How do I claim child maintenance?

Short answer. Child maintenance for one child is ¼ of the payer’s income; for two children, ⅓; and for three or more, ½ (Article 183 of the Family Code). In 2026, the amount cannot be less than 50 per cent of the minimum subsistence level: 1,408.50 UAH per child under 6 years of age and 1,756 UAH per child aged 6 to 18. There are two ways to recover child maintenance — by agreement between the parents or through the courts (by court order or legal action). Unemployment or a lack of official income does not exempt a parent from the obligation to provide child maintenance.

Child maintenance is the responsibility of both parents, but in practice this obligation is not always fulfilled. When an agreement cannot be reached, the question arises: exactly how much can be recovered and how. The answer depends on the circumstances — whether the payer is in work, where they live, and whether they have an official income. Below, we will examine the specific amounts for 2026, both methods of recovery, and what to do when a court order exists but the money is not being paid.

How much child maintenance can be recovered in 2026

The amount of child maintenance is determined in two ways: as a percentage of the payer’s income or as a fixed sum. Under Article 183 of the Family Code of Ukraine, the proportion of income is one quarter for one child, one third for two children, and one half for three or more children. At the same time, the law sets a minimum threshold. Under Part 2 of Article 182 of the Family Code, child maintenance for one child cannot be less than 50 per cent of the subsistence minimum for a child of the relevant age. As the subsistence minimum in 2026 is 2,817 UAH for children under 6 years of age and 3,512 UAH for children aged 6 to 18, the minimum child maintenance amounts are as follows:

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Child’s age	Subsistence minimum 2026</ th>	Minimum maintenance (50%)	Maximum (10 times the subsistence minimum)
Up to 6 years old	2,817 UAH	1,408.50 UAH	28,170 UAH
From 6 to 18 years	3,512 UAH	1,756 UAH	35,120 UAH

The maximum amount of child maintenance is capped at ten times the minimum subsistence level per child (Article 183(5) of the Family Code). Important point: even if the payer is not officially employed, the court cannot set an amount below the minimum guaranteed level. The subsistence minimum for 2026 will remain unchanged throughout the year — the next increase is scheduled only from 1 January 2027.

Ways to claim child maintenance

Voluntary agreement between parents

Parents can independently determine the arrangements for the child’s maintenance by entering into a notarised child maintenance agreement. This should specify the amount of monthly payments, the timing and method of transferring funds, as well as contributions towards additional expenses — such as education or medical treatment. Such an agreement has the force of an enforceable document: if one of the parties fails to comply with it, the other party can immediately apply to the enforcement officer, without going to court.

Court proceedings

If an agreement cannot be reached, maintenance is enforced through the courts. There are two options here. A court order is a simplified and faster procedure used when there is no dispute over paternity and maintenance is recovered as a proportion of income. Legal proceedings — used when there is a dispute, a fixed amount is required, or there are additional circumstances. When making a decision, the court takes into account the child’s needs, the income of both parents, their marital status and other relevant circumstances. Once the decision comes into force, it is referred for enforcement.

What documents are required

The specific set of documents depends on the situation, but the basic set is as follows:

• the applicant’s passport and personal identification number;
• the child’s birth certificate (confirming paternity);
• documents confirming the child’s place of residence;
• evidence of expenditure on the child — medical receipts, education documents, and evidence of additional needs;
• any previous court orders or documents regarding previous payments, if applicable.

If the payer conceals their income, the court may assess their financial circumstances based on circumstantial evidence — such as their assets, expenditure and standard of living.

How to enforce maintenance payments from a member of the armed forces

Military service does not exempt a person from paying maintenance. Child maintenance is deducted from a military serviceman’s pay, and when calculating this, it is important to take into account all its components — the basic payment and any additional payments. If payments are irregular or their amount is difficult to verify, it is advisable to ask the court to set child maintenance as a fixed sum linked to the minimum subsistence level, rather than as a percentage of income.

How to recover child maintenance if the father is abroad

The obligation to provide for a child applies regardless of the country in which the payer resides. The procedure is as follows: file a claim with a Ukrainian court in the cases provided for by law, obtain a recovery order and apply to the authorities responsible for enforcing it abroad. What happens next depends on the debtor’s country of residence — whether it recognises Ukrainian court decisions and what procedure applies for the transfer of documents. Ukraine is a party to international conventions on the recovery of child maintenance, so the mechanism exists, but it requires the documents to be correctly prepared for the specific country. Such cases are complex, and without legal support, the decision often remains merely on paper.

