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Basics of maintenance calculation
\r\nCalculating maintenance is a central issue in family law, especially when it comes to ensuring children’s financial security after a separation or divorce. The maintenance table is based on the statutory provisions of Section 1612a of the German Civil Code (BGB), which regulates the minimum maintenance for children.\r\n\r\nThe Düsseldorf Table 2026 serves as an important guideline and gives parents clear orientation on how to calculate child maintenance. It functions as a maintenance table structured by income and the child’s age. The basis for the calculation is the net income of the parent liable to pay maintenance and the child’s age. The table is divided into four age levels and 15 income groups, ranging from a monthly net income of 2,100 euros up to 11,200 euros. The specified maintenance rates generally apply for two children entitled to maintenance. If there are more or fewer children, surcharges or reductions may be applied to the standard rates. The current Düsseldorf Table 2026 applies as of 1 January 2026.\r\n\r\nThe Düsseldorf Table 2026 thus provides a transparent and comprehensible basis for calculating maintenance and helps parents better understand their rights and obligations under family law. Further information on the application and background of the Düsseldorf Table is particularly helpful for parents.\r\n
Role of the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf in the maintenance table
\r\nThe Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) of Düsseldorf is significantly involved in the development and publication of the Düsseldorf Table. As the leading court, it sets the current benchmark values for maintenance calculation and regularly adjusts the table to reflect changes in living costs and children’s subsistence minimum. In addition to the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, other higher regional courts in Germany also publish their own maintenance guidelines, which take regional particularities in maintenance calculation into account. The Düsseldorf Table 2026 was issued by the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf and has been in force since 1 January 2026. It is recognized nationwide as the standard for determining child maintenance and is used by all higher regional courts as well as family courts as a binding guide for orientation. Through annual updates, the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf ensures that the maintenance rates always correspond to current economic conditions and that children’s needs are appropriately taken into account.\r\n
Düsseldorf Table 2026: Overview of changes and adjustments
\r\nThe Düsseldorf Table for the year 2026 is available and will enter into force on 1 January 2026. Compared to the previous year, the standard rates for minor and adult children have risen again, resulting in an increase in maintenance amounts. The most important changes include adjustments to the standard rates and income groups as well as updates to the payable amounts. In addition, the Düsseldorf Table has been supplemented with the self-retention amount (Selbstbehalt) for parental maintenance.\r\n\r\nSince 1979, the Higher Regional Court has published the Düsseldorf Table. Even though it does not have the force of law, it is an important guideline for calculating maintenance claims and is regularly used by the courts. Key factors for determining the amount of maintenance and the assessed need include the children’s age, the parents’ relevant net income, and the number of children entitled to maintenance. The payable amounts, which are to be paid after deduction of child benefit, play a central role for the actual maintenance payment. When calculating maintenance, the financial contributions of both the mother and the father are taken into account, especially if both parents are liable to provide cash maintenance.\r\n\r\nBecause the parents’ income is a key factor for the children’s maintenance entitlement, the Düsseldorf Table continues to differentiate into 15 income groups, starting with a monthly net income of the cash-maintenance obligor of up to 2,100 euros, up to a net income between 9,701 and 11,200 euros in the 15th and final level.\r\n\r\nSource: Düsseldorf Table 2026, Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf.\r\n
Minimum maintenance 2026: New standard rates for minor children
\r\nMaintenance rates by age levels (0–5, 6–11, 12–17 years)\r\n\r\nThe monthly maintenance need of minor children has increased slightly by 4 euros in the three age groups. The Düsseldorf Table explicitly distinguishes the age groups 6–11 years and 12–17 years as relevant categories for calculating maintenance. In the first income group up to 2,100 euros, the maintenance entitlement is as follows:\r\n\r\nAge level 1 (0 to 5 years) 486 euros,\r\n\r\nAge level 2 (6 to 11 years) 558 euros,\r\n\r\nAge level 3 (12 to 17 years) 653 euros.\r\n\r\nThe determination of the amount of maintenance and the assessed need is carried out for each age group on the basis of the Düsseldorf Table, whereby the obligor’s adjusted net income is decisive. The payable amounts, i.e., the maintenance amounts actually to be paid after deduction of child benefit, are adjusted annually and differ depending on the age group. The term ‘maintenance’ refers here to the statutory requirements for calculating the amounts for the respective age groups.\r\n\r\nThe amounts correspond to 100 percent of the minimum maintenance. As income increases, the maintenance need also increases by 5 or 8 percent. For the highest income group with a monthly net income between 9,701 and 11,200 euros, the following maintenance need therefore results:\r\n\r\nAge level 1 (0 to 5 years) 972 euros,\r\n\r\nAge level 2 (6 to 11 years) 1,116 euros,\r\n\r\nAge level 3 (12 to 17 years) 1,306 euros.\r\n
