance funds directly into the receiving parent's commercial bank account or prepaid card.

Legal Clarifications

Frequently Asked Questions: Child Maintenance Calculator Trinidad

Authoritative answers based on current statutory rules and legal precedents

Can a father go to jail for not paying maintenance in Trinidad? ↓

Yes. If a maintenance order is breached, the court can issue a warrant of commitment sentencing the defaulting parent to prison for up to 6 weeks, although imprisonment does not cancel the debt.

Does child maintenance stop at age 18 in Trinidad and Tobago? ↓

Maintenance normally lasts until age 18, but the court can extend maintenance up to age 21 or beyond if the child is undergoing tertiary education or suffers from a disability.

What is CourtPay in Trinidad? ↓

CourtPay is the official digital payment platform introduced by the Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago allowing parents to make and receive court-ordered child maintenance payments electronically.

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