What happens if I don't pay the maintenance set by the court?
In short
Knowingly not paying maintenance set by a court decision for more than 2 months is a crime (level 1). If your ability to pay has changed, do not stop paying; go to the family court.
Video transcript
Your income has dropped. You are thinking of not paying the maintenance set by the court. Not allowed: Knowingly not paying maintenance for more than 2 months is a crime: level 1 'family abandonment'. The right way: Do not stop paying; if your income fell, ask the family court to change the maintenance. Outcome (Level 1 crime): Fine: 200 € – 20.000 €; Or: 20 – 120 h community work; Also: Arrears still owed.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Knowingly not paying maintenance (for a spouse or a child) set by a final court decision for more than 2 months is a crime: 'abandonment of family' (art. 676, level 1).
- Parents must pay for their child's housing, care, health and education; this obligation can continue after age 18 until the child finishes their studies.
- If your income has dropped, ask the family court to change the maintenance; do not stop paying on your own.
- You can get free first-line legal advice and, depending on your income, a free lawyer (pro deo).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- The law provides for a fine of 200 € – 20.000 €; with surcharge multipliers, the amount you pay can be higher. Or 20–120 hours of community service (werkstraf / peine de travail) or 6–12 months of probation (probatiestraf).
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence (level 1); probation is possible
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 1: No prison: a fine, community service or probation. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- The unpaid maintenance must also be paid back
Legal basis:oud BW art. 203ter
- It may appear on your criminal record extract (uittreksel uit het strafregister / extrait de casier judiciaire); this can cause problems when you apply for jobs
Legal basis:Sv. art. 590, 595
- Not paying maintenance does not automatically take away your right to contact with the child. But the family court decides everything in the interest of the child.
Legal basis:oud BW art. 374 §1
What do these terms mean?
- Criminal record
- The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
Why does this rule exist?
Maintenance secures the child's and the spouse's right to financial support. The rule prevents children from falling into poverty after a separation.
Where can you go?
- Violence helplineFlanders 1712 (weekdays 09–18) · Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030 (partner violence), 103 (child abuse) · Emergency 112
- Child and family servicesFlanders: Kind en Gezin / Opgroeien · Wallonia and Brussels: ONE
- School guidance centreThe school's CLB / centre PMS
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 9 / 9 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 9 checked statementsopen
- Corrected according to the source
Kesinleşmiş nafaka kararını bilerek 2 aydan uzun süre ödememek suçtur (md. 676, seviye 1)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 676 - Found in an official source
Nafakayı ödememek suçtur (seviye 1)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 676 - Found in an official source
Ebeveyn barınma, bakım, sağlık, eğitim masraflarını karşılar; eğitim bitene kadar 18 sonrası da sürer
Oud Burgerlijk Wetboek, art. 203 §1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Ücretsiz ilk hukuki danışma ve gelir şartına bağlı pro deo avukat
belgium.be – Eerste advies; FOD Justitie verklaring van rechten (tweedelijnsbijstand) - Corrected according to the source
Seviye 1: 200–20.000 € para cezası, 20–120 saat çalışma veya 6–12 ay denetimli serbestlik
Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Hapis yok (seviye 1); denetimli serbestlik verilebilir
Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Alacaklı, borçlunun gelirini doğrudan tahsil etme yetkisi alabilir
oud BW art. 203ter - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet Strafregister'e işlenir; uittreksel bu kayıtları gösterir
Sv. art. 590, 595 - Corrected according to the source
Görüşme hakkı ancak çok ağır nedenle reddedilir; nafaka borcu görüşmeyi kendiliğinden kaldırmaz
oud BW art. 374 §1
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?