conférence de la haye de droit international privé - HCCH

Il peut être précisé cependant que l’accès à la majorité ne fait pas présumer que l’enfant n’est
plus à charge, l’obligation faite aux parents de contribuer à l’entretien et l’éducation des
enfants ne cessant pas de plein droit à cette date.
GERMANY
In general terms, a requirement to provide maintenance among relatives is conditional on the
person entitled to maintenance being unable to maintain themselves (section 1602
subsection 1 of the Civil Code). A minor unmarried child may require from his/her parents,
even if he/she has assets, to grant maintenance to the extent that the income of his/her
assets and the yield of his/her work are insufficient for maintenance (section 1602
subsection 2 of the Civil Code).
ISRAEL
A child is considered a minor until the age of 18. Case law, however, has created a
presumption that from the age of 18 until the age of 21(which is usually the age at which a
child completes his or her compulsory military service), a parent still has an obligation to
support a child, but only in an amount which is one third of what the child received until the
age of 18.
JAPAN
A child may obtain support from his/her parents when he/she is in need (Article 877 of the
Civil Code), and we have no clear definition of a 'dependent child.' It is considered, however,
that parents are under heavier duty of support to an 'immature' child (i.e. a child who cannot
maintain his/her economic life without the care and custody of parents) than to a 'mature'
child.
LUXEMBOURG
La notion d’enfant à charge est une notion qui en principe n’a d’incidence que sur l’obligation
d’entretien mise à charge des père et mère par l’article 203 du code civil, obligation qui peut
s’étendre au-delà de la majorité civile de l’enfant, en cas de poursuite d’études justifiées, pour
infirmité ou pour un autre motif. Pour l’obligation alimentaire proprement dite il est tenu
compte du besoin de celui qui réclame des aliments et de la fortune de celui qui les doit.
MALTA
We have no express definition. The word ‘children’ in Section 3B of the Civil Code applies to
any child whatever his or her status.
THE NETHERLANDS
There are three categories of children, according to age:
(a) 0–18 (minor children): upkeep, defined as the costs of care and upbringing;
(b) 18–21 (young adults): upkeep and study costs;
(c) 21+ (adult children): when indigent.
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