Our employees only speak German in the office and on the phone.

Counseling and assistance in questions of alimony

  • Partnerschaft und Familie

Are you a single parent and don't get any money from the other parent for your child? Or do you get too little money? Get advice on what you can do and who can help you.

  • Basic information

    Parents are obligated to provide child support for their children. If a parent does not live in the same household as their child, they are obligated to provide child support in the form of monetary payments. If the parent obligated to pay child support fails to do so, the single parent is left wondering how to proceed.

    A child has a legal right to child support. The Youth Welfare Office can provide legal advice to a single parent and offer further support.

    For example, letters to the other parent can be drafted, and—provided the other parent’s financial circumstances are known—the amount of child support payments can be determined. If the latter is the case, a court order can be obtained that allows for the garnishment of wages to collect child support. The specific steps to be taken depend on the individual case. This can be discussed in a personal meeting.

    If the sole custodial parent wishes, a guardianship can be established. The Youth Welfare Office can then, acting on behalf of the child, independently approach the parent obligated to pay.

    For example, it can

    • calculate the amount of child support,
    • demand payments from the parent,
    • verify receipt of payments,
    • if necessary, file a petition with the court to determine the amount of child support, and
    • have the court-ordered child support garnished.

    Even if a guardianship is established, there is no guarantee that child support payments will actually be collected.

    A guardianship ends automatically when the child reaches the age of majority.

    Young adults can receive counseling from the Youth Welfare Office on child support matters until their 21st birthday. Support may also be offered to them in appropriate cases.

    For adults, the Youth Welfare Office advises only the children, not the parents.

    During maternity leave, a child’s mother has her own claim for child support against the father. The Youth Welfare Office can assist the mother in pursuing her own child support claims. 

    If the father cares for the child immediately after birth, he has a claim for child support against the mother. In this case as well, the Youth Welfare Office can offer counseling and, in appropriate cases, assistance.

    Requirements

    Parents receive counseling until their child is 18 years old.
    Children receive counseling from the age of 18 to 21.

  • Procedure

    Make an appointment with the relevant social center. The appointment can also take place at home if you wish.

    A guardianship is established upon request. You can apply for guardianship in writing. The written application is informal and can be written by yourself or at the local youth welfare office.

    More information

    The Youth Welfare Office also does the following:

    • The Youth Welfare Office advises and assists you in asserting maintenance claims.
    • The Youth Welfare Office notarizes: Paternity acknowledgments and consents, maintenance claims, declarations of custody for joint custody and maternity acknowledgments.
    • The Youth Welfare Office issues certificates for unmarried mothers stating that there is no entry in the custody register and that the mother therefore has sole custody.
    • Advice on joint custody and rights of access

  • Competent Department

  • Forms

  • Fees / Costs

    free of charge

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    There are no special deadlines to observe.
    You can apply for guardianship before the child is born if you are not married and the parents have not made joint declarations of custody. After the birth, you can apply for guardianship at any time until the child reaches the age of majority. After the birth, even if the parents have joint custody.

    How long does it take to process

    The exact processing time depends on the individual case.

  • Legal Bases

  • More Information

Frequently asked Questions

This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct.

Updated on 04.09.2026

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