Unpaid child maintenance in Greece: evidence and legal options

Start with the arrangement already in place

When maintenance is late, establish what has been determined: amount, due date, duration and beneficiary. Gather the complete judgment, interim order or agreement, together with service records. An oral understanding and an enforceable title do not provide the same immediate recovery options.

A lawyer checks whether there is an appropriate enforceable title and whether the necessary formalities have been followed. If maintenance has not been determined, or an earlier arrangement has expired, a claim to establish it and, where necessary, interim protection may be considered. The child's needs alone do not authorise any particular enforcement measure.

A schedule showing the actual arrears

For each month, list the amount due, payment deadline, each payment received and the balance. If EUR 300 was due and EUR 180 was paid, identify the EUR 120 difference and the corresponding bank record. This is an accounting example, not an indication of an appropriate maintenance award.

Clothing, gifts or direct payments for activities should not automatically be treated as discharge of the monthly obligation. Check the judgment or agreement. Keep extraordinary expenses separate so that each claim can be linked to its proper basis.

• Judgment or agreement and later variations
• Bank statements, receipts and clear dates
• Relevant messages about payments or acknowledged arrears
• Evidence of the child's additional needs

Options to be assessed

Depending on the file, a formal demand, a claim for the arrears or enforcement may be considered. The appropriate route depends on the title, service, available evidence and legally accessible assets. Attachment, for example, is not an automatic consequence of every late payment.

Any criminal aspect requires a separate assessment of the statutory requirements and facts; it does not guarantee recovery. If the payer lives abroad, recognition and enforcement may involve a cross-border procedure. The country involved and available address information should therefore be established early.

Changed needs and the child's welfare

Higher expenses or a substantial change in financial circumstances may require a separate assessment of whether maintenance should be varied. Recovery of past arrears and determination of future payments are different questions.

Contact should not be withheld as pressure to obtain payment, and difficulty with contact should not be answered by stopping maintenance. The child's interests guide the legal response. Where violence, threats or immediate danger exist, tell your lawyer and the competent authorities at the outset so that protection takes priority over financial negotiation.