Child support and custody are always an emotive issue when the relationship between the parents has broken down. When such parents can't agree on who provides what or stays with the child, the resultant dispute is a child support and custody dispute. Such issues normally also attract resultant questions such as, how much should a father pay for child support in Kenya?
In the past, fathers were expected to shoulder all the burden of child support. Today, the responsibility of childbearing is shared by both parents, depending on their income. Therefore, the parent earning more carries the heaviest burden. However, the other parent is not excluded, as the court determines what they will contribute.
This is the financial contribution one parent makes to the other to cover the costs associated with raising the child. In most cases, the non-custodial parent gives the amount to the custodial parent every month. The clearly stipulated sum of money is used to cater for the following needs and expenses of the child:
There is no specific amount a father should pay for child support as various factors determine it. Child support is determined based on the following;
When it comes to the expenses of the child or children, the primary custodian must not down the following:
Once all these expenses have been outlined, the court will decide who will contribute what, depending on each parent's earnings. However, the court is also guided by the fact that the decision shouldn't affect the child's current quality of life.
Filing for child support starts with hiring a lawyer who drafts a letter to the party to pay child support. The lawyer, in turn, follows the following legal procedure for obtaining child support or custody:
In other cases, the disputing parents can reach their settlement at the Children’s office without necessarily going to court. Alternatively, they can opt to sign a parental agreement responsibility, binding on both parties, in the presence of their lawyers.
It is a legal document containing the terms of raising a child as agreed between the parents. The PRA is common between parents who are separated, not a couple, or divorced. Apart from child support, some of the other useful clauses in a parental agreement responsibility are:
Once all the issues of raising the child have been stipulated and the parental responsibility agreement drafted, the agreement is registered in court and adopted as an order of the court to make it enforceable.
Yes, you can sue them for child support. You can move to court and file for child support if they resist a parental responsibility agreement. In court, the judges will consider the child’s best interest before they grant an order for child maintenance.
According to The Standard, if one of the parents ignores or refutes the court ruling on child support, the court can take several actions, which can include:
As outlined by Nation Africa, some of the organizations that can help you sue for child support include:
As outlined by Kraido Advocates, the law governing child custody and co-parenting recognizes that both parents have equal custody rights. The mother and father are responsible for raising the child and making important decisions about his or her welfare.
However, when the kid is less than ten years old, the mother is given physical custody unless she has proven unfit to raise a child due to issues such as:
The court primarily focuses on the child's best interest in all child custody cases. Therefore, each case is evaluated on an individual basis. However, before the court can decide on a child's custody, some of the key factors they take into consideration include;
How much should a father pay for child support in Kenya? The amount varies from one case to another. However, irrespective of any prevailing relationship between parents, they are responsible for raising and taking care of their kids. The Kenyan constitution affirms this responsibility, and the equality of the roles is clearly stated, too.
Tuko.co.ke shared an article about new HELB funding model. In 2023, a new higher education funding model was unveiled, replacing the long-standing HELB funding model. It aims to provide financial support to students enrolled in universities and TVET institutions according to their needs.
The new funding model focuses on assessing students' financial needs and distinguishes between placement and funding. Under this model, higher learning institutions won't receive block funding in the form of capitation. Instead, student funding will be through scholarships, loans, and household contributions.
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Child support
A man and a baby
Document on a table