Child Support in Germany 2026: Düsseldorfer Tabelle Amounts Explained

Quick answer: In Germany, the parent who does not live with the child pays cash child support (Barunterhalt), and the amount comes from the Düsseldorfer Tabelle 2026. You take the paying parent's net income, find the income group (group 1 starts at net income up to €2,100), then read off the child's age band. For 2026 the minimum support (Mindestunterhalt) in group 1 is roughly €482/month for ages 0-5, €554 for 6-11, €649 for 12-17 and €693 for adults. From that figure you subtract half of the Kindergeld (half of €255 = €127.50) for a minor to get the amount actually transferred (Zahlbetrag). A parent earning net €2,500 with an 8-year-old therefore pays about €455/month as an estimate. The self-retention (Selbstbehalt) of €1,450 for minors protects low earners from paying more than they can afford.

What is Kindesunterhalt and who has to pay it?

Kindesunterhalt is the legal obligation of parents to financially support their children. Under §§ 1601 ff. of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB), both parents owe support, but they discharge that duty in different ways depending on where the child lives.

German law distinguishes two forms of support:

• Naturalunterhalt (support in kind): the parent the child lives with fulfils their obligation by providing housing, food, clothing, care and day-to-day supervision. This is treated as equivalent in value to cash.
• Barunterhalt (cash support): the other parent, the one who does not have the child living with them, or with whom the child spends less time, pays a monthly amount of money.

This is why, in a classic separation where the child lives mainly with one parent, only one parent transfers money. The resident parent already "pays" through daily care. The core question this article answers is: how large is that monthly cash figure, and how do you calculate it correctly for 2026?

How the Düsseldorfer Tabelle works

The Düsseldorfer Tabelle is not a statute. It is a set of guidelines published by the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf (Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf) in coordination with the other regional courts and the German Family Court Association. Courts and Jugendämter across Germany use it as the standard reference to turn income into a concrete support figure. It is updated each January; the 2026 edition raised the minimum amounts again in line with the statutory Mindestunterhalt.

Calculating support with the table takes three steps.

1. Determine the adjusted net income. Start from the paying parent's net salary, then deduct job-related costs, work-related debt and a commuting allowance. Add other income (e.g. rental income, some benefits). This "bereinigtes Nettoeinkommen", not the gross salary, decides the income group.
2. Find the income group (1-15). Group 1 covers net income up to €2,100. Each higher group represents a step: group 2 pays 105% of the minimum, and the percentages climb through roughly 110%, 115%, 120% and beyond, reaching 160%+ in the top groups. The number of people the payer must support can shift them one group up or down.
3. Read the age band. Children are grouped by age: 0-5, 6-11, 12-17, and 18+ (adults). Older children have higher needs and therefore higher figures.

The number you read off the table is the Bedarf (requirement). It is not yet the amount transferred. To get the Zahlbetrag (payment amount), you deduct the child benefit share, explained below.

The 2026 minimum figures (income group 1)

Figures are estimates based on the Düsseldorfer Tabelle 2026 and Kindergeld of €255/month. For minors, only half the Kindergeld is deducted; for adult children, the full amount is deducted.

Worked example 1: net €2,500, child aged 8

Meet Thomas. He is separated, and his daughter Lena (8) lives with her mother. Thomas has an adjusted net income of €2,500 per month. Let's walk through his figure step by step.

• Income group: €2,500 falls above €2,100, so Thomas is not in group 1. Net income between €2,101 and €2,500 places him in group 2, which pays 105% of the minimum.
• Age band: Lena is 8, so the 6-11 band applies. The group-1 minimum is €554.
• Requirement (Bedarf): 105% × €554 = €581.70, rounded to €582.
• Child benefit deduction: Lena is a minor, so half of the €255 Kindergeld is subtracted: €582 − €127.50 = €454.50.

So Thomas transfers roughly €455 per month. His self-retention of €1,450 is comfortably preserved (€2,500 − €455 = €2,045 remains), so there is no reduction.

Worked example 2: higher income and an adult child

Now consider Sabine, whose son Max has just turned 18 and started an apprenticeship while still living at home. Sabine has an adjusted net income of €3,800; Max's father, Andreas, has €2,600. This case is different in two important ways.

First, once a child turns 18, both parents owe cash support proportionally to their incomes (Volljährigenunterhalt). The care privilege of the resident parent ends, an adult is expected to look after themselves day-to-day, so both parents contribute money.

Second, for an adult child the full Kindergeld of €255 is deducted, not half.

• Requirement: Max, at 18+, sits in the adult band. Combined parental income of €6,400 places the case in a higher income group; assume the requirement is set at €762 (an estimate reflecting roughly 110% of the €693 minimum).
• Minus full Kindergeld: €762 − €255 = €507 total cash needed.
• Split by income: Sabine earns €3,800 and Andreas €2,600 of a combined €6,400 (after each keeps their €1,750 adult-child self-retention, the split is calculated on the income above that threshold, simplified here for illustration). Roughly, Sabine covers about 59% (€300) and Andreas about 41% (€207).

These are simplified estimates. In practice the proportional split is calculated on the income remaining above each parent's Selbstbehalt, and the child's own apprenticeship pay (minus an allowance) reduces the requirement.

The Selbstbehalt safety net

German support law never leaves the paying parent destitute. The Selbstbehalt (self-retention) is the minimum amount the payer is guaranteed to keep. For 2026:

• €1,450/month towards minor children (and equivalent-privilege cases). This applies to a person who is working.
• €1,750/month towards adult children.

If deducting the calculated support would push the payer below this line, the support is reduced accordingly. This is what turns a straightforward table lookup into a Mangelfall (shortfall case), see below.

Edge cases you should know

Adult children (Volljährigenunterhalt)

From 18, both parents pay proportionally, the full Kindergeld is deducted, and the child's own income (apprenticeship pay, minus a roughly €100-150 allowance) reduces the requirement. Children over 18 in general schooling still count as privileged; once they finish a first vocational qualification, the duty usually ends.

Income changes

Support is not frozen. A pay rise, a bonus, unemployment, or a new child can all move the payer into a different income group. Either side can request a recalculation. Keep payslips and be aware that self-employed income is usually averaged over the last three years.

Mangelfall (shortfall)

When income is too low to cover both the Selbstbehalt and the support for all children, a Mangelfall exists. The available amount is distributed among all entitled children pro rata to their requirements. Minor children and privileged adult children rank ahead of other creditors.

Practical tips

• Use the Jugendamt. The Beistandschaft service will calculate, formalise and even enforce support free of charge, a huge help if the other parent is uncooperative.
• Get it in a titled document. An agreement recorded by the Jugendamt or a court (a "Titel") is enforceable. A handshake is not.
• Document your net income honestly. Under-declaring backfires; courts can impute a fictitious income if they suspect you are hiding earnings.
• Check your legal-expenses insurance. Many Rechtsschutz policies cover family-law disputes after a waiting period (often around three months to three years depending on the module). If a support dispute looks likely, review your cover early.
• Recalculate at each birthday milestone. Crossing into the 6, 12 and 18 age bands automatically raises the figure.

Comparison table: minor vs adult child support

Sources

• Düsseldorfer Tabelle 2026, Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf.
• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) §§ 1601-1615 (maintenance obligations between relatives).
• Mindestunterhaltsverordnung (statutory minimum maintenance ordinance), 2026 values.
• Bundeszentralamt für Steuern, Kindergeld (€255/month per child in 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Is the Düsseldorfer Tabelle legally binding?

No. It is a court guideline, not a law. However, courts and Jugendämter apply it as the standard, so in practice it determines almost every support figure in Germany. The binding amount is fixed by an agreement, a Jugendamt title, or a family court order.

Why is only half the Kindergeld deducted for a minor?

Kindergeld is meant to benefit both parents equally. The resident parent, who provides care, is credited with one half; the paying parent gets the other half by deducting €127.50 from the requirement. For an adult child, who is expected to self-manage, the full €255 is offset.

What if I genuinely cannot afford the calculated amount?

The Selbstbehalt protects you: €1,450 for minors, €1,750 for adults. If paying full support would push you below that, the amount is reduced (a Mangelfall). You must still document your income honestly, or a court may impute earnings you could reasonably earn.

Does support stop automatically at 18?

No. It changes rather than ends. From 18 both parents pay proportionally, the full Kindergeld is deducted, and the child's own income counts. The obligation typically continues until the child completes a first vocational training or degree.

Can I just agree an amount privately with the other parent?

Yes, you can agree privately, but an informal agreement is hard to enforce. Have it recorded as a title (Titel) by the Jugendamt or a court so it becomes legally enforceable and protects both sides if circumstances change.

About this article

Written by Paul Wagner, personal-finance editor at TopicDrill. Reviewed by Jonas Schneider, Versicherungsfachmann (IHK).

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not individual legal or tax advice. All computed euro figures are estimates based on the 2026 rules and simplified assumptions. Your actual support obligation depends on your specific income, deductions and family circumstances. For a binding calculation, consult the Jugendamt, a family-law solicitor, or the family court.