GermanyWhat is the Düsseldorf Table for child support?
The Düsseldorf Table is a non-statutory guideline used by German courts to calculate child support based on the paying parent’s net income and the child’s age — it implements the statutory minimums set in BGB § 1612a.
What the Law Says
The Düsseldorf Table is not itself a law — it’s a widely accepted judicial guideline developed by the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf (Oberlandesgericht Düsseldorf) to apply the statutory minimum child support rules in BGB § 1612a. It translates the legal percentages into concrete monthly euro amounts based on the paying parent’s net income and the child’s age group.
BGB § 1612a establishes the legal floor for child support in Germany. It defines three age-based minimum levels as percentages of the child’s tax-free material existence minimum (sächliches Existenzminimum). These percentages are mandatory — courts cannot order less than these amounts unless exceptional hardship applies.
The table uses these statutory percentages but adds practical structure: it groups net monthly incomes (e.g., €1,500–€2,000) and assigns corresponding support amounts for each age stage. While not codified in law, family courts across Germany routinely rely on it for consistency and predictability.
The base amount — the sächliches Existenzminimum — is updated every two years by federal regulation (per BGB § 1612a(4)). For 2024, it is €1,032 for children aged 6–12 (100% level), meaning the minimum support is €1,032 before adjustments for income or shared care.
Statutory TextEin minderjähriges Kind kann von einem Elternteil, mit dem es nicht in einem Haushalt lebt, den Unterhalt als Prozentsatz des jeweiligen Mindestunterhalts verlangen. Der Mindestunterhalt richtet sich nach dem steuerfrei zu stellenden sächlichen Existenzminimum des minderjährigen Kindes. Er beträgt monatlich entsprechend dem Alter des Kindes für die Zeit bis zur Vollendung des sechsten Lebensjahrs (erste Altersstufe) 87 Prozent, für die Zeit vom siebten bis zur Vollendung des zwölften Lebensjahrs (zweite Altersstufe) 100 Prozent und für die Zeit vom 13. Lebensjahr an (dritte Altersstufe) 117 Prozent des steuerfrei zu stellenden sächlichen Existenzminimums des minderjährigen Kindes.
— BGB § 1612a — Minimum maintenance for minor children
What Courts Have Said
German courts treat the Düsseldorf Table as the default benchmark — though they may deviate when justified by special circumstances like high living costs, extraordinary needs, or shared custody arrangements.
In cases of equal alternating residence (Wechselmodell), neither parent pays standard child support; instead, both contribute directly to the child’s expenses proportionally to their incomes — effectively overriding the Duesseldorf Table’s default calculation.
What to Do
Confirm the child’s current age group (0–5, 6–12, or 13+) to identify the correct statutory percentage.
Determine the paying parent’s net monthly income (after taxes and mandatory deductions).
Locate that income bracket in the latest Düsseldorf Table (available from most family courts or online legal portals).
Adjust for shared custody: if time and expenses are truly equal, support may be waived or recalculated under BGH XII ZB 606/21 principles.
File a formal application with the family court (Familiengericht) if agreement cannot be reached — do not rely solely on informal calculations.
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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.