Child maintenance support must be paid by a parent who does not have their child living with them. Free legal advice on maintenance issues is available throughout this website and others online. For parents who need information on important issues such as this. That may affect the future of their children.
Read More: Legal Child Maintenance Act of South Africa
How long a parent pays child maintenance support by law is a question that many people ask. It really depends on a number of factors.
One of the main factors being the child’s education. They are not self supportive while studying and not getting any income.
The legal minimum age where child support can stop being paid is 16 years old in some countries and 18 in others. However many parents pay until a child is 19 years old and some even when children are into their twenties.
Normally maintenance payments will stop as soon as children are earning an income for themselves. Or when they have become self supportive.
Child Maintenance Support – Non Payment
South African courts can enforce maintenance orders. And if, for example, a Father does not pay even though he has been issued an order. Then the court can instruct his employer to deduct the monthly amount.
A parent runs the risk of having personal possessions seized. And sold if he or she outright refuses to pay any child maintenance. With funds raised going to the person in custody of the child or children.
People that refuse to pay child support run the risk of facing a prison sentence in some cases.
Although the courts are against sending a person to jail for non-payment. Because this puts them out of normal society and unable to earn an income for supporting their children further.
Due to the worldwide economic climate many people are looking for ways to cut costs. Trying to save money on a monthly basis. Many parents feel that they can cut their child maintenance payments. Or even stop paying all together. Which is often unfair on both the person who has custody and the children themselves.
Feel free to browse this site for more articles and assistance on child maintenance support. You will find useful information for parents who are going through divorce, divorced or never married.