Who can receive maintenance?

A person who does not have sufficient means to feed himself, dress himself or herself, can apply for maintenance (a sum of money calculated and fixed in principle by the family court).

The following persons may be entitled to maintenance:

• The separated parent raising a child. He may receive maintenance from the other parent from whom he is separated.
• One of the ex-spouses may receive maintenance for himself from his former spouse. This applies in the case of divorce for acceptance of the principle of marriage breakdown, for fault or for permanent alteration of the conjugal relationship) or in case of body separation.
• The surviving spouse may also receive maintenance from his children or stepchildren. Children or grandchildren have an obligation to help a parent or grandparent who is unable to meet their daily needs. This obligation, known as maintenance obligation, extends to sons-in-law and daughters-in-law towards their in-laws.
• An adult child if he or she is unable to provide for himself or herselfs (student, unemployed, protected major or with a disability)