Those who commute daily via the A27 or A12 from Leidsche Rijn or Overvecht to Utrecht CS often only realise later that a divorce also has financial consequences that change every year. As of 1 January 2026, the Expert Group on Maintenance Standards will once again adjust the calculation rules. Three specific amendments affect both new and ongoing cases before the Rechtbank Midden-Nederland.
The TREMA method in brief
TREMA is not a statutory rule but a widely applied calculation method used by family-law judges, lawyers and mediators. The tables are revised every two years; any departure requires clear reasoning in the judgment.
Social assistance standard rises by almost four per cent
The amount that a maintenance debtor must at least retain is increasing. For a single person without children it amounts to approximately € 1,230 net per month. Consequently, persons with modest incomes have less scope to contribute, especially if they reside in districts where rents are rising rapidly.
Standardised housing costs and premiums higher
The amounts regarded as not freely disposable are also indexed:
- Maximum standardised housing costs: € 870 → € 905
- Health-insurance premium: € 165 → € 178
- Non-avoidable child-related expenses: € 89 → € 96
As a result, for middle-income earners the final maintenance amount will often be slightly lower than in 2025.
Combination tax credit falls sharply
The income-dependent combination tax credit taken into account in shared parenting drops from € 2,694 to € 2,481. This mainly affects parents who have a 50/50 arrangement and travel back and forth between two households via the A2 or A12.
When can you request revision?
If net disposable income changes by more than ten per cent, Article 1:401 BW provides an opening for adjustment. At the Rechtbank Midden-Nederland in Utrecht such a request may be lodged as soon as the new tables enter into force.
Ongoing maintenance cases
Proceedings that have not yet been concluded by the end of 2025 will almost always be calculated using the 2026 figures. A lawyer at Vredenburg 40 can prepare an up-to-date calculation that may make a difference of tens of euros per month.
Professional calculation versus online tools
Only authorised maintenance lawyers or mediators may prepare definitive calculations. Tools such as ALIMOREN provide an initial indication but carry no weight in proceedings before the Utrecht court.