Child support in Denmark: rules, calculation and rates 2026
Complete guide to child support in Denmark: who pays, how the support is calculated, the normal and increased rates in 2026, contact, tax, and what to do if the support is not paid.
Thor, Dokumentkonsulent
When parents separate, questions often arise about who is to pay what for the child's maintenance. Child support (børnebidrag) is the statutory mechanism that ensures a child continues to be supported by both parents, even when they no longer live together.
This guide runs through everything you need to know: who pays, how the support is calculated, the applicable rates for 2026, and what to do if the agreement is not honoured.
What is child support?
Child support is a monthly payment from one parent (the paying parent) to the parent the child lives with (the resident parent), for the purpose of covering the child's maintenance costs.
The duty to contribute to a child's maintenance follows from parenthood, not from marriage or cohabitation. Whether the parents were married, cohabiting or never lived together, the duty of maintenance applies to both.
Child support is governed by the Children Act (børneloven) and the Act on the maintenance of children (lov om børns forsørgelse).
Who has to pay child support?
The basic rule is that the parent the child does not live with permanently pays child support to the resident parent.
Situations involving child support
The child lives with one parent (the normal case) The parent the child does not live with pays monthly child support.
Shared residence (7/7 arrangement) If the child lives equally with both parents, the starting point is that no child support is paid. If there is a significant difference in the parents' contributions to the child's maintenance, the Agency of Family Law (Familieretshuset) can nonetheless set an amount.
Parents with very different incomes Even with a near-equal split, one parent can be required to pay if that parent does not fulfil their duty of maintenance.
When does the support stop?
Child support is as a rule paid until the child turns 18. After that, education support can in certain cases be granted (see below).
Normal support and increased support, rates 2026
Child support is set by reference to the normal rate (normalbidraget), which is regulated each year (on 1 January) by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing.
Normal rate 2026
The normal rate consists of a base amount and a fixed supplement:
| Part | Monthly amount (2026) | Annual amount (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Base amount | DKK 1,483 | DKK 17,796 |
| Fixed supplement | DKK 192 | DKK 2,304 |
| Normal rate in total | DKK 1,675 | DKK 20,100 |
The normal rate is the lowest support the Agency of Family Law can set when the child lives in Denmark.
Note: The rates are regulated every year. Always check the current rates on the Agency of Family Law's website.
Increased support at high income
If the paying parent has a high income, the support can be increased. Increased support is always calculated as the normal rate plus a percentage of the base amount of the normal rate (not as a round multiple of the whole normal rate). The Agency of Family Law looks in particular at the payer's income and at the number of children the payer has a duty to support. It makes no difference what the resident parent earns.
For one child the following guideline levels apply in 2026:
| Payer's annual income (1 child) | Support per month (2026) |
|---|---|
| Under approx. DKK 600,000 | Normal rate: DKK 1,675 |
| approx. DKK 600,000 to 900,000 | Normal rate + 100% of the base amount: DKK 3,158 |
| approx. DKK 900,000 to 1,600,000 | Normal rate + 200% of the base amount: DKK 4,641 |
| Over approx. DKK 1,600,000 | Normal rate + 300% of the base amount: DKK 6,124 |
If the payer has a duty to support more than one child, the income thresholds that trigger an increase rise accordingly. The amounts are guideline figures, and the Agency of Family Law makes the specific assessment.
How child support is calculated
Child support is not calculated from a simple formula, but from an assessment of:
- The paying parent's income (annual income before tax and labour-market contribution, but after deduction of ATP and reasonable pension contributions)
- The number of children the paying parent has a duty to support
- The extent of contact (which decides whether support is set at all)
- The child's any special needs (chronic illness, disability, etc.)
Contact and support
Danish rules do not contain an automatic percentage reduction in child support based on the number of nights of contact. Instead, the extent of contact decides whether support is set at all:
- Five days or fewer per 14 days: The parent who has the child that little is as a rule regarded as not fulfilling their duty of maintenance and is normally required to pay child support.
- Near-equal split (shared-residence arrangement): If both parents fulfil their duty of maintenance, no support is set as a starting point.
If one parent pays child support, that parent has no duty to cover the child's other costs beyond those arising in connection with their own contact.
Example calculation
Mother earns DKK 380,000 a year and has the child living with her. Father earns DKK 620,000 a year and has the child in contact about five nights a month.
- The father has one child and an income between DKK 600,000 and 900,000. The support is therefore the normal rate + 100% of the base amount = 1,675 + 1,483 = DKK 3,158 per month
- The contact does not reduce the support itself
- Result: The father pays DKK 3,158 per month in child support
The figures are guideline figures. The Agency of Family Law makes the final calculation based on documented income.
Agreements on child support
Private agreement
Parents can freely agree the child support between themselves, as long as both agree and the support at least corresponds to the normal rate. A private agreement can be adapted to the family's specific situation.
A private agreement on child support should:
- State the amount of the support per month
- State the payment date (typically the 1st of the month)
- State an agreement on future adjustment (for example price indexation)
- Be signed by both parents
You can combine the agreement on child support with a custody agreement that covers the more significant decisions about the child.
Decision by the Agency of Family Law
If you cannot agree, or you want an official decision, you can apply to the Agency of Family Law to set the support. Having the support set for the first time is free and merely requires documentation of the payer's income.
The Agency of Family Law's decision is binding and can be enforced by Udbetaling Danmark and the bailiff's court.
Education support (18 to 24 years)
Child support normally stops when the child turns 18. But if the child is in education and unable to support themselves, one or both parents can be required to pay education support.
Education support requires:
- That the child is under 24
- That the child is in a higher education or upper-secondary education
- That the child cannot support themselves (for example via state education support plus a part-time job)
The support is set individually and can at most correspond to the normal rate, unless special circumstances justify more.
An application for education support is submitted by the child themselves (not by one parent) to the Agency of Family Law.
What do you do if the support is not paid?
If the paying parent does not pay what has been agreed or decided, you have the following options:
1. Udbetaling Danmark takes over collection
If the support has been set by the Agency of Family Law, you can contact Udbetaling Danmark, which handles collection. You do not need to do anything actively yourself. Udbetaling Danmark chases the paying parent and can recover the arrears through wage attachment.
2. Advance payment of child support
If the paying parent is insolvent or unable to pay, you can apply to have the support paid out by Udbetaling Danmark as an advance. Udbetaling Danmark then reclaims the money from the paying parent.
For 2026 the advance support is at most the normal rate (DKK 1,675 per month).
3. The bailiff's court
As a supplement to Udbetaling Danmark's collection, you can approach the bailiff's court with a view to attachment of the paying parent's assets or salary, if the arrears are large.
Changing child support
If the financial circumstances change significantly, for example on a change of job, unemployment or a large pay rise, the support can be renegotiated or set anew.
Voluntary change
Both parents can at any time agree a new amount of support. A new written agreement replaces the old one.
Application to the Agency of Family Law
If you disagree about the change, either the paying parent or the resident parent can apply to the Agency of Family Law for a reassessment. The Agency of Family Law will typically require documentation of the changed income situation (for example a dismissal notice, annual tax statement). If the Agency of Family Law has previously dealt with a case about the support, an application for a change normally costs a fee of DKK 3,100 (2026).
Retroactive effect
A change of child support as a rule has no retroactive effect, that is, you cannot normally reclaim support that has already been paid. An application for a reduction should therefore be submitted as soon as possible when the income changes.
Child support and tax
For the paying parent, child support is partly deductible. You can deduct the support in your taxable income, but with a floor equal to the fixed supplement to the normal rate (DKK 192 per month in 2026). If you pay the normal rate, you can therefore deduct DKK 1,483 per month. The deduction is worth about 27%. The rules follow section 10 of the Tax Assessment Act (ligningsloven).
For the resident parent, the support is not taxable. For the child, the normal rate itself is tax-free, while the part of any increased support that exceeds the normal rate is taxable income for the child.
Frequently asked questions
Can you agree a lower child support than the normal rate?
Yes, but a private agreement on support lower than the normal rate is only valid if both parents enter into the agreement voluntarily and after due consideration. The Agency of Family Law will not approve an agreement that clearly disregards the child's interests, and can normally increase support that is too low to at least the normal rate if an application is made.
What happens to the support if the paying parent loses their job?
The support can be applied to be reduced by the Agency of Family Law on documented loss of income. In the period until a new decision, the existing support must still be paid. It is important to act quickly.
Is the child entitled to support even if the mother/father is not legally recognised as a parent?
Support presupposes legal parenthood. If paternity or parenthood has not been established (for example in the case of unregistered paternity), this must be clarified via the Agency of Family Law before the support claim is raised.
Can a father claim child support from the mother?
Yes. The support is not gender-determined. It is always the resident parent who is entitled to support, whether that is the mother or the father. If the child lives with the father, the father can claim support from the mother.
Is there a difference between child support and maintenance?
Yes. Child support covers the child's maintenance and is paid to the resident parent. Spousal maintenance (ægtefællebidrag) is a separate payment that can be paid to a former spouse as compensation after divorce. They are independent of each other.
What happens to the support when the child turns 18?
The support ends automatically when the child turns 18. If education support is wanted, the child must apply to the Agency of Family Law for it themselves.
Can I claim support retroactively?
As a rule, support is set from the time of application. However, if the Agency of Family Law receives the application no later than two months after the triggering event (for example the end of cohabitation or the child's move), the support is set from that date. In the case of non-payment of support already set, arrears can be claimed several years back.
What is "advance support", and who can apply for it?
Advance support is an arrangement whereby Udbetaling Danmark pays the support directly to the resident parent when the paying parent does not pay. The resident parent applies directly to Udbetaling Danmark and then receives up to the normal rate per month, while Udbetaling Danmark reclaims the money from the paying parent.
Conclusion
Child support is an important part of the legal and practical framework for children's maintenance after a break-up. As a parent, it is wise to know your rights and duties, whether you are the resident parent or the paying parent.
If you can agree the support yourselves, that is typically the fastest and most flexible route. If you cannot agree, the Agency of Family Law is there to make a binding decision.
The content of this article is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Rates and rules can change. Contact the Agency of Family Law or a family-law lawyer for advice on your specific situation.
This article is for general guidance only and is not individual legal advice. LegalDock documents are templates — consult a lawyer about your specific situation.