Before my country joined the European Union, more than one thousand claims for maintenance from abroad were lodged in the courts every year.

At present such a claim is not recognised in many Member States as a claim for maintenance, which makes it considerably more difficult to pursue.

When he died, she lodged a claim for maintenance against his estate in terms of the Maintenance Act but was rejected by the executor.

However because it was not a conventional marriage it was not valid under English law and so she had no claim for maintenance for herself.

A settlement made on divorce which is in satisfaction or partial satisfaction of a claim for maintenance is not, to that extent, a chargeable transfer.

He previously agreed to repay taxpayers' money used to repair a pipe underneath his tennis court but in the year 2008-09 he made no further claims for maintenance.

Where the divorce petition has in it a claim for maintenance payments for the wife or child, if approached by an interested solicitor, the DSS will provide details of the whereabouts of the husband if they can.