Income determines the group in the Düsseldorfer Tabelle (Düsseldorf table), age determines the column. For minor children, half of the Kindergeld (child benefit) is deducted from the table amount; for adult children, the full amount.
The advanced mode calculates in simplified form: spousal maintenance using the offset method with an earner’s bonus of one tenth, retained amount and shortfall case as flat rates, and moving up or down a group as a guide figure. It does not cover, for example, the benefit of living rent-free, capital income, special needs, maintenance for health insurance and retirement provision, or the subordinate liability for adult children.
Maintenance does not change by itself. An enforceable title, such as a youth welfare office certificate, a notarial deed or a decision of the Familiengericht (family court), can be enforced without new proceedings. It applies until it is modified because of a significant change in circumstances, and it can only be corrected retroactively to a limited extent. As a rule, you can only request new information about income after two years, earlier only if there are signs of significantly higher earnings (§ 1605 (2) BGB).