Child support dispute: father officially earns minimum wage, but court uncovers a €10,000 car purchase

A court has heard a child maintenance dispute between an adult student and his father. The student asked for financial support during his studies, and the court assessed how much the father can actually afford to pay. The case shows that parents' obligations do not always end when a child turns 18.

The student's estimate

The young man submitted a detailed estimate of expenses to the court, showing what a young person's life costs today. By his calculations, monthly costs exceed one thousand euros.

The father's position

The father works as a car mechanic and is described in the case as a well-paid specialist. He was willing to pay only €210 a month. Officially, he receives the minimum wage.

What the court found

The court did not stop at the official proof of income. During the proceedings it emerged that the father had bought a car for €10,000. That casts doubt on whether the minimum wage reflects his true financial situation. In this way the court established the parents' real ability to pay, which had been hidden behind the minimum wage.

The dispute is more than a family conflict. It shows that in maintenance cases a court can look beyond official income to the actual means parents have to support their child.