Child Maintenance
Child maintenance is a Children’s Right. All Children enjoy a right to live and be cared for by their parents or guardians. To be cared for means that support is given to a child to ensure his/ her proper welfare. It is the right and duty of both parents or legal guardian to care for and bring up their children. Child maintenance includes feeding, clothing, medical care, education and general welfare of the child.
Local council governments, Probation and social welfare officers, the Police and court have authority to handle child maintenance matters. Any person having custody of a child can apply for maintenance against either the parents or guardian as the case may be.
A person aged 18 years and above is an adult and does not qualify to enjoy maintenance orders.