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Calculator · D.7

Child Maintenance Calculator 2026

Calculate child maintenance under the Düsseldorfer Tabelle 2026: income bracket, payment amount, Selbstbehalt and hardship cases — for up to 5 children.

01

€1,450

Selbstbehalt (employed)

02

€129.50

Half Kindergeld deduction

03

2026

Data as of

Calculate child maintenance

Input

Monthly net income after recognised case-specific adjustments. No blanket one-seventh employment bonus is automatically deducted for child maintenance.

€ / Monat
Employed (Selbstbehalt €1,450 instead of €1,200)
Child 1
FAQ — 06

Frequently Asked Questions: Child Maintenance Germany 2026

Q.01How is child maintenance calculated under the Düsseldorfer Tabelle?
Child maintenance is based on the adjusted net income of the obligor (§ 1610 BGB) and the age of the child. These two factors determine the income bracket (1–14) and the age group. The table amount is then reduced by half the Kindergeld (€129.50) — the remaining payment amount is the monthly maintenance.
Q.02What is the Selbstbehalt (self-retention amount) in child maintenance?
The Selbstbehalt is the minimum amount the obligor must retain for their own living costs. For employed obligors with minor children, the Selbstbehalt is €1,450 per month (as of 2026). If income after deducting the Selbstbehalt is insufficient for the full maintenance, a hardship case (Mangelfall) arises under § 1603 para. 2 BGB.
Q.03What happens when there are multiple children entitled to maintenance?
The Düsseldorf table is generally based on two dependants. With more or fewer dependants, a lower or higher income group may be appropriate in the individual case. There is no automatic rule per additional child, so this calculator does not change the group by itself.
Q.04How is Kindergeld deducted from child maintenance?
Kindergeld (€259 in 2026) is generally deducted at half its value (€129.50) from the table amount under § 1612b BGB. The payment amount is therefore the table amount minus €129.50. For adult children, the full Kindergeld amount is generally credited.
Q.05What is a Mangelfall (hardship case) in maintenance law?
A Mangelfall arises when the obligor's adjusted net income, after deducting the Selbstbehalt (€1,450 for employed obligors), is insufficient to pay the full maintenance for all entitled children (§ 1603 para. 2 BGB). In such cases, the available funds are distributed proportionally (pro rata) among all children. Legal advice is strongly recommended in a hardship case.
Q.06What is the adjusted net income (bereinigtes Nettoeinkommen)?
Adjusted net income is net income after additions and deductions recognised in the individual case, such as certain work expenses or liabilities. A blanket one-seventh deduction does not generally apply to child maintenance. Ask the Jugendamt or a specialist lawyer for a binding assessment.

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— Editorial

Redaktion Faktencheck

Source Verification & Editorial Quality Assurance

Before every release, our fact-check team reconciles the core figures — Kindergeld rate, Elterngeld thresholds, Kinderzuschlag tiers, Düsseldorfer Tabelle — with the latest official publications. Every cent shown in a calculator is traceable to a specific statute or agency notice.

Fact-checked by:Redaktion Faktencheck — Source Verification & Editorial Quality Assurance

Last reviewed:May 2026

Researched and editorially reviewed. Not legal advice within the meaning of § 2 RDG.

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