Family matters - Determine child maintenance

• Out-of-court request So that child maintenance (Unterhalt) can be calculated, before filing an application you should request the other parent in writing, by registered letter with return receipt, to: • disclose to you the amount of their current income and assets, and • provide the corresponding documentation, in particular the salary statements from their employer. If the other parent complies with this request, the responsible Jugendamt (youth welfare office) can calculate the maintenance based on the income documentation. If the other parent commits, in an enforceable deed, to the maintenance that will become due in future, an application for maintenance to the court is no longer required. The parent obligated to pay maintenance can have such a deed (enforceable title) drawn up before the Jugendamt, until the child turns 21, or before any notary. • Application (through a lawyer) If the other parent does not disclose information about their income and assets, or does not voluntarily commit in an enforceable deed to pay maintenance, an application for maintenance must be filed with the family court (Familiengericht). • You can only file the claim for child maintenance (Kindesunterhalt) with the court through a lawyer. Your lawyer will inform you about the specific requirements for a maintenance claim.

• Proof of the other parent's income Bring a copy to the lawyer (Rechtsanwalt/Rechtsanwältin) • Demand letter (Aufforderungsschreiben) and registered letter with return receipt (Einschreiben mit Rückschein) Bring to the lawyer. • Any reply letters from the other parent or their authorised representative Bring to the lawyer.

• Court and lawyer's fees apply, based on the value of the proceedings (Verfahrenswert). • In addition, there are expenses incurred by the court for service of documents, interpreters, expert witnesses, etc.

• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB, Civil Code) §§ 1601-1615 - Maintenance obligation www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/BJNR001950896.html#BJNR001950 • Gesetz über das Verfahren in Familiensachen und in den Angelegenheiten der freiwilligen Gerichtsbarkeit (FamFG, Act on Proceedings in Family Matters and Matters of Non-Contentious Jurisdiction) §§ 231 ff. - Proceedings in maintenance matters www.gesetze-im-internet.de/famfg/BJNR258700008.html#BJNR2587

• Unterhaltsrechtliche Leitlinien der Familiensenate des Kammergerichts (Maintenance law guidelines of the family senates of the Kammergericht, the Berlin Higher Regional Court) www.berlin.de/gerichte/was-moechten-sie-erledigen/familiensa • Kindesunterhalt festsetzen im vereinfachten Verfahren (Setting child maintenance in simplified proceedings) (service) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/326960/

• If divorce proceedings are pending before a court, the Familiengericht (family court) responsible is the one where the divorce proceedings are being conducted. • Otherwise, the Familiengericht (family court) with local jurisdiction is the one in whose district the child, or the parent authorized to act on behalf of the minor child, habitually resides. • Note: In certain cases, another court may also have jurisdiction. Your lawyer (Rechtsanwalt/Rechtsanwältin) can provide information on this.