In the corridors of the Juridisch Loket Den Haag on the Prinsessegracht, the question regularly arises as to how the new tables will affect ongoing cases. As of 1 January 2026, the Expert Group on Maintenance Norms updates the calculation rules for child and spousal maintenance. Three concrete changes affect both new and existing proceedings before the Rechtbank Den Haag.
How Do the TREMA Guidelines Actually Work?
Not a statute, but a widely applied calculation method. Family law judges, lawyers and academics compile the tables. The court uses them as a starting point; any deviation requires clear reasoning.
Increase of the Social Assistance Standard in 2026
The guaranteed minimum disposable income rises by approximately 3.8 per cent. For a single person without children this amounts to around € 1,230 per month. Maintenance debtors with a low income therefore retain less to transfer.
Increased Maintenance-Free Income
The allowances for housing costs, health insurance premiums and child-related expenses are set at higher levels:
- Standard housing costs: € 870 → € 905
- Health insurance premium: € 165 → € 178 per month
- Non-avoidable child-related expenses: € 89 → € 96
For many middle-income earners this results in a slightly lower maintenance outcome.
IACK Decreases Significantly
The income-dependent combination tax credit (IACK) falls from € 2,694 to € 2,481. Parents in Scheveningen with a 50/50 arrangement in particular will notice that their net disposable income changes and that the calculation must be redone.
When Can You Request Revision?
A change of more than ten per cent in net disposable income constitutes grounds for adjustment pursuant to article 1:401 BW. A request to the Rechtbank Den Haag may then be worthwhile.
Ongoing Proceedings
Case numbers that have not yet been concluded are almost always calculated using the 2026 tables. Your lawyer can submit an updated calculation; this sometimes makes a difference of tens of euros per month.
Calculations via Official Channels
Only authorised maintenance lawyers or mediators provide binding outcomes. Online tools offer at most an indication and carry no weight in court.