What is the legal measure to help manage the family budget?

Verified 30 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

A legal measure to help manage the family budget (MJAGBF) helps manage family benefits received for children. This assistance is necessary if these benefits are not used to cover the needs of children. It is the judge who orders this. The management of the services is entrusted to a third party. The measure is implemented for a maximum of 2 years renewable. Parents can challenge the decision. We present the rules to know.

The judicial measure of assistance to the management of the family budget (MJAGBF) makes it possible to restore good management of family benefits in the interest and for the needs of the child.

The aim is to support parents in protecting their child's needs (housing, health, education and maintenance).

The aim of the measure is to intervene as quickly as possible to learn know-how and to prevent the financial situation from worsening.

This measure does not call into question the authority of the parents over the child. It is not intended to remove custody of the child and does not affect the ability of parents to make decisions for their child.

There are no socio-professional criteria, nor any age condition.

The legal aid measure concerns parents who respond to 2 following conditions :

  • Family benefits are not used for housing, maintenance, health and child-rearing needs
  • One provision of home help (examples: domestic help, support in the social and family economy, intervention by an educational action service, payment of financial aid) is not sufficient.

The benefits covered by this measure are as follows:

Please note

On the decision of the children's judge, the family benefits officer may also receive the work-related injury pension when it is paid to the child in the event of the death of the parent.

Persons who may request the measure

The children's judge may be seized by one of the following persons:

  • One of the minor's parents or legal representative
  • The person to whom the benefits are paid
  • The public prosecutor who has seized himself or herself or is seized by a third party (for example: the departmental council)
  • The mayor of the commune of the parents' residence with the body that delivers these benefits (for example: Caf: titleContent).

The children's judge may apply ex officio on an exceptional basis.

Information to third parties

The judge shall notify the persons who are not the authors of the application of the opening of the proceedings:

  • The parent(s)
  • The public prosecutor
  • The body responsible for paying family benefits (Caf: titleContent, MSA: titleContent)
  • The services of the home department of the parent(s).

In addition, the parent or parents are informed by the judge:

  • Their right to choose a lawyer (or to request that they be appointed a lawyer ex officio)
  • And the possibility of consulting the file at the court registry.

The consultation of the documents of the file is carried out on the days and hours fixed by the judge.

The lawyer may be issued all or part of the documents in the file, but he cannot transmit copies of the documents to his client.

Who shall I contact

FYI  

It is possible to request thelegal aid.

Decision of the judge

The children's judge summons the recipient (who may be the recipient himself, his spouse or his cohabiting partner) of the benefits 8 days before the hearing date.

The judge also notifies the lawyer.

During the hearing, the judge hears the parents and informs them of the reasons for which he or she was seized.

The judge:

  • May hear any other person whose hearing appears useful to him
  • Delivers its opinion on the judicial measure to help manage the family budget
  • May order that benefits be paid, in whole or in part, to a delegate for family benefits designated by the judge.

For this, the 2 conditions the following must be combined:

  • The benefits are not used for housing, maintenance, health and educational needs of the child
  • A home care benefit does not appear to be sufficient to re-establish autonomous management of benefits.

If the judge decides, family benefits are paid (in whole or in part) to the delegate.

The delegate shall:

  • Makes decisions by trying to get the family's consent
  • Is the guarantor of the proper use of family benefits
  • Seeks to understand the origin of difficulties and to find solutions
  • Advises parents to overcome budgetary and financial difficulties
  • Sets priorities in payments. However, it acts primarily on family benefits for the needs and expenses of the child
  • Takes all decisions, in consultation with parents, to meet the needs related to the maintenance, health and education of the child
  • Helps parents plan for the future.

The delegate must report to the children's judge on the evolution of the family's financial situation.

In the event of significant disagreement, the children's judge can be seized by the parents or the delegate.

The measure cannot exceed a duration of Two years.

It can be renewed by reasoned decision of the children's judge.

Depending on the financial situation and the management balance, the judge may interrupt the aid measure.

The legal measure to help manage the family budget may be amended at any time, either:

  • Ex officio by the judge
  • At the request of public prosecutor
  • At the request of the persons who brought the matter before the judge (e.g. the parent)
  • At the request of the Family Benefits Officer.

The decision to introduce the judicial measure to help manage the family budget is notified within 8 days:

  • To the parties
  • To the Family Benefits Officer if designated
  • To the body which is the debtor of those benefits (Caf: titleContent, MSA: titleContent)
  • At public prosecutor.

This decision may be challenged before the court of appeal within the 15 days following its notification by the parties and by the Family Benefits Officer.

The measure continues to apply until the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public

    • accès

      For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.

      Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.

    • horaires
      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15

    • Request a call

      coût Service free
    • service

      The informants who answer you belong to the Department of Justice.