The Japanese government approved an ordinance on Friday to enforce a new joint child custody system for divorced parents starting April 1, 2026. The system aims to stabilize children's lives after their parents' divorce. A statutory child support system will also be introduced on the same date.
The Japanese government approved an ordinance on Friday to enforce the revised Civil Code, including the introduction of a joint child custody system for divorced parents, on April 1, 2026. A statutory child support system, mandating fixed payments where no agreement exists at divorce, will also launch on the same date. These measures aim to stabilize children's livelihoods after parental divorce.
Parents can choose between joint or sole custody. If no agreement is reached, a family court will decide, granting sole custody if domestic violence or abuse is suspected. Under joint custody, both parents must consent to major decisions like school enrollment or relocation. Even those awarded sole custody before the revised code takes effect can petition for joint custody.
Statutory child support covers standