Updated on October 16, 2026
In 30 seconds
If a parent lives in Germany and does not pay child support for children living in Italy (or the reverse), there are European tools to obtain payment. EU Regulation 4/2009 provides for cooperation between central authorities. In Germany the central authority is the Bundesamt für Justiz (BfJ, the Federal Office of Justice).
For the general picture, read the guide Italians in Germany: Legal Guide.
In this article
- What Unterhalt is and who helps
- Practical steps
- Frequent case
- The best solution for you
- Frequently asked questions
- Official sources
What Unterhalt is and who helps
“Unterhalt” is the German term for maintenance payments, that is, the support owed to children or to a spouse.
The BfJ helps to enforce maintenance claims, in and out of court, when the debtor lives abroad. It charges no fees for this activity. The help applies only with countries with which cooperation agreements exist. The website cites the European regulation as “EG-UntVO.”
Anyone living in Italy should first check which authority to contact. Each State has its own central authority, and the route depends on where the creditor and the debtor live. It is best to do this before sending documents.
Practical steps
- Gather the order (judgment, agreement, separation deed) and the debtor’s residence details.
- Document the missed payments with bank statements.
- Work out jurisdiction: where the person entitled to support lives, where the debtor lives.
- Decide whether to go to the central authority or to a court.
- Translate the documents, if required.
- Update the order if income has changed.
Frequent case · A problem that happens often
A mother lives in Naples with two children. The father, who moved to Düsseldorf, stopped paying after the separation. She has an Italian judgment that sets the amount. She asks whether she has to start over in Germany. The first point is whether the Italian order can be recognized and enforced in Germany with the European tools.
Frequent case described in general terms: names, places and details do not refer to real people or cases.
The best solution for you
First: Gather the order (judgment, agreement, separation deed) and the debtor’s residence details, and document the missed payments with bank statements.
Then: Decide whether to go to the central authority or to a court. If income has changed, update the order.
If the office or the other side does not cooperate: If the debtor does not pay and does not reply, check the European route that suits the case and prepare the documents, with the translations required.
It usually pays to: Usually it pays to work out jurisdiction first and to check whether the Italian order can be recognized and enforced in Germany with the European tools.
What to do now
- Gather the order and the debtor’s residence details.
- Keep the bank statements that prove the missed payments.
- Check whether the documents need to be translated.
No route guarantees an outcome.
Learn more: Legal guides from Studio Legale Fiorentino.
How attorney Fiorentino can help you
- Gather the judgment or agreement, the bank statements and every known address of the debtor in Germany.
- Check with the firm the jurisdiction and the route: central authority or court.
- For the video call, have the history of the missed payments ready, month by month.
Frequently asked questions
Who helps to recover maintenance from a foreign country?
The central authorities provided for by the European regulation. In Germany it is the BfJ.
Does the BfJ charge costs?
The BfJ states on its website that it charges no fees for this activity.
Is an Italian maintenance judgment valid in Germany?
It depends on the European tools that apply to the case. It should be checked before acting.
Can I act from Italy?
As a rule yes, but the right route must be chosen: central authority or court. It is best to check beforehand.
What about children born in Germany?
The same rules on maintenance apply. For citizenship, see the article Italian and German Dual Citizenship: What Applies Today.
Read also
- Italians in Germany: Legal Guide
- Divorce in Germany: How to Make It Valid in Italy
- German Pflichtteil and Italian Forced Heirship: What Share Do Children Get
Official sources
Institutional pages consulted; the official source always prevails for up-to-date texts.
- Bundesamt für Justiz: central authority for maintenance abroad
- Italian Embassy in Berlin: guides to consular services and succession
Where to find us
The firm is based in Naples (Piazza Giovanni Bovio 22 and Via Monte di Dio 14) and works throughout Italy; the first meeting can be held by video call.
Informational text, prepared with the help of artificial intelligence tools. Author: attorney Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino.
Do you have a similar issue?
Every situation depends on the documents of the specific case. You can contact the firm from anywhere, remotely.