How to recover child maintenance from an unemployed person, a debtor or someone with an unstable income

Difficulties arise when the payer does not have a formal place of work or receives irregular income — this applies to seafarers, seasonal workers, the self-employed and people in informal employment. In such cases, the best course of action is to ask the court to set child maintenance at a fixed monetary amount. To do this, you need to demonstrate the child’s needs, the level of expenditure on the child and the payer’s financial capacity. Unemployment is not grounds for exemption from child maintenance. A disability, in itself, does not exempt a person from this obligation either — the court takes into account the payer’s state of health and their actual means (pension, social benefits, other income), but the child retains the right to maintenance.

What to do in the event of evasion of child maintenance payments

If there is a court order but no payments are being made, the enforcement mechanism is triggered. The law provides for a range of measures to be taken against the debtor:

• Penalty interest. Under Article 196 of the Family Code, the recipient is entitled to a penalty of 1 per cent of the outstanding maintenance amount for each day of delay (but not exceeding 100 per cent of the debt). The limitation period does not apply to claims for the recovery of penalties.
• Seizure of the debtor’s accounts and property, and enforcement against such property.
• Temporary restrictions: a ban on travelling abroad, suspension of a driving licence, and suspension of hunting rights (applied where arrears exceed the period specified by law).
• Administrative liability, and in the case of prolonged evasion — criminal liability under Article 164 of the Criminal Code.

Penalty interest is charged regardless of martial law and regardless of whether the debtor is in employment or not.

When to consult a lawyer

Let’s be honest: if the payer has an official income and does not object to payment, it is possible to recover maintenance as a proportion of their income independently — this is a quick procedure via a court order. A lawyer is needed when the situation becomes more complicated: where the payer is concealing their income, lives abroad, is evading compliance with the court order, has an unstable or unofficial income, or when it is necessary to calculate and recover late payment penalties for past periods. In these cases, the correct preparation of documents and strategy directly determine whether the child actually receives the money, rather than it remaining merely on paper.

Questions and Answers

How much child maintenance will be payable for one child in 2026?

A quarter of the payer’s income, but not less than 1,408.50 UAH per child under 6 years of age and 1,756 UAH per child aged 6 to 18. The maximum is 10 times the subsistence minimum (28,170 UAH and 35,120 UAH respectively).

How much is child maintenance for two children?

One-third of the payer’s income for both children combined, subject to the minimum amount for each child.

How do you enforce child maintenance payments in Ukraine?

There are two ways: through a notarised agreement between the parents, or through the courts — by court order (where there is no dispute) or by bringing a claim. The decision is forwarded for enforcement.

What documents are required to apply for child maintenance?

The applicant’s passport and tax identification number, the child’s birth certificate, documents confirming the child’s place of residence and, if necessary, evidence of expenditure on the child.

Can child maintenance be recovered from an unemployed person?

Yes. Unemployment does not exempt a person from this obligation. In such cases, the court may order child maintenance in a fixed amount not lower than the minimum guaranteed amount.

What should you do if the child’s father is abroad?

Obtain a Ukrainian court order and make use of international enforcement mechanisms. The procedure depends on the debtor’s country of residence and the applicable international conventions.

Is a penalty charged for non-payment of child maintenance?

Yes — 1 per cent of the amount owed for each day of delay (Article 196 of the Family Code), but not exceeding 100 per cent of the arrears. The limitation period does not apply to the recovery of late payment penalties.

Up to what age is child maintenance payable?

Up to the age of 18, and if the child is continuing their education and requires financial support — up to the age of 23 (Article 199 of the Family Code).

Do military personnel pay child maintenance?

Yes, child maintenance is deducted from their pay. Where payments are irregular, it is advisable to request a fixed amount.

Sources

• • Family Code of Ukraine, Articles 181, 182, 183, 189, 196, 199 — zakon.rada.gov.ua
• Law of Ukraine ‘On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026’ — minimum subsistence level for a child
• Criminal Code of Ukraine, Article 164 — liability for evading child maintenance payments
• Law of Ukraine ‘On Enforcement Proceedings’

Recovery of maintenance payments with ‘Svarog’ lawyers

Every situation has its own specific details — military service, residence abroad, lack of formal employment or hidden income all influence the course of action. Svarog’s solicitors handle the case from the initial consultation through to a successful outcome: they prepare documents, select the most effective method of recovery, represent your interests in court and monitor the enforcement of the judgement. For more details, see the page on alimony lawyers and the section on family law. Telephone: +38 095 554-54-24, +38 096 554-54-25. Kyiv, 7 Khoriva Street, Office 2 (Podil). Mon–Fri,