My children and I
are not being paid maintenance

What this is about

The word the court uses is maintenance. In everyday speech it is nafqa: the money a husband owes for his wife and for the children, month by month. When it stops, the claim goes to the family court, and the court decides how much and from when.

Living abroad changes two things. You cannot stand in the court yourself, and the money has to reach you where you are. Both are things an advocate handles every day.

What has to be in place

Before anyone can file, three things have to be clear.

The documents you will be asked for

These are the papers a family court usually asks for. Your advocate confirms which apply to you.

• The marriage document, the nikah nama.
• Birth certificates or the family record for the children.
• Your identity document, and a power of attorney if someone acts for you.
• Anything that shows what was paid before, and when it stopped.

How an advocate helps from where you are

What an advocate does that you cannot do from abroad.

• Files the claim in the right family court and appears at every hearing.
• Serves the papers on the husband and follows up when he does not appear.
• Asks the court for the amount, and for it to be paid from the date the claim was filed.
• Collects what the court orders, and tells you what is left to do.