Child Maintenance Lawyers in Johannesburg
Hugh Raichlin Attorneys assists Johannesburg clients with establishing, changing and enforcing child maintenance from its Norwood office. Tell us whether you need a first arrangement, a change to an existing order or help with missed payments. The advice must address the child's needs, financial information and the correct process, whether or not a divorce is involved.
The initial telephone discussion is free and helps us understand whether the firm can assist. A paid consultation is arranged where appropriate. We aim to follow up within one working day after receiving your enquiry.
This page is for you if…
- No suitable maintenance arrangement exists.
- Payments under an existing order have stopped or are irregular.
- School, medical or other costs have changed.
- You need to respond to a maintenance claim or request a lawful variation.
How Hugh Raichlin Attorneys can help
Prepare a realistic maintenance schedule
We help distinguish the child's costs from general household spending and identify supporting records. A clear schedule is more useful than an unsupported total or a list designed to punish the other parent.
Establish or vary the obligation
We assess the appropriate forum and documents, including any pending divorce or existing order. The correct route may be an ordinary maintenance process or a procedure within matrimonial litigation.
Address non-payment
An accurate payment history is important for assessing arrears and available enforcement measures. The remedy depends on the order, default and evidence; enforcement is not the same as increasing the monthly amount.
What to consider before deciding
Both needs and means matter
Changes in employment, health, schooling or dependency should be documented. An existing order is not automatically reduced because one parent says circumstances have changed.
Maintenance and contact are separate issues
Do not withhold contact to force payment or stop paying because contact is disputed. Raise each concern through the appropriate legal process, while giving proper attention to any genuine safety issue.
Public court assistance remains available
The maintenance court can assist applicants through its processes. Private legal advice can be valuable where the evidence, arrears, variation or related litigation is complex. The firm will assess suitability during the initial call.
Three distinct maintenance service paths
Establish an order
Set up a maintenance arrangement where none exists, assessing the child's needs and the parents' means.
Vary an order
Seek a lawful change to an existing order based on properly supported changes in circumstances.
Enforce an order
Address non-payment or arrears through the available enforcement measures, supported by an accurate payment history.
These are different requests. The existing order and evidence help determine which process to discuss.
The next steps
- 1Review any agreement or order and identify establishment, variation or enforcement.
- 2Compile needs, means and a reliable payment schedule.
- 3Prepare the appropriate request or response.
- 4Clarify the order, payment method and follow-up steps.
Information to prepare
A brief enquiry is enough to begin. Have the relevant information available where possible for the consultation; provide children's detailed records only when requested through an appropriate channel.
- Existing maintenance orders and written agreements.
- An itemised schedule of child-related costs with available supporting records.
- Payments made and received, with dates and amounts.
- The calculation of any claimed arrears and the records supporting it.
- Financial changes relevant to the request, including income and expense information.
- Relevant correspondence and any hearing date or papers received.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not treat a verbal promise as a court variation, invent expenses or assume support ends automatically at 18. Preserve proof of both payments made and payments received.
Relevant experience for your matter
The family team assists with financial disclosures, parenting matters and court documents, allowing maintenance questions to be assessed alongside connected issues.
Jessica El-Hage
Attorney
LLB · University of Johannesburg
Family-law work including opposed and unopposed divorce, settlement agreements and parenting matters.
View Jessica's profile
Mpho Kutumela
Attorney
BA, LLB · University of the Witwatersrand
Family-law proceedings, Rule 43 applications, settlement agreements and financial-disclosure preparation.
View Mpho's profileFrequently asked questions
How much maintenance can I claim?
That depends on the child's reasonable needs and the parents' financial means. There is no universal percentage or fixed amount for every family.
Can the amount be changed?
A properly supported variation may be possible. Follow the legal process rather than changing an existing order unilaterally.
What about a child over 18?
Support can continue while a child is not self-supporting, depending on the circumstances. Obtain advice about the order and correct procedure.
Will the firm take every maintenance matter?
The initial telephone discussion assesses suitability and the help required. Paid representation is not automatically confirmed by an enquiry.
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Address the maintenance issue through the right process.
Tell us whether you need to establish, vary or enforce maintenance, and what records you have. A brief enquiry is enough to begin the assessment.
How to get started
- 1
Send a brief enquiry, or start an AI-assisted WhatsApp enquiry at any time.
- 2
The initial telephone discussion is free and helps the firm assess whether it can assist. Where the firm may be able to help, an attorney ordinarily follows up within one working day.
- 3
Where appropriate, a paid consultation is arranged. Its scope and fees are confirmed separately; consultations are usually in person, with remote arrangements considered where suitable.
WhatsApp AI gathers initial information; it does not provide legal advice. An enquiry does not confirm an appointment, acceptance of a matter or action on a deadline.
Contact the firm
This website provides general information, not legal advice. Sending an enquiry does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. Each matter is assessed on its own facts.