It's About The Kids

When it comes to child support, the law is on your side. Here’s what you need to know about child maintenance.

- Dennis Cavernelis

HAVING kids is one of life’s great responsibilities yet all too often parents, especially dads, dodge their duties when they split from their partners – forcing moms to turn to the courts for help.

Here’s all you need to know about getting child maintenance from fathers who refuse to pay.

MAINTENANCE IN A NUTSHELL

By law all parents – biological parents, adoptive parents, legal guardians as well as grandparents – must take care of their kids’ or grandchildren’s needs, including shelter, clothing, medical care, schooling and food.

This law applies to parents whether they’re married, unmarried, living together, divorced or separated.

If the parents of a child are no longer together, the one looking after the child can apply to the maintenance court at their local magistrate’s court for the other parent to pay support to help provide for the child.