And in Argentina, Share food It is one of the most consulted topics in the family and judicial field. It is a basic right for children and adolescents, and it regulates it The civil and commercial law of the stateWhich seeks to ensure access to food, housing, education, health and entertainment.
However, non-compliance is a recurring problem that generates multiple jurisdictional conflicts. This article explains the basic criteria for determining a quota, but above all, it explains in detail Legal actions and coercive measures that can force the defaulting parent to payThis is an essential aspect of protecting the best interests of minors.
What is child support and who should pay it?
The food ration is Legal obligation of parents To contribute to supporting their children when they cannot take care of themselves. This obligation is not voided by separation or divorce, and is not dependent on cohabitation.
It includes not only food, but also housing, clothing, transportation, health, education, recreational activities and everything necessary for the comprehensive development of the minor.
The non-cohabiting parent must contribute financially, according to his or her requirements Economic capacity And the standard of living before separation.
How is the food ration calculated in Argentina in 2025?
In judicial practice, fees are generally defined as a A percentage of net income Which parent should pay it, in general, between 20% and 30% for each child, But it should be noted that there is no maximum percentage. It has no limits.
Judges analysis:
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Minor’s needs: From basic expenses to extracurricular activities.
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Obligor’s income: Salary, bills, or independent activity.
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Status of cohabiting parent: Ability to contribute.
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Previous standard of living: Continuing children’s quality of life.
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Number of children: Relative distribution.
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Care and visitation system: Adjust whether the non-cohabiting parent shares more time.
Since it is calculated as a percentage, it can be agreed that the fee will be update automatically, For example, in the case of salary increases, bonuses or changes in income.
How much does it cost to raise a child in December, according to INDEC: theoretical ground of the ration
The National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) has published the corresponding monthly breeding basket assessment October 2025It is the official index that estimates the total cost of goods, services and care needed for the development of girls, boys and adolescents up to the age of 12 years.
According to the report, The most expensive section It’s again that of From 6 to 12 yearsWith a total monthly value of $557,173. The calculation combines two components: spending on basic goods and services – food, housing, clothing, health, transport and education – and an assessment of child care time, estimated according to the salaries of employees in private homes.
The updated values show the following:
In all departments there is a Sustainable increase Compared to October 2024, in line with the increase in the cost of living and the update of salaries for workers in private homes, which is used as a reference for estimating care time. These amounts act as Theoretical ground Which many courts take into account when assessing the minimum basic level that the maintenance share must cover.
How is the breeding basket and the value of each variety calculated in December 2025?
The breeding basket consists of two basic elements:
1. Basic goods and services
They arise from the monthly value of Basic Basket Total (CBT) Greater Buenos Aires. This amount is multiplied by Adult Equivalent FactorWhich varies according to each age group and reflects the nutritional, energy and consumption needs of girls and boys.
In October 2025, the cost of goods and services was:
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$137,485 for children under 1 year
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$177,526 for 1 to 3 years
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$226,100 for 4 to 5 years
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$280,478 for ages 6-12
2. Care time
INDEC uses a regulatory approach that estimates the number of hours of care each age group requires. This time is evaluated according to the category “Help and Caring for Persons” in the Special Domestic Staff System.
For October 2025, the required hours and their total cost are:
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147 hours – $303,687 (children under one year old)
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168 hours – $347,071 (from 1 to 3 years)
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105 hours – $216,920 (4 to 5 years)
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84 hours – $276,695 (ages 6-12)
Final result – Breeding basket- It is the sum of the cost of goods and services plus the cost of care. In this way, INDEC measures monthly how much it costs to ensure adequate upbringing, which is a key input for judicial decisions, social welfare decisions and public policy.
The age at which child support is due
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Up to 21 years: In all cases.
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Up to 25 years If you continue studying and lack of income.
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There is no age limit in Disability cases Which prevents self-sufficiency.
What happens if child support fees are not paid?
Non-compliance activates a series of legal tools. First, payment is usually required, but if the refusal persists, the court can dictate strong measures such as:
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Seizure of wages, accounts or assets.
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Automatic reservation of assets.
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Preventing leaving the country.
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Suspension of driver’s license.
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Listing in Register of overdue debtors.
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Blocking social networks or digital services.
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House arrest in serious cases.
Legal steps to claim child support
Those who do not receive payment have different legal methods:
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Verify the approved sentence or agreement: Without a judicial decision, there is no way to enforce the debt.
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Legal advice: Family lawyer, or Centers of Access to Justice (CAJ)can guide the process.
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Harmful mediation: Mandatory in some cases to try to reach an agreement.
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Claim: If mediation fails, trial begins Food trial.
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Executive process: If a provision already exists and is not adhered to, direct booking is enabled.
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Coercive measures: From bans on leaving the country to detention (in some jurisdictions).
Recent judicial proceedings against food debtors
In recent years, Argentine courts have applied it Innovative strategies To force debtors to comply:
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Passport suspension: The man cannot leave the country until he pays off the debt with his children.
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Blocking social media: In Rosario, a judge ordered the delinquent father’s accounts closed so he could use his time to generate income.
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Prohibiting driving or using a mobile phone: In Cordoba, the driver’s license and digital services of a parent who owed support for seven children were suspended.
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Renewable house arrest: In La Rioja, a man spent 72 hours detained for years of non-compliance.
These measures are supported by Article 553 of the Civil and Commercial CodeWhich allows judges to apply “reasonable” penalties to ensure the effectiveness of punishment.
Non-payment as economic and gender-based violence
Failure to meet the alimony quota is not only a financial problem. Specialists define it as a form of… Economic violence This affects women and children, as the burden often falls on the cohabiting mother.
For this reason, more and more sentences include Gender perspective And appeal to international standards such as Belém do Pará Agreement and Law 26,485Which obligates the state to prevent and punish violence against women.
What to do if the parent does not have a registered job
The commitment is there anyway. In these cases, judges can:
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Set quota as Ratio of minimum living and mobile wages.
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Accept payments in kind (school, social work, activities), which are always supplemented with money.
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Take responsibility Grandparents (Parents of those left behind) in extreme cases if they have the economic capacity.
Argentine judicial system Multiple coercive mechanisms Which seeks to ensure compliance, although it is necessary for the affected party to enhance the process.