Legal Assistance for Alimony and Litigation in France

Questioner

I have 2 children with my ex who lives in France. Our 16 year old daughter has been living with him for a year now. Our 18 year old son is in school and lives with me. It is not yet clear whether he will be able to live independently due to his disability. Now I have been invited to a court case in France. In the file sent to me by his lawyer it says: Consequently, Mrs. X, for her part, will have to pay her daughter X the sum of €200 each month for maintenance payments, with retroactive effect from the month in which, date x, the daughter lives with her father. It also says that he will transfer €200 directly to our son. - Can he ask for this amount retroactively? The care has already been provided and paid for. - Aren't pocket money and maintenance contributions being mixed up now? I don't think €200 pocket money is desirable. Everything else is already paid for them. - Is it a reasonable request to set these contributions to zero from the date our daughter lives with my ex? It also says: It is expected that each party will bear its own costs. Could it be that some of the costs my ex incurs with his lawyer and at court end up with me? What do you advise me?

Lawyer

No this is alimony based on your obligation to contribute. You must contest the date and the amount. The question is which law applies, I, a Dutch if your ex is Dutch. I advise you to contest or adjourn in any case if you need more time.