German judge: Many fathers can't pay child support due to poverty, not unwillingness

A German family court judge is pushing back against the notion that fathers who fail to pay child support are simply shirking their responsibilities. Gudrun Lies-Benachib, presiding judge at the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main, argues that poverty, rather than malice, is often the root cause.

Her comments come amid a proposal by Federal Family Minister Karin Prien to discontinue state child support payments for teenagers aged 16 and older. Currently, these payments extend until a child reaches adulthood. Lies-Benachib contends that ending this support could prove more costly for the state in the long run.

"Many fathers don't cheat, they are simply poor," Lies-Benachib stated, emphasizing that the state frequently ends up footing the bill for child support when fathers cannot pay. She believes that focusing solely on fathers' willingness to pay overlooks the economic realities many face, suggesting that such cuts could lead to greater social costs down the line.