Maintenance for adult children under the Düsseldorf Table 2026
\r\nStandard rates for adult children and students\r\n\r\nIn 2026, the maintenance needs of adult children who, from age 18, live with their parents or with one parent will also be increased slightly. From age 18, special rules apply to adult children entitled to maintenance, which are reflected in the Düsseldorf Table. In the first income group, the need amounts to 698 euros per month, which is an increase of 5 euros. The determination of need and the amount of maintenance for adult children is based on the respective income group and taking child benefit into account. In the highest income group, the standard rate amounts to 1,396 euros per month. The payable amounts, i.e., the actual maintenance payments after deduction of child benefit, are adjusted annually and are based on the Düsseldorf Table. The term maintenance here refers to the statutory obligations toward adult children entitled to maintenance, whose entitlement and the amount of maintenance are determined on the basis of the table and the number of persons entitled to maintenance.\r\n\r\nBy contrast, the standard rate for children in education who do not live with their parents or with one parent remains unchanged at 990 euros. This includes costs for warm rent in the amount of 440 euros. Depending on the circumstances, the standard rate can also be higher than 990 euros.\r\n
Child benefit and maintenance: crediting against the payable amount
\r\nChild benefit is credited against the children’s maintenance needs. The determination of the payable amounts is made by deducting the child benefit from the table amount in the Düsseldorf Table. As of 1 January 2026, it amounts uniformly to 259 euros per child. For minor children, child benefit is credited at one half, which changes the amount of maintenance and the actual need of the child entitled to maintenance. This means that for children in the first age group (0 to 5 years) and the first income group, the maintenance need is still 356.50 euros. The payable amounts depend on the number of children entitled to maintenance and the income of the person liable to pay maintenance. For adult children, child benefit is credited in full, so that the maintenance need in the first income group is still 439 euros. The calculation of maintenance is always carried out taking into account the statutory requirements and the crediting of child benefit.\r\n
Retained amount (self-retention) for child maintenance remains unchanged in 2026
\r\nIn 2026, the retained amount for persons liable to pay maintenance will not be increased. The background to setting the retained amount lies in the legal framework of family law, which is intended to ensure that an appropriate amount remains available to the person liable to pay maintenance for their own living expenses. Toward minor children and toward adult unmarried children up to their 21st birthday who live with their parents and are still in general school education, the retained amount for a person liable to pay maintenance who is not employed is 1,200 euros per month; for persons liable to pay maintenance who are employed, it is 1,450 euros. This includes 520 euros for warm rent.\r\n\r\nThe determination of the retained amount is made taking into account the needs of the children entitled to maintenance and the amount of maintenance, which is based on the Düsseldorf Table. The number of children entitled to maintenance has a significant influence on the calculation of the retained amount. The retained amount ensures that, despite the obligation to pay maintenance, a minimum amount remains available to the person liable to pay maintenance.\r\n
Retained amount (self-retention) in parental maintenance under the Düsseldorf Table 2026
\r\nFor 2026, the Düsseldorf Table also sets out the retained amount for children in relation to maintenance claims by their parents. The background to this determination lies in the legal framework of family law, which is intended to ensure that an appropriate amount remains available to the child who is liable to pay maintenance for their own living expenses. The children’s monthly retained amount vis-à-vis their parents is at least 2,650 euros. The determination of the retained amount is made taking into account the needs of the parents entitled to maintenance as well as the amount of maintenance that results from the Düsseldorf Table. The retained amount of the spouse living together with the child liable to pay maintenance is at least 2,120 euros per month. In addition, 70 percent of the income exceeding the minimum retained amount is not to be credited. Maintenance payments to parents become due only if, after deduction of the retained amount, sufficient income is still available. The number of parents entitled to maintenance can influence the calculation and the amount of the retained amount. The term maintenance in this context refers to the legally regulated payments that children must make to their parents, provided the conditions under the Düsseldorf Table are met.\r\n
