How much is the minimum child maintenance in Estonia?
€318.62 a month — but it is not the same figure for everyone. From 1 April 2026 the minimum maintenance for one child is €318.62 a month; for two children €637.24 and for three €945.86. The base amount for the calculation is €295.86 a month — half the child's average monthly maintenance cost. Minimum maintenance is not a fixed sum but a formula: under the Family Law Act, 3% of the previous year's average gross salary is added to the base amount, and then adjustments are made for family benefits, the number of children, and how much time the child spends with the paying parent. Two families can therefore reach different results.
📋 The rules
- Minimum for one child: €318.62
- Two: €637.24; three: €945.86
- Base amount: €295.86 a month
- Plus 3% of the average gross salary
- Adjusted for benefits, children, time spent
🔓 Exceptions
- Maintenance is reduced where the child spends substantial time with the paying parent
- Family benefits and the number of children in the family are taken into account
- During proceedings the state may pay maintenance allowance of 200 euros a month for up to 150 days
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The state does not leave the child empty-handed while the court argues. During court proceedings the state may pay a maintenance allowance of €200 a month, for up to 150 days — designed to cover the period before maintenance is awarded. And after judgment, if the debtor does not pay, enforcement proceedings begin with a bailiff: account seizure, suspension of the driving licence and other measures. To the paying parent: maintenance can be reduced only by a court, not by paying less on your own initiative — unilateral reduction creates a debt that does not expire quickly. And if the child spends substantial time with you, that must be reflected in the formula — but it is for the court to confirm, not for you to decide.
📎 Official sources
- Riigi Teataja · Family Law Act § 101 →
- Ministry of Justice · Maintenance calculator →
- Social Insurance Board · Maintenance allowance →
❓ Frequently asked
What is the minimum maintenance?
From 1 April 2026 it is 318.62 euros a month for one child, 637.24 euros for two and 945.86 euros for three. The base amount used in the calculation is 295.86 euros a month.
How is maintenance calculated?
The minimum is a formula rather than a fixed sum. Three percent of the previous year's average gross salary is added to the base amount, and adjustments follow for benefits, the number of children and time spent together.
Does shared time reduce maintenance?
It can. Where the child spends a substantial part of the time with the paying parent, that is taken into account in the formula. The decision rests with the court, not with the parent paying less.
What is the maintenance allowance?
During court proceedings the state may pay 200 euros a month for up to 150 days. It covers the period before maintenance is awarded and is applied for from the Social Insurance Board.
What if maintenance is not paid?
Enforcement proceedings begin with a bailiff: account seizure, suspension of the driving licence and other measures. Reducing payments unilaterally simply creates a debt that is painful to clear later.
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