Child maintenance in Slovakia: requesting an increase

Legal status as of November 1, 2026

Child support should respond to the needs of the child and the parents' capabilities. When the original amount no longer corresponds to the family situation, it can be requested to be changed. For successful preparation, it is essential to explain what has changed since the last decision and to support it with understandable evidence. The legal status stated in the article applies as of November 1, 2026.

There is no single universal amount of child maintenance

The court evaluates the justified needs of the child as well as the abilities, possibilities and financial circumstances of the parents. The child is entitled to share in the parents' standard of living. Personal care is also taken into account, so the parent who provides the majority of daily care also contributes in this way. The maintenance obligation does not automatically end upon the child's eighteenth birthday; the child's ability to support himself or herself is decisive. [1]

As of the date indicated, the law sets a minimum of 30 percent of the relevant subsistence minimum. However, this minimum does not represent the usual recommended amount for every family. Where the child's needs and the parents' means are greater, a correspondingly higher maintenance payment is considered. The specific amount in euros must be verified according to the period for which the child maintenance is assessed. [1]

How to use child maintenance tables

The Ministry of Justice has published a methodology with a recommendation table. It is based on, among other things, the child's life stage, the parent's income, and the number of their maintenance obligations. The table can help with orientation and negotiation of the agreement, but its result is not automatically a binding amount that the court must award. [2] [3]

So first prepare a real budget for your child. Only then compare the amount you propose with the indicative calculation. If the amounts differ significantly, look for an explanation: special medical needs, unusual scope of care, or additional dependent children. This way, the table becomes an aid to formulating arguments, not a substitute for family data.

How to prove a change in circumstances

An increase in child maintenance assumes a change in circumstances. Transition to the next level of school, medical expenses, change in care, or significant development in parents' income and assets may be relevant. The assessment also takes into account the development of the cost of living. It is necessary to compare the situation on which the original decision was based with the current state. [1] [4]

Practically create two sets of data: then and now. For each item, note the amount, frequency, and document. For a school trip or annual membership fee, explain whether it is a one-time or annual expense. If you divide it into months, do not enter it again in full at the same time. The budget will thus remain convincing and controllable.

Model example: a child transferred from elementary school to secondary school in another city. The parent provides evidence of travel costs, school supplies and meals, and attaches the earlier judgment. The mere sentence that everything has become more expensive would not explain the extent of the change as clearly as these specific items.

A parent's income does not have to equal one paycheck

Assessment of a parent's financial capacity is not limited to their currently declared wages. The law also allows for taking into account earnings that the parent has given up without a valid reason, or unreasonable financial risks. For income from business, there is a special obligation to prove income and property status. The necessity of individual expenses is assessed objectively. [1] [2]

If the other parent runs a business, provide the specific information available to you and suggest which documents the court should obtain. Distinguish your own knowledge from assumptions. A vacation photo may raise a question, but it alone does not explain the annual income, origin of the money, or property encumbrance. Likewise, a parent requesting a reduction in child maintenance needs to document the reasons for the decrease in their means.

What to include in the application and from what date to request an increase

In the application, identify the earlier decision, the current maintenance payment, the amount requested and the date from which you seek the change. Describe the crucial changes and indicate the evidence. In the case of a minor child, local jurisdiction is generally tied to his or her place of residence determined by agreement between the parents or in another legal manner. The Ministry also publishes a form for increasing or decreasing child maintenance. [5] [6]

Retroactive award of maintenance for a minor child may be considered for a maximum of three years before the commencement of the proceedings, if there are reasons worthy of special consideration. It is not automatic. When requesting a retrospective change, also explain why the application was not filed earlier. In the case of an adult child, the court decides on maintenance only upon motion. The determination or increase of maintenance is requested by an adult child; a motion to reduce or cancel it may also be filed by the obligated parent. [1] [4] [5]

How to work with payments during a dispute

Keep an overview of received and missing payments by month. Mark the bank transfer so that it is clear which period it is for. If a change is being negotiated, separate the regular maintenance, any arrears, and a special contribution for a specific expense in the communication. This will prevent a later dispute about the purpose of the payment.

With an existing enforceable decision, do not rely on an informal announcement that maintenance will be lower from next month. The change must be resolved through legal procedures. Even where there is an agreement, it is advisable to specify the exact amount, payment due date and period covered. [1] [5]

What will change from January 2027

The promulgated amendment No. 244/2026 Z. z. changes the statutory minimum from 30 percent to the full relevant subsistence minimum from 1 January 2027. Another amendment No. 245/2026 Z. z., effective from the same date, increases the statutory presumption of income in the event of failure to fulfill a parent's obligation under Section 63(1) from twenty times to twenty-five times the subsistence minimum. These are future rules that must be distinguished from the legal situation at the time of the creation of this article. [7] [8]

Frequently Asked Questions

Does child support cease after the eighteenth birthday?
Not automatically. The decisive factor is whether the child is able to support themselves; further study and specific options must be assessed individually. [1]

Does the table determine the binding amount of child maintenance?
No. The ministerial methodology is recommendatory and does not replace an assessment of the specific needs of the child and the circumstances of the parents. [2] [3]

Can I request higher child maintenance for the past period?
In the case of a minor child, this is possible under legal conditions, up to three years retroactively before the commencement of the proceedings. The reasons for requesting a retrospective award must be explained separately. [1] [4]

If the original child maintenance does not correspond to the current situation, prepare the latest judgment and a summary of the changes. On that basis, we can assess an application to change the maintenance payment.

Legal sources

[1] Act No. 36/2005 Z. z. on the Family — § 62, § 63, § 65 and § 75 to 78; version from 1.9.2026
https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2005/36/20260901.html

[2] Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic Methodology for calculating child maintenance — Recommendation nature of the methodology and assessed criteria
https://www.justice.gov.sk/aktualne-temy/ministerstvo-spravodlivosti-sr-zjednocuje-postup-pri-urceni-vyzivneho/

[3] Center for International Legal Protection of Children and Youth Table-based maintenance — Purpose and indicative nature of the table
https://cipc.gov.sk/index.php/2024/02/10/tabulkove-vyzivne/

[4] Legal Aid Center Adjustment of rights and obligations towards minor children — Change of circumstances and retroactive change of child maintenance
https://www.centrumpravnejpomoci.sk/files/%C3%9Aprava%20pr%C3%A1v%20a%20povinnost%C3%AD%20k%20malolet%C3%BDm%20de%C5%A5om1.pdf

[5] Civil Non-Contentious Procedure Code — § 25, § 112, § 121 and § 154 to 157; version from 17.8.2026
https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2015/161/20260817.print.html

[6] Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic: templates for individuals and legal entities — Application forms for setting and varying maintenance
https://www.justice.gov.sk/sluzby/vzory-a-formulare/vzory-pre-fo-a-po/

[7] Act No. 244/2026 Z. z. — Art. I and II; change in minimum maintenance effective from 1.1.2027
https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2026/244/vyhlasene_znenie

[8] Act No. 245/2026 Z. z. — Art. I point 1 and Art. II; change in the presumption of income effective from 1.1.2027
https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2026/245/vyhlasene_znenie