Child Support and Maintenance
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Omani royal decrees, ministerial decisions, and the Basic Statute of the State.
Omani National Law
What is this right?
Oman law requires parents to financially support their children:
- Father's obligation: The father is primarily responsible for providing nafaqah (maintenance) for his children, including food, housing, clothing, education, and healthcare.
- Amount: The court sets maintenance based on the father's income and the child's needs. There is no fixed formula — the judge has discretion.
- Duration: Maintenance continues until sons can support themselves (or complete education) and until daughters marry.
- Wife's maintenance: During marriage, the husband must provide maintenance to the wife. After divorce, maintenance is owed during the iddah period.
- Enforcement: If the father refuses to pay, the court can garnish wages, freeze bank accounts, or impose a travel ban.
When does it apply?
- You are a divorced or separated parent with minor children — the father must pay maintenance.
- You are a wife during the iddah period — you are entitled to maintenance from your ex-husband.
- The father is not paying the court-ordered maintenance — you can request enforcement.
What should you do?
- File a maintenance claim at the Sharia court — provide evidence of the children's expenses and the father's income.
- If maintenance is ordered but not paid, go back to court and request enforcement (wage garnishment or travel ban).
- Keep receipts and records of all expenses related to the children.
- You can request an increase in maintenance if circumstances change (e.g., rising costs, child's medical needs).
What should you NOT do?
- Do not accept verbal promises — get the maintenance order in writing from the court.
- Do not withhold visitation because maintenance is unpaid — these are separate legal matters.
- Do not delay filing — maintenance is only ordered from the date of the court application, not retroactively.
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