Child maintenance

Maintenance can be set as a share of income or as a fixed sum – which to choose depends on the payer’s income and the child’s needs. Two further tools are recovery for past periods and interest for late payment.

When to get in touch

• a parent is not contributing to the child’s upkeep
• the payer is concealing their real income
• arrears of maintenance have built up
• an adult child is in education and needs support

What the lawyer does

• makes the case for the best method of recovery: a share of income or a fixed sum
• prepares the claim and the calculation of the child’s needs
• proves the payer’s real level of income
• recovers maintenance for past periods where there are grounds
• calculates and recovers interest for late payment
• handles the enforcement proceedings

Court order or claim

• Court order – a faster route, without a court hearing. The parent the child lives with may apply for a court order for child support as a share of the payer’s income – one quarter for one child, one third for two children, one half for three or more – but no more than ten subsistence minimums for a child of the relevant age for each child (part 5 of Article 183 of the Family Code), or as a fixed sum of 50% of the subsistence minimum for a child of the relevant age (part 3 of Article 184). A court order is issued where the claim is not connected with establishing or contesting paternity (maternity) and does not require other interested persons to be involved (items 4 and 5 of part 1 of Article 161 of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine). Where paternity has not yet been established, the maintenance claim may be combined with a claim to establish paternity (part 1 of Article 188 of the Civil Procedure Code) – more on the page “Establishing and contesting paternity”.
• Claim – where a different share or a larger fixed sum is needed, support for past periods, additional expenses for the child, or there is a dispute. The court sets the amount taking into account the health and financial position of the child and of the payer, whether the payer has other children or incapable family members, and the payer’s property and expenses (part 1 of Article 182 of the Family Code). A maintenance claim may also be filed with the court for the claimant’s own registered place of residence or stay (part 1 of Article 28 of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine).
• No court fee is payable either for a child support claim or for an application for a court order (item 3 of part 1 of Article 5 of the Law of Ukraine “On Court Fee”).

Child support amounts in 2026

The minimum guaranteed amount of child support for one child is 50% of the subsistence minimum for a child of the relevant age; the minimum recommended amount is 100%, and the court may award it if the payer’s income is sufficient (part 2 of Article 182 of the Family Code). From 1 January 2026, the subsistence minimum for children under 6 is UAH 2,817 and for children aged 6 to 18 is UAH 3,512 (Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026”). So, per month:

• child under 6: minimum guaranteed amount UAH 1,408.50, minimum recommended amount UAH 2,817;
• child aged 6 to 18: minimum guaranteed amount UAH 1,756, minimum recommended amount UAH 3,512.

Child support set as a fixed sum is indexed every year unless the payer and the recipient agree otherwise (part 2 of Article 184 of the Family Code). The amount can later be increased or reduced by the court if the financial or family situation or the health of either of them changes (Article 192). For more detail, see our article on child support in 2026.

Arrears and the payer’s liability

• Child support is awarded from the day the claim is filed or, under a court order, from the day the application is filed (part 1 of Article 191 of the Family Code). For past periods – for no more than ten years, if it is shown that you took steps to obtain it and the payer evaded payment (part 2 of Article 191).
• Arrears are recovered regardless of whether the child has reached the age of majority (part 4 of Article 194 of the Family Code). For late payment through the payer’s fault, a fine of 1% of the unpaid amount accrues for each day of delay, but no more than 100% of the arrears (part 1 of Article 196).
• If the arrears exceed the payments due for four months, the state enforcement officer issues decisions temporarily restricting the debtor’s right to travel abroad, drive vehicles, use firearms and hunt until the arrears are paid in full. Where maintenance is paid for a child with a disability or a child with a serious illness, injury or other condition listed in the law, this applies once the arrears exceed three months’ payments (part 9 of Article 71 of the Law of Ukraine “On Enforcement Proceedings”).
• If the arrears exceed the payments due for one, two or three years, the enforcement officer imposes a fine of 20%, 30% or 50% of the arrears respectively (part 14 of Article 71 of the Law “On Enforcement Proceedings”).

Legal basis

Parents’ duty to maintain a child and the procedure for recovery are set out in Chapter 15 of the Family Code of Ukraine: the methods – a share of income or a fixed sum – in Articles 181 and 184; the minimum guaranteed amount for one child may not be less than 50 per cent of the subsistence minimum for a child of the relevant age (Article 182). Where attempts to obtain maintenance are proved, the court may award it for past periods, but for no more than ten years (Article 191). Liability for late payment is governed by Article 196, and maintenance of adult children continuing their education by Article 199.

Legislation and case law are updated over time; this page reflects the position as of November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum amount of maintenance?

No less than 50 per cent of the subsistence minimum for a child of the relevant age (Article 182 of the Family Code); the actual figure depends on the budget indicators for the year in question.

Can maintenance be recovered for past years?

Yes, if you can show that you took steps to obtain it – the court may award maintenance for past periods, but for no more than ten years (Article 191 of the Family Code).

How much does it cost to apply for child support?

No court fee is payable either for a child support claim or for an application for a court order (item 3 of part 1 of Article 5 of the Law of Ukraine “On Court Fee”). We agree the lawyer’s fee in writing before work begins.

What happens if the payer does not pay child support?

A fine of 1% accrues for each day of delay, up to 100% of the arrears (part 1 of Article 196 of the Family Code). If the arrears exceed the payments due for four months (for certain categories of children, three months), the enforcement officer restricts the debtor’s travel abroad, driving, use of firearms and hunting (part 9 of Article 71 of the Law “On Enforcement Proceedings”).

Can the amount of child support be changed?

Yes, through the court – on a claim by the payer or the recipient, if the financial or family situation or the health of either of them has changed (Article 192 of the Family Code).

Need legal assistance? Call us or leave a request – a lawyer will contact you and go through your situation with care.