Retained amount of grandparents vis-à-vis grandchildren
\r\nThe Düsseldorf Table also includes the retained amount of grandparents vis-à-vis their grandchildren. The background to this rule lies in the legal framework of family law, which is intended to ensure that grandparents are allowed to retain an appropriate amount for their own living expenses. As with parental maintenance, the monthly retained amount here is also 2,650 euros, or 2,120 euros for the spouse.\r\n\r\nThe determination of the deductible is made taking into account the needs of the grandchildren entitled to maintenance as well as the amount of maintenance resulting from the Düsseldorf Table. In doing so, it is examined how high the need of the respective age group is and how many persons entitled to maintenance must be taken into account. The role of the grandchildren entitled to maintenance is decisive, as their claims significantly influence the calculation of the deductible. In the context of the deductible for grandparents, this means that the grandchildren’s maintenance claim is weighed against the grandparents’ deductible in order to ensure a fair distribution of the financial burdens.\r\n\r\nThe Düsseldorf Table, as always, indicates the maintenance need. The amounts are not automatically identical to the actual payable amount, since other circumstances may also play a role here. Therefore, maintenance claims can repeatedly lead to disputes.\r\n
Child maintenance, payable amount, and possible points of dispute
\r\nThe 2026 Düsseldorf Table is the central guideline in maintenance law for calculating child maintenance. It provides parents with clear guidance on how to determine children’s maintenance needs after separation or divorce. For spousal maintenance, by contrast, the Düsseldorf Table is not directly applicable because it was developed specifically for child maintenance. Nevertheless, it often also serves as a supplementary guide in connection with spousal maintenance, particularly when determining income relevant for maintenance and assessing financial capacity.\r\n\r\nSpousal maintenance and the Düsseldorf Table – distinction\r\n\r\nTo calculate spousal maintenance, the courts rely on regional guidelines issued by the respective Higher Regional Courts. These guidelines take into account the individual circumstances of each case, such as the duration of the marriage, the financial circumstances of both spouses, and their respective living conditions. The calculation of spousal maintenance is therefore always carried out taking into account the parties’ personal and economic situation and is based on the current legal requirements.\r\n\r\nEven if the 2026 Düsseldorf Table is regarded as an important guideline in family law, for spousal maintenance it is only a supplementary guide and not a binding basis. Anyone who has questions about calculating spousal maintenance or about the applicable guidelines should therefore seek individual advice in order to correctly determine their own claims and obligations under maintenance law.\r\n
Maintenance calculation and insufficient-income case
\r\nThe calculation of child maintenance is based on the net income of the parent liable to pay maintenance and the age of the child, as specified by the Düsseldorf Table. The table contains the corresponding maintenance rates for each income group and age bracket. Child benefit is taken into account in the maintenance calculation: half is credited against the maintenance need of minor children, and for adult children it is deducted in full. The payable amount determined in this way is the maintenance actually to be paid.\r\n\r\nTo obtain initial guidance on the expected maintenance payments, a maintenance calculator or online calculator can be used. These tools provide a quick estimate, but do not replace an individual calculation, as factors such as additional needs and special needs cannot be fully taken into account. Especially for fathers who are obliged to pay child maintenance after a separation, a maintenance calculator offers helpful support in assessing their maintenance obligation on the basis of net income.\r\n\r\nIf an insufficient-income case occurs, meaning that the income of the person liable to pay maintenance is not sufficient to pay the minimum maintenance for all children entitled to maintenance, the available income is distributed proportionately among the entitled parties. The Düsseldorf Table contains specific notes and examples on how the insufficient-income calculation is to be carried out in individual cases. This ensures that the available income is distributed as fairly as possible among the children entitled to maintenance and that minimum maintenance remains taken into account in accordance with statutory requirements.\r\n\r\nMTR Legal attorneys provide comprehensive advice on maintenance matters and other topics of family law.\r\n\r\nFeel free to contact us!”
