Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders or REMO is the process by which maintenance orders made by UK courts on behalf of UK residents can be registered and enforced by courts or other authorities in other countries against people resident there.
This is a reciprocal arrangement governed by international conventions, which means that foreign maintenance orders in favour of individuals abroad can likewise be registered and enforced by UK courts against UK residents.
How to apply
A UK resident who wishes to apply to obtain maintenance from a person overseas should approach:
- their local magistrates' court (or county court where the order was made) if they have an existing court order for maintenance
- their local magistrates' court if there is no existing order.
They may apply for their order to be enforced in the country where the payer resides. Procedures also exist to enable an applicant to ask the foreign authorities to create an order for maintenance on their behalf. There is no need for the applicant to engage a solicitor. Court staff will help the applicant and will forward the application to the relevant authority. The authority will check that the application is in order and send it to the foreign authority or court for registration and enforcement against the person living there.
Page topEnforcement
The application abroad will be enforced according to the laws that prevail in the foreign country. The UK authorities have no power to compel foreign courts or authorities to enforce maintenance orders, or to set a timescale for enforcement, as the system is based on mutual agreement. Every effort is made, however, to encourage foreign agencies to abide by their countries' international obligations.
Page topUK legislation
The Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1972 is the primary legislation under which the REMO process operates in the UK.
There have also been several Statutory Instruments since 1972 to adjust the precise arrangements between the UK and other countries, or to allow additional jurisdictions to be considered reciprocating countries.
Page topConventions and other Agreements
The UK is a signatory to several international conventions on maintenance obligations, such as:
- the 1956 United Nations Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance
- the 1968 Brussels Convention on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgements in Civil and Commercial Matters
- the 1973 Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Relating to Maintenance Obligations.
In addition, the UK has Agreements for maintenance enforcement with most members of the Commonwealth, with the Republic of Ireland, and with most of the United States of America.
Page topList of REMO reciprocating countries
- A
- Algeria
- Anguilla
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Austria
- Australia
- B
- Barbados
- Belize
- Belgium
- Bermuda
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Burkina Faso
- C
- Canada (not Quebec)
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Rep
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- D
- Denmark
- Dominica
- F
- Falkland Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- G
- Gambia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guyana
- H
- Haiti
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- I
- Iceland
- India
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Italy
- J
- Jamaica
- Jersey
- K
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- L
- Lesotho
- Luxembourg
- M
- Macedonia
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- N
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Norfolk Island
- Norway
- P
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- R
- Romania
- S
- St. Helena
- St. Kitts & Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Surinam
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- T
- Tanzania
- Trinidad & Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turks & Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- U
- United States
(excluding Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and District of Columbia) - Uruguay
- V
- Virgin Islands
- Z
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Related information
- Read our leaflet
"How is child maintenance worked out?" [PDF 780Kb]
