Person liable to pay (pays maintenance)

Person entitled to maintenance (receives maintenance)

The paying spouse is , the receiving spouse is .

If the children live with the parent entitled to maintenance, enter their ages, e.g. “4, 9”. Child maintenance per the Düsseldorf Table 2026 is then calculated and deducted first – as in the child maintenance calculator.

€

Child maintenance is deducted from the paying spouse's income, as it takes priority.

More detailsHousing benefit €0 / €0 · Duty to work: no
€
€

Affects the self-retention amount and the calculation · For calculating work-related expenses

Obligation to work

Monthly separation maintenance

Equal-split principle (45% quota)

€1,316.00

€1,316.00

Expected separation maintenance of €1,316.00 a month – 45% rate on an adjusted difference of €2,925.

Adjusted incomes

Difference
€2,925.00

Calculation steps

Net income of the paying spouse
€4,500
- Work-related expenses (5%)
-€150
= Adjusted income of the paying spouse
€4,350
Adjusted income of the entitled spouse
€1,425
Income difference
€2,925
45% of the earned-income differenceEmployment bonus: 1/10 remains with the paying spouse (DT 2026)
€1,316
Separation maintenance after quota
€1,316
Self-retention amount of the paying spouseEmployed
€1,600
Max. maintenance (after self-retention)
€2,750
Final separation maintenance
€1,316

Self-retention amount

Self-retention amount of the paying spouse
€1,600.00
Max. payable maintenance
€2,750.00

What you can do

  • Separation maintenance 2026

    Equal-split principle: 45% on earned income (1/10 bonus), 50% on other income · Employment bonus: 1/10 of the income remains with the paying spouse · Self-retention amount: €1,600 (employed) / €1,475 (not employed) · Applies during the separation until the divorce becomes final

How this was calculated

Calculation basis:

  • Equal-split principle: 45% on earned income (1/10 bonus), 50% on other income
  • Employment bonus: 1/10 remains with the paying spouse
  • Self-retention amount 2026: €1,600 (employed) / €1,475 (not employed)
  • Child maintenance must be taken into account with priority

Separation Maintenance Calculator 2026 by Rechnerzentrale(opens in a new tab)2026 values