My parents divorced many years ago and my father was ordered by the court to pay child maintenance for me until I reached 18. I am now 18 but have not yet finished high school. My father has stopped paying maintenance for me to my mother. She says she cannot manage without it but I don’t want to file him for it because I am frightened that it would spoil our relationship. Can my mother file my father for maintenance like she did when I was little?
By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 16 May, 2022No ! The mother of someone who has reached the age of 18 can no longer file for maintenance on his behalf as she did when he was a minor. According to the Legal Capacity & Guardianship Law of 1962 a parent can bring legal proceedings on behalf of a minor due to his/her role as natural guardian. Once the child reaches 18 he is entitled to act on his own account – only if he wishes to do so – but his mother cannot act for him if he does not want to file for maintenance independently.