What Is Child Support in Germany?
Child support (Kindesunterhalt) in Germany is the legal obligation of the non-custodial parent to make regular financial contributions toward the upbringing of their minor or dependent children. The obligation is rooted in sections 1601 to 1615 of the German Civil Code (BGB) and applies to all parents regardless of whether they were ever married. The custodial parent fulfils their support obligation through the day-to-day care and housing of the child, while the other parent provides cash support (Barunterhalt).
The amount of child support is not determined by a single law but by a set of guidelines published by the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, commonly known as the Düsseldorf Table (Düsseldorfer Tabelle). Although the table is not formally binding legislation, it is applied by virtually every family court in Germany and treated as the standard reference for calculating support payments.
In 2026, the Düsseldorf Table was updated to reflect rising costs of living. The minimum needs rates for all age groups were raised, and the self-retention thresholds for obligors were also increased. These changes affect millions of families across Germany and make it essential for parents to recalculate their obligations using current figures.
The Düsseldorf Table 2026 Explained
The Düsseldorf Table is organized into 15 income groups and 4 age groups. The income groups range from a net income of up to 2,100 euros per month (group 1) to over 11,200 euros (group 15). The four age groups cover children aged 0 to 5, 6 to 11, 12 to 17, and 18 and older.
Each cell in the table contains a needs rate (Bedarfssatz) expressed in euros. This is the amount the child is deemed to need each month at that particular income level and age. However, the needs rate is not the same as the payment amount. To arrive at the actual payment, the child benefit offset must be applied.
Importantly, the table is calibrated for families with exactly two dependants. If there are more than two dependants, the obligor is typically moved down one income group; if there is only one dependant, the obligor may be moved up one group. This adjustment mechanism ensures that the overall burden remains proportionate.
Calculating Adjusted Net Income
The starting point for any support calculation is the obligor's adjusted net income (bereinigtes Nettoeinkommen). This is not simply the gross or net salary shown on a payslip. Instead, it is a carefully adjusted figure that reflects the obligor's true financial capacity.
From the gross income, income tax, social security contributions, and solidarity surcharge are deducted to arrive at the net income. Then, certain additional deductions are recognized: work-related expenses (a flat 5% of net income or actual documented costs), reasonable debt payments (provided they existed before the support obligation arose), contributions to private retirement beyond the statutory minimum, and union dues.
On the other hand, certain income sources are added in. These include overtime pay, bonuses, 13th month salary (pro-rated), rental income, investment income, and imputed income from assets that could reasonably be liquidated. The result is the adjusted net income, which is then used to look up the appropriate income group in the Düsseldorf Table.
Child Benefit Offset (section 1612b BGB)
In Germany, the government pays child benefit (Kindergeld) of 250 euros per child per month as of 2026. Under section 1612b of the Civil Code, the child benefit is offset against the support obligation. For minor children, half of the child benefit (125 euros) is deducted from the needs rate to produce the payment amount. The other half is considered to be used by the custodial parent for the child's benefit.
For adult children (those over 18 who are still in education), the full child benefit of 250 euros is offset. This is because adult children are expected to manage their own finances and receive the child benefit directly or through the parent with whom they live.
The offset mechanism means that the payment amount shown on the Düsseldorf Table is always lower than the needs rate. Many parents confuse the two figures, which leads to disputes. The calculator on this page automatically applies the correct offset for each age group.
Self-Retention and the Subsistence Minimum
German law recognizes that even an obligor must retain enough income to cover their own basic living expenses. This guaranteed minimum is called self-retention (Selbstbehalt). In 2026, the key thresholds are as follows: employed obligors of minor children retain 1,450 euros per month, while non-employed obligors retain 1,200 euros. When the obligation is toward a spouse, the self-retention is 1,600 euros. For adult children, it rises to 1,750 euros.
The self-retention includes a fixed component for housing costs (currently around 520 euros). If the obligor's actual housing costs are significantly higher, courts may adjust the self-retention upward in individual cases.
If the obligor's income after paying the full support amounts would fall below the self-retention threshold, a shortfall case (Mangelfall) is triggered. In that situation, the payments must be reduced so that the obligor retains their self-retention amount.
What Is a Shortfall Case?
A shortfall case (Mangelfall) occurs when the obligor's income is not sufficient to pay the full support for all dependants while still retaining the self-retention amount. This is not uncommon, particularly for obligors with low to moderate incomes and multiple children.
In a shortfall case, the available amount (income minus self-retention) is distributed among all dependants on a proportional basis. Each dependant receives a share proportional to their full entitlement. For example, if Child A is entitled to 400 euros and Child B to 350 euros, but only 500 euros are available, Child A receives approximately 267 euros and Child B approximately 233 euros.
The priority rules under section 1609 of the Civil Code become critical in shortfall cases. Minor children always have first-priority status, meaning they must be fully served before any support is allocated to lower-ranking dependants such as adult children or a divorced spouse.
Spousal Support Basics
Spousal support (Ehegattenunterhalt) in Germany is separate from child support and is governed by sections 1569 to 1586b of the Civil Code. After a divorce, the lower-earning spouse may have a claim against the higher-earning spouse. The two main forms are separation support (Trennungsunterhalt), which applies during the separation year, and post-marital support (nachehelicher Unterhalt), which applies after the divorce is finalized.
Post-marital support is calculated using the so-called 3/7 difference method. First, child support obligations are deducted from the obligor's adjusted net income. The same is done for the claimant if they also pay child support. Then, the difference between the two adjusted incomes is calculated, and 3/7 of that difference represents the spousal support amount. The obligor additionally receives a 1/7 employment bonus (Erwerbstätigenbonus) to incentivize work.
Spousal support is subject to the obligor's self-retention of 1,600 euros. If paying spousal support would cause the obligor's income to fall below this threshold, the amount is reduced or eliminated entirely.
Priority of Support Claims (section 1609 BGB)
When an obligor has multiple dependants, the law establishes a strict priority order. Rank 1 includes minor unmarried children and so-called privileged adult children (those under 21, still living with a parent, and attending general secondary education). Rank 2 covers current or former spouses who were in a long marriage or are caring for children. Rank 3 comprises non-privileged adult children. Rank 4 encompasses all other support claimants, such as parents of the obligor.
In practice, this ranking means that the obligor must first satisfy all rank-1 obligations in full before any money is allocated to rank-2 claimants. If there is not enough money even for rank-1 obligations, the shortfall case rules apply and the available amount is distributed proportionally among rank-1 dependants only.
Common Mistakes in Calculations
One of the most frequent errors is using the gross income or the simple net payslip amount instead of the properly adjusted net income. Deductions such as work-related expenses, debt payments, and additional pension contributions can significantly reduce the calculation base and therefore the support obligation.
Another common mistake is applying the wrong number of dependants when reading the Düsseldorf Table. The table assumes two dependants. Families with three or more children need to shift the income group downward, which reduces the per-child amount. Conversely, a single child may justify an upward shift.
Parents also frequently forget that the child benefit offset is only half for minor children. Using the full 250 euros rather than 125 euros leads to a payment amount that is too low. Similarly, confusing the needs rate with the payment amount leads to overpayment.
Finally, many obligors overlook the annual update cycle. The Düsseldorf Table is typically updated every one to two years, and self-retention amounts may also change. Using outdated figures can result in payments that are either too high or too low.
Conclusion
Calculating child support in Germany requires careful attention to several interrelated factors: the obligor's adjusted net income, the correct income group in the Düsseldorf Table, the child's age group, the child benefit offset, the number of dependants, and the self-retention threshold. When spousal support is also involved, the calculation becomes even more complex because child support must be deducted before the 3/7 method is applied.
Using a dedicated calculator like the one on this page ensures that all of these factors are accounted for correctly. The calculator applies the 2026 Düsseldorf Table figures, checks for shortfall cases automatically, and provides a clear breakdown of each child's entitlement. For legally binding determinations, always consult a family law attorney, but for an initial orientation, the calculator provides a reliable and up-to-date estimate.