Alimony / maintenance payment
A regular sum paid by one person to another to meet their financial needs, notably between ex-spouses or between parents and children. For the payer, it constitutes a charge included in the debt-ratio calculation. For the recipient, banks typically do not count it as stable income unless it has been set by a recent court order and has been received for more than two years.
Key points
- For the payer, it is included as a charge in the debt-ratio calculation.
- For the recipient, banks rarely accept it as stable income without two years of collection history.
- A recent and final court order strengthens acceptance on the recipient's side.
- Fluctuating amounts or irregular payments are systematically excluded from retained income.
Frequently asked questions
How is an alimony payment factored into the debt-ratio calculation?
It is counted as a recurring monthly charge, in the same way as a loan repayment. The broker adds it to the applicant's total charges and subtracts it from available income before calculating residual repayment capacity. The amount is generally stated in the divorce ruling or approved separation agreement.
Can alimony received genuinely improve a loan application?
Yes, if it has been set by a final court order and received regularly for at least two years, some banks will include it in retained income, which improves the apparent debt ratio. The broker provides bank statements proving regular transfers and the court order setting the amount.
What happens if the alimony amount is modified during the loan term?
The bank does not track subsequent judicial modifications, its analysis is based on the situation at the time of approval. However, if the payment increases significantly for the payer, it can strain residual income in subsequent years. For the recipient, an increase improves capacity, but a decrease does not automatically trigger loan renegotiation.
In practice
A borrower pays €600/month in alimony following a divorce. The bank includes this amount in monthly charges, reducing the maximum permitted home loan instalment by roughly €180 for a 35% debt ratio.
Official sources
- Child support · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Obtaining a mortgage loan · Service-Public.gouv.fr
- Mortgage credit (official guide) · Service-Public.gouv.fr