Maintenance Issues
When a couple is married there is a legal responsibility for both spouses to maintain each other and any dependent members of their family in accordance with their means.
In relation to a family that are not married and there are children of that relationship there is still a legal responsibility for both parents to maintain the dependent children but there is no obligation on the parties to maintain each other.
An application can be made for maintenance through the District Court, the Circuit Court or the High Court and in cases of a Divorce or Judicial Separation proceedings maintenance will be included within those applications.
The law requires a parent to maintain a child in accordance with their means until they are 18 years of age or 23 if that child is in full time education. There is no age limitation on a child who has a mental or physical disability to such a degree that the child would not be able to maintain themselves.
For further information and advice regarding your legal rights and entitlements please contact Averil Field on 01 629119 or by completing the online enquiry form.
Useful Addresses:
| Legal Aid Board | |
|
Kildare Law Centre Telephone: 045 435777 |
St Stephens House
Telephone: 01 6615811 |
|
Courts Offices www.courts.ie |
