Child Support in Austria 2026: Alimente Amounts and Debt Recovery

When parents separate, or a child does not live in the same household as one parent, the parent living apart is generally required to provide monetary support in Austria. This article explains how child support is calculated, how long it is payable, and what can be done if the other parent does not pay or lives abroad.

Who pays child support?

Both parents have the same rights and obligations towards their child, regardless of whether they are married. Children born within or outside marriage are treated equally for maintenance purposes.

Austrian law distinguishes between two types of support:

• Naturalunterhalt: support in kind, including housing, food, clothing, education, leisure activities and pocket money when the child lives with the parent.
• Geldunterhalt: monetary support when the child and parent do not live in the same household, or when a parent fails to meet their support obligation.

For a minor child, the payment is made to the parent who provides care. Once the child is an adult, payment is made directly to the child. Support always belongs to the child, and a parent cannot waive it on the child’s behalf. If the parents cannot pay, for example because of death or insolvency, grandparents may also be required to contribute if this would not endanger their own livelihood.

How much is child support?

The calculation starts with the liable parent’s net monthly income. The 13th and 14th monthly salaries, meaning holiday and Christmas pay, are divided across twelve months. Overtime pay and severance pay are also included. For a self-employed person, the net profit from the last completed financial year is used; where income fluctuates considerably, the average of the last three years is used. For an unemployed person, unemployment benefits form the basis, while for a pensioner the pension is used.

Percentage method

• Age 0–6: 16% of net monthly income
• Age 6–10: 18%
• Age 10–15: 20%
• Age 15 and over: 22%

If there are several people entitled to support, the percentage is reduced:

• Each additional child under 10: minus 1 percentage point
• Each additional child over 10: minus 2 percentage points
• Spouse, depending on their own income: minus 0–3 percentage points

Important calculation rules

• No statutory burden limit: in an individual case, support can reduce the liable parent’s income below the minimum subsistence level.
• Anspannungsgrundsatz: if a parent deliberately resigns or takes a job that pays less than their qualifications would normally allow, the court may use realistically achievable, or imputed, income.
• Luxusgrenze: for high incomes, support generally stops at two to two and a half times the child’s Regelbedarf. This is only a guideline.
• Sonderbedarf: the liable parent may have to contribute proportionally to exceptional costs, such as orthodontic treatment or hospital costs not covered by insurance. Ski camps, school trips and leisure activities are generally not treated as Sonderbedarf.

Support may be reduced if the parent living apart cares for the child substantially more than usual. The usual arrangement is two days every two weeks or one day per week, plus four weeks during school holidays. As a guideline, each additional day of care per week reduces support by 10%. The Unterhaltsrechner can provide an estimate, but the court decides the specific amount.

Does the child’s own income reduce support?

Regular income or assets belonging to the child reduce the support amount. Lehrlingseinkommen, or an apprentice’s income, is generally included.

The following are not included:

• Familienbeihilfe, or family allowance
• Schülerbeihilfe and Studienbeihilfe, meaning school and study grants
• Kinderbetreuungsgeld, or childcare allowance
• Small earnings from a short summer job

A child is not required to work while studying.

How long must child support be paid?

There is no fixed age limit. Support continues until the child becomes self-supporting and can cover their living costs in an independent household. This generally happens after completing school or vocational training. Serious and purposeful university studies also count as education. Changing degree programmes, particularly after the first semester, generally does not end the entitlement.

As a general rule, support is not payable during military or civilian service, known as Präsenzdienst or Zivildienst. After training, support can continue for a reasonable period while the child looks for work, but the child must be able to show that they are genuinely seeking employment; simply registering with the AMS is not enough. If the child marries, the spouse is primarily responsible for support.

What can you do if the other parent does not pay?

The matter is handled as non-contentious proceedings, or Außerstreitverfahren, at the Bezirksgericht responsible for the child’s habitual residence. The child or either parent can start the procedure. A court officer, known as a Rechtspfleger, makes the decision, and there is no requirement to have a lawyer.

Before an enforceable decision exists, provisional support can be requested. The procedure to determine the final support amount must be started at the same time.

Fees and costs

• Support proceedings: 0.5% of the calculation base, paid by the liable person
• Application to reduce support: 19 euros, unless the applicant wins completely
• Support and advance-payment proceedings for a minor child, and enforcement: no court fee

The parent can authorise the Kinder- und Jugendhilfeträger, formerly known as the Jugendamt, to act. It can submit applications, monitor payments and initiate enforcement when necessary.

Unterhaltsvorschuss: advance child support

If the liable parent does not pay or pays irregularly, the state can provide an advance to a minor child following an application. It is paid monthly in advance, from the month of application, for a maximum of five years.

The conditions are that the child lives in Austria, is Austrian, an EU/EEA national or stateless, and does not live in the same household as the debtor. The application must be submitted to the Bezirksgericht, generally together with an enforceable decision and evidence that enforcement was unsuccessful.

When the other parent lives abroad

An Austrian support decision can be recognised and declared enforceable in the country where the liable parent lives. Conversely, enforcement of a foreign decision can be initiated from Austria. If no decision exists yet, a new decision can be requested abroad. Where necessary, determination of parentage can also be requested.

The liable parent may request a foreign decision to be amended, for example if their income has changed substantially. When several EU member states are involved, the law of the country where support is requested does not always apply. Free legal information is available.

Frequently asked questions

Can I waive child support on behalf of the child?

No. Support belongs to the child, and a parent cannot waive it.

Can the amount change later?

Yes. If circumstances change substantially, such as a significant increase or decrease in income, a new determination can be requested from the Bezirksgericht.

Do I need a lawyer?

No. There is no compulsory legal representation in support proceedings before the Bezirksgericht. The parties may represent themselves.

Does Familienbeihilfe count as the child’s income?

No. Familienbeihilfe does not reduce child support.

Practical steps

1. Collect documents showing the child’s residence, the parents’ identities and the liable parent’s income or benefits.
2. Estimate the amount using the percentage method and, if useful, the Unterhaltsrechner.
3. Apply to the relevant Bezirksgericht for a support decision. If the child is a minor, the support and enforcement procedures are fee-free.
4. Ask for provisional support if there is not yet an enforceable decision.
5. Consider authorising the Kinder- und Jugendhilfeträger to submit applications, monitor payments and begin enforcement.
6. If the liable parent does not pay, apply for Unterhaltsvorschuss and provide the enforceable decision and evidence of unsuccessful enforcement.
7. If the other parent lives abroad, request recognition and enforcement of the Austrian decision in that country, or seek enforcement in Austria of a foreign decision.

Important: This information is based on publicly available sources and is not legal advice. For advice on a specific case, consult a lawyer or other qualified legal professional.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at