Japan to Set Post-Divorce Child Support at 20,000 Yen

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan will set the amount of legally mandated post-divorce child support at 20,000 yen per child per month, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said Friday. After adopting a ministerial ordinance by the end of this year, the government will introduce a statutory child support system to coincide with the enforcement of a Civil Code revision on April 1 next year. The system will be introduced as part of efforts to prevent nonpayment of child support by divorced parents. Under the system, a child-rearing parent will be allowed to seek payments from the other parent after divorce, even if there is no prior agreement on the matter. In September-October, the Justice Ministry collected public comments on a draft ordinance proposing statutory child support of 20,000 yen. Many called for the amount to be set at 30,000 yen to 50,000 yen. The ministry considers the new system a “tentative and supplementary” measure to protect livelihoods until divorced parents reach an agreement. Under the revised Civil Code, a new system will be created to allow the seizure of assets from parents who fail to pay child support. Those unable to receive child support will have priority over other creditors in collecting claims, with a limit of 80,000 yen per child per month. “Statutory child support and statutory liens are intended to ensure the payment of child support and protect the interests of children,” Hiraguchi said at a press conference. He added, “20,000 yen per child per month is reasonable, as this is a temporary and supplementary measure.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]