This leaflet will be useful if you have children who were born outside of marriage. This means that you are not legally married to the father of your child. If you are legally married to the father of your child you will need to read the leaflet called Maintenance for Married Women and their Children . If you are not sure whether you are legally married then you can read our leaflet called Marriage to find out.
Child maintenance is money which is paid by the father of a child to the mother for the child.
The money is to help with food and clothes for the child, school fees and other expenses. The money is paid until the child is 16 years old. The children must be under the age of 16 years in order to receive maintenance. Every woman can apply to the Court for an order that the father of her children pay maintenance for the children. If the father of your children is not paying any maintenance, is not paying enough, or is not paying regularly, you can apply to the Court.