Maintenance

What is maintenance?

Maintenance is the obligation of one person to support, to provide financial support to another person.

Who is entitled to maintenance?

According to the Family Code, a person who is unable to work and cannot support himself from his property has the right to maintenance.

This person must be one of the following:

• children /minors or adults, students/, spouse;

•          parents;

•          ex husband;

• grandchildren and great-grandchildren;

•          brothers and sisters;

• grandparents and from ascendants of a higher degree.

Who owes child support?

The same group of persons have the obligation to support their loved ones and relatives:

• children, spouse;

•          parents;

•          ex husband;

• grandchildren and great-grandchildren;

•          brothers and sisters;

• grandparents and from ascendants of a higher degree

What maintenance is owed?

Maintenance is determined according to the needs of the dependent and the financial ability of the dependent.

For child support, there is a specified minimum by law, which is a quarter of the minimum wage for the country, determined by Decree of the Council of Ministers. Currently, this is ¼ of BGN 710, which is BGN 177.50. / PMS No. 37/24.03.2022/

How is the maintenance obligation fulfilled?

A monetary maintenance obligation is paid monthly, on the same date, to ensure that the dependent is provided with the most necessary living conditions.

Which authority should we turn to to determine alimony?

When you are one of the persons entitled to alimony, you need to apply to the District Court at your permanent address with a claim for the conviction of the person from whom you claim alimony.

No court fee is payable for this proceeding!

After the court decision has been issued /entered into legal force/, with which the dependent person is sentenced to pay a specific amount of maintenance, in a certain way and on a specific date, the dependent person must start fulfilling it.

If maintenance is not paid voluntarily!

You have the opportunity to request the issuance of a writ of execution, with which you can initiate an enforcement case.

The enforcement case is initiated at the Judicial Enforcement Service of the District Court or at a Private Bailiff.

The bailiff is the person who, through his methods and means, will collect the maintenance and provide it to you.