As the parent entitled to represent your child, you may submit a request for maintenance to the Federal Office of Justicevia the Central Authority of the Contracting State in which you and your child reside, via the Central Authority responsible for you in your State ofresidence. If the request is complete, the Federal Office of Justice will take all appropriate steps to enforce the maintenance claim. Pursuant to Article 5(5) AUG, when a request is received, the Federal Office of Justice is deemed to be authorised to take extrajudicial or judicial action on behalf of the creditor.
This essentially involves checking the whereabouts of the person liable for maintenance and his or her economic capacity. Depending on the circumstances of the case, a foreign title is declared enforceable in Germany or a maintenance order is obtained for the first time. If paternity has not yet been established, paternity proceedings are carried out beforehand. As far as possible, efforts will be made to obtain voluntary payment of maintenance. If payments are not made, enforcement proceedings will be initiated.
There are international conventions designed to simplify international maintenance matters. Which convention applies depends on the country in which you and your child are habitually resident.