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Child Maintenance · Johor Bahru

Child Maintenance in Johor Bahru

How child maintenance is set in Johor Bahru, what it covers, and what to do if it is not paid.

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1 min readUpdated 7 Oct 20262 sourcesLaw Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976

Divorce cases from Johor Bahru, including child maintenance, are usually filed at the High Court of Malaya at Johor Bahru. The law is the same across Malaysia: the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

Child maintenance in Johor Bahru

Both parents must support their children, whoever has custody. A maintenance order sets how much the paying parent contributes.

Maintenance covers the child’s everyday needs: food, clothing, housing, school fees, tuition, medical costs, transport and childcare.

How the amount is set

The court looks at the child’s reasonable needs and what each parent can afford. An order normally ends when the child turns 18. It can last longer if the child is still in further or higher education or training, or has a physical or mental disability (section 95 of Act 164, as amended in 2018).

If maintenance is not paid

If payments stop, the parent receiving them can ask the same court to enforce the order. One option is an attachment of earnings order, which takes the money straight from the payer’s salary.

Filing in Johor Bahru

Maintenance applications from Johor Bahru are filed at the High Court of Malaya at Johor Bahru. Johor falls under the High Court of Malaya, which hears non-Muslim family cases in Peninsular Malaysia.

If an existing order is not being paid, the same court can enforce it.

Read more

For the full national guide, see Child Maintenance. For filing details in Johor Bahru, see civil divorce information for Johor Bahru.

Looking to engage a divorce lawyer? If you are unsure how much maintenance to ask for, or how to enforce an order, request independent lawyer contact via WhatsApp: Request Lawyer Contact. For general information, use our guides and tools.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start child maintenance proceedings in Johor Bahru?
Most people start by speaking to a lawyer, who prepares the papers and files them at the High Court of Malaya at Johor Bahru. If only one of you is filing, you usually have to try conciliation first.
How long does child maintenance take in Johor Bahru?
It depends mainly on whether you both agree. Agreed terms can be settled with the divorce. Disputed issues need their own hearings and take longer.
What affects the cost of child maintenance in Johor Bahru?
Mainly how many issues are disputed and whether the case goes to trial. Ask a lawyer for a written estimate before you engage them.

Looking to Engage a Divorce Lawyer?

For people seeking legal representation. For general information, use our guides and tools.