Family and divorce in the Netherlands: arrangements and first steps
What would you like help with?
In the event of unsafe circumstances or immediate danger, appropriate help is needed immediately. Do not wait for a chat response if proceedings are ongoing or there is a short deadline.
When separating, arrangements concerning children, housing and money may change at the same time. Start with what has already been recorded and the specific question currently at issue. This helps prevent a practical arrangement from being confused with a change in parental authority or a court decision.
Child maintenance calculator Netherlands 2026
Estimate Dutch child maintenance for 2026. Understand net income, care discounts, shared care and spousal needs with worked examples and practical guidance.
How to use the maintenance calculator →Frequently asked questions
Which arrangements concerning the children should I collect?
Find the parenting plan and any court decisions. Also make an overview of the actual care days, transport, holidays and exchange of information. Note which arrangement you want to change and why.
Preparing a parenting planWhat if a care arrangement is not complied with?
Record specifically which arrangement applied and what happened. Ask for a workable solution. In the event of a recurring conflict, an assessment of the existing arrangements and possible next steps may be needed.
A care arrangement that has not been complied withWhat is needed to discuss maintenance?
Collect the current agreement or court order, recent income information and information about the division of care. A change in income or care requires a new assessment; do not choose a different amount based solely on an online indication.
Assessing or changing maintenanceWhat can you do now?
- Write down what you want to arrange: children, money, housing or the formal divorce.
- Compare the existing arrangements with the actual situation and formulate a specific proposal.
- In the event of an ongoing dispute, discuss what assistance is appropriate and which arrangements apply in the meantime.
Have this information ready
- Parenting plan, settlement agreement or court decision.
- A short timeline of arrangements and changes.
- Financial documents insofar as they relate to the question.
When should you seek help quickly?
In the event of unsafe circumstances or immediate danger, appropriate help is needed immediately. Do not wait for a chat response if proceedings are ongoing or there is a short deadline.
Which maintenance question do you have?
Is this a child’s costs or support for a former partner? Choose the matching guidance; conditions, duration and tax differ. Amounts require needs, ability to pay and existing agreements. A needs indication is not a payable amount.
Indexation or recalculation?
Statutory indexation generally adjusts existing amounts each 1 January. Check whether the agreement or order excludes it or provides another method. Use the correct year and applicable amount; income or care changes need separate assessment, not just indexation.
Maintenance not received
List due, received and missing sums by month with the order and payment records. The ordinary LBIO route where both parties live in the Netherlands requires court-fixed maintenance, the payer knowing the bank account, at least €10 arrears and incomplete payment within the last six months. Older arrears and international cases have limits or other routes. Apply using LBIO’s official form; our preparation sends nothing.
Paying or seeking help?
Do not unilaterally reduce or stop payment because of conflict or lower income. Have changes assessed and keep agreements. Without a court determination, ordinary LBIO collection is not immediately available: discuss obtaining an enforceable order. Our own help request prepares your question; it confirms neither an available lawyer nor an engagement.
Official sources and further information
Dutch Government — divorce and parenthood ↗General information about Dutch law. The source pages may be in Dutch. This explanation is not an individual legal assessment.
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