Defined legal service
Child-maintenance arrears and penalties
An audit of enforcement records, a month-by-month reconciliation and a separate penalty calculation.
The problem you need to resolve
- there is an enforceable judgment, order or maintenance agreement
What you receive
- a verified calculation and agreed documents
What we do
- review the questionnaire, deadlines and agreed document list
- separate verified facts from assumptions and define the legal objective
- enforcement-file audit
- payment reconciliation
- an agreed application to the enforcement officer or claim
What we need from you
- enforcement document
- enforcement officer’s calculation
- bank statements and receipts
- answer focused follow-up questions and verify the factual information
- do not send a full set of sensitive documents before the conflict-of-interest check and agreement of a protected channel
Fees
- Fees depend on the facts and scope of support. After a short discussion, we explain what the work includes and its cost. Fees are agreed before work begins.
- A possible first stage is a written action plan: review of agreed documents, legal assessment, next steps, deadlines, risks and alternatives.
- Additional objectives, extensive materials and foreign-language documents are discussed separately.
- Court fees and other mandatory payments are separate from the lawyer's fee. Notarial, translation, valuation and expert costs are also agreed separately.
What may change the route
- objections or new claims from another party
- missing, inconsistent or newly received documents
- the need for valuation, expert evidence, a notarial or registration step
- existing court or enforcement proceedings, a missed or imminent deadline
- fault and the penalty calculation are assessed separately from the principal debt
When this service is not suitable
- maintenance has not yet been awarded or cross-border enforcement is required
How we report progress
- we agree the communication channel before work begins
- we report receipt of materials, completion of the assessment, document readiness and the next required action
- where new facts or extra work arise, we first explain the effect on timing and fees and ask for your approval
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Who calculates the arrears?
The public or private enforcement officer, and the court if the amount is disputed.
How is the penalty calculated?
Article 196 of the Family Code applies subject to the facts, limits and fault.
Do arrears end when the child turns 18?
No.