Who has a duty to maintain a child?
The Act places an obligation, to the extent of the person’s capabilities, on a person to maintain that person’s child and certain other children treated as part of the family in circumstances defined by the Act.
Guyana family-support guide
Child maintenance in Guyana
Understand the duty to maintain a child, what the court considers, which courts may have jurisdiction and what records may be useful to organize.
This is a plain-language summary of authoritative Guyanese information. It is not legal advice and does not calculate maintenance. Confirm the correct court, current forms, fees and evidence requirements before filing.
Official sources reviewed 18 September 2026. Next review due 18 March 2027.
Plain-language answers
Start with the main questions
The Custody, Contact, Guardianship and Maintenance Act 2011 provides the principal framework. The court applies it to the facts and evidence in each case.
What can maintenance include?
Maintenance means the provision of money or property and, for a child, includes provision for education. The court can make one or more forms of order within its jurisdiction.
What does the court consider?
The court considers financial resources, earning capacity, property, obligations, the child’s financial and special needs, and the manner in which the child is or is expected to be educated or trained.
Which court handles an application?
For the purposes of the Act, “the Court” includes the High Court and the magistrate’s court of the district where the applicant, respondent or child concerned resides. Confirm which route applies before filing.
How long can an order last?
An initial order generally does not extend beyond the child’s eighteenth birthday. The Act permits extensions in defined circumstances, including certain education, training, illness, special-needs or other special circumstances.
Can an order be changed?
The court may vary, suspend or discharge a maintenance order when there has been a change in circumstances. A party should use the proper application rather than changing an ordered payment unilaterally.
A practical starting path
How can I begin?
The authoritative sources do not provide one simple filing sequence for every location and application. Start with the relevant registry or magisterial district office.
Confirm the correct court
Contact the Family Court Registry, a High Court sub-registry or the magisterial district office for the area where the applicant, respondent or child resides.
Ask for current requirements
Confirm the applicable form, filing fee, required identification, financial information, supporting documents, filing method and service process.
Organize relevant information
Prepare existing orders, the child’s needs, income and expense information, education or special-needs records, and maintenance payments made or received.
Follow court directions
File and serve documents as instructed, attend scheduled proceedings and keep copies of filed documents and resulting orders.
Guyana court contacts
Supreme Court of Judicature: +592 226 7947 · Family Court Registry: [email protected]
The Judiciary’s contact page lists separate High Court sub-registries and magisterial district offices. Confirm the correct location before filing.
Practical preparation
What records may be useful?
This is an organizational checklist, not an official list of evidence required in every case.
- Existing maintenance, custody, residence, contact or guardianship orders and agreements.
- A dated list of the child’s regular and exceptional expenses, supported by available receipts.
- A record of payments made or received, including date, amount, method and purpose.
- Income, earning-capacity, property, liability and other financial information requested by the court.
- Relevant education, training, childcare, medical, transport or special-needs records.
Authoritative sources
Where can I confirm current information?
Use the legislation, Judiciary and legal-aid sources for current requirements and assistance.
Custody, Contact, Guardianship and Maintenance Act 2011
Legislation covering the duty to maintain, court considerations, duration, variation and jurisdiction.
Open sourceSupreme Court of Judicature contacts
Family Court Registry, High Court sub-registry and magisterial district contacts.
Open sourceFamily proceedings and procedure rules
The Judiciary’s official rules and procedure-document page.
Open sourceGuyana Legal Aid Clinic eligibility
Published coverage includes maintenance and custody matters for eligible applicants.
Open source