Contribution to the costs of marriage
Verified 14 November 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You are married and you want to know your financial obligations? Be aware that each spouse must contribute according to his financial means. If your spouse doesn't pay his or her share, you can force him or her to do so. You must turn to the Family Court Judge (Jaf) and apply for a contribution to the marriage. We present you the information to know.
The charges of marriage include all the expenses of daily living what life in common entails.
They include the following expenses:
- Accommodation
- Food
- Health
- Education of children
- Clothing
- Transport
- Recreational expenses.
Please note
The contribution to expenses is not a duty of care to your spouse. It concerns the expenses that ensure the lifestyle of the household.
Each of you 2 must contribute to the wedding expenses.
You can agree on the allocation (for example, by marriage contract).
In the absence of any other choice, you must contribute based on your respective income.
Example :
If your monthly salary is €3,000 and your spouse's €1,500, you must contribute 2 thirds of the costs of the marriage. And your spouse for a third party.
FYI
The obligation persists if you're de facto separated.
The contribution can be made in money.
It can also be done in other forms (e.g. family tasks for a stay-at-home parent, provision of housing by the sole owner spouse).
Reimbursement of a borrowing subscribed to finance the acquisition, construction or maintenance expenses of your family accommodation enter the marriage charges.
This is also the case for expenses for the acquisition of a second home.
You better try to find a amicable agreement with your spouse. You can, for example, send him a letter inviting him to discuss or use a family mediator.
If there is no agreement, you must turn to the judge.
Application to Court
If your spouse does not contribute or does not contribute enough to the costs of the marriage, you can apply to the family judge to compel him to do so.
The use of a lawyer is not mandatory.
FYI
If you want to be assisted by a lawyer and your resources are low, you can benefit from a legal aidunder certain conditions.
You can choose one of the following courts:
- Place of residence (on the day of your request)
- Where your spouse resides in the event of separation.
You can submit your application by one of the following means:
- On site
- By mail RAR: titleContent.
Who shall I contact
You must use the application form of contribution to the costs of marriage:
Application for contribution to the costs of marriage
You have to bring evidence of the situation and set the amount of your request.
You must reach mandatory at your request the following documents:
- Full copy of your birth certificate (less than 3 months old)
- Full copies of birth certificates of your dependent children (less than 3 months old)
- Full copy of your marriage certificate or copy of your family record book
- Copy of your identity document (national identity card, passport, etc.)
- Copy of any court decision related to your application (e.g. judgment of the juvenile judge).
Depending on your request, you must also attach the following documents:
- Proof of address (rent receipt, electricity bill, etc.)
- Copies of your last tax notice and tax return
- Copy of your last 3 salary slips
- Proof of the social benefits you receive
- Proof of your expenses and resources (tuition, medical bills, etc.).
Depending on your situation, other documents may be requested by the judge.
Proceedings before the judge
You are summoned by mail RAR: titleContent at a hearing of the Jaf: titleContent.
You must all 2 introduce yourself in person, whether or not assisted by a lawyer.
You must explain yourself before the judge (oral proceedings).
In the event ofabsence of one spouse, the judge may take one of the following decisions:
- Do not review the case and postpone it
- Judge with the only elements brought by the person present.
If your spouse does not fulfill his obligation to contribute to the marriage, the judge sets the amount of his contribution, usually in the form of child support.
The judgment is indicated to him by act of commissioner of justice (formerly judicial officer and judicial auctioneer).
Who shall I contact
A spouse can challenge the judge's decision.
The rules vary depending on whether he was present before the judge:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
The husband was present before the judge
He can appeal within one month of the notification of judgment.
The use of a lawyer is mandatory.
Who shall I contact
The husband was sentenced in his absence
He can oppose the judgment.
He has a period of one month from the day he was personally notified of the judgment.
He has to send a letter RAR: titleContent to the secretariat-registry of the tribunal.
Who shall I contact
If your spouse does not pay the contribution imposed by the judge, you have several ways to obtain payment.
If you use a commissioner of justice to get a direct payment, the costs are borne by your spouse.
Who shall I contact
In the event of a change in your respective circumstances, the amount of the contribution may be changed (upwards or downwards) or deleted.
In case of disagreement, you must send a request to Jaf: titleContent specifying the changes (e.g. job loss).
Attach a copy of the previous court decision.
You must use the following application form:
Application for contribution to the costs of marriage
Who shall I contact
You must reach mandatory at your request the following documents:
- Full copy of your birth certificate (less than 3 months old)
- Full copies of birth certificates of your dependent children (less than 3 months old)
- Full copy of your marriage certificate or copy of your family record book
- Copy of your identity document (national identity card, passport, etc.)
- Copy of any court decision related to your application (e.g. judgment of the juvenile judge).
Depending on your request, you must also attach the following documents:
- Proof of address (rent receipt, electricity bill, etc.)
- Copies of your last tax notice and tax return
- Copy of your last 3 salary slips
- Proof of the social benefits you receive
- Proof of your expenses and resources (tuition, medical bills, etc.).
Depending on your situation, other documents may be requested by the judge.
You must also justify changes in your situation that explain your request.
Depending on your situation, other documents may be requested by the judge.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
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.
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The informants who answer you belong to the Department of Justice.
- Legal permanence
Respective duties and rights of spouses
Jurisdiction of the family judge