Who is obliged to support a child in Croatia?

Primarily the parents, and if they cannot or will not pay, the obligation shifts to grandparents. In some cases, when the obligation is not fulfilled, the state steps in through a special agency for temporary maintenance.

Until what age does a child have the right to alimony?

Minor children are entitled to support without time limit, while adult children are entitled until the age of 26 if they are in regular education. A child permanently unable to work due to illness or disability has the right to support for as long as that condition lasts.

How does the new Temporary Maintenance Act help families?

The Act, in force since 1 January 2025, enables a state agency to pay alimony on behalf of a parent who fails to fulfill their obligation, thereby ensuring regular financial support for the child.

Where in the law is the basis for the obligation to support children found?

The basis is in the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, Article 63, and is elaborated in the Family Act. The Temporary Maintenance Act (Official Gazette 145/24) further regulates the collection and payment of alimony.

Family

Child Support: If Parents Don't Pay, Obligation Shifts to Grandparents

O.B. · Prije 7h | 2 min

Under the Family Act and the new Temporary Maintenance Act, the duty to care for minors now extends to the extended family and includes a special state agency.

Summary

The obligation to support children in Croatia is based on the Constitution (Article 63) and primarily falls on parents, but if they do not pay, it shifts to grandparents.
Adult children are entitled to alimony until the age of 26 if they are in school, and permanently ill children for longer.
The new Temporary Maintenance Act (Official Gazette 145/24) from 1 January 2025 introduced a special state agency that pays temporary alimony in place of non-paying parents.
The Glas Koncila article published on 29 July 2026 details all levels of support obligations under Croatian law.

Croatian legislation clearly defines who is obligated to provide child support, and according to an article published by Glas Koncila on 29 July 2026, the obligation does not stop with parents. The Constitution of the Republic of Croatia already stipulates in Article 63 that parents are obliged to support their children, but the Family Act extends this obligation to other family members, including grandparents.

From Parents to Grandparents

Parents are first in line and cannot be exempted from supporting a minor child if they are able to work. However, when a parent does not live with the child and fails to pay alimony, the court can enforce the obligation. If that fails, the paternal or maternal grandparents of the debtor come next. Thus, support becomes the responsibility of the older generation until the debt is settled.

Until When Children Have the Right to Support

The right to support does not end with adulthood. Children who are regularly enrolled in education can claim it until the age of 26, and those who are unable to work due to severe or permanent illness or disability qualify for as long as the condition lasts. This protects the most vulnerable and those in the educational process.

The New Law as a Practical Solution

Collecting alimony in Croatia was often arduous, but the situation changed with the adoption of the Temporary Maintenance Act (Official Gazette, No. 145/24), which has been in effect since 1 January 2025. Under this regulation, a special state agency has taken over the payment of temporary alimony in place of parents who avoid their duty. The child's legal representative is entitled to this support, and it continues until the support obligor begins to pay regularly. As Glas Koncila reports, more details on the specific operations of this agency will be provided in a separate supplement.

Constitutional and Family Protection

All of the mentioned mechanisms stem from the fundamental constitutional provision and detailed articles of the Family Act, and their goal is to ensure that no child is left without necessary material support. The story of alimony thus becomes a story of the responsibility of the entire family, from parents, through grandparents, all the way to the state, which is ready to step in when the primary obligors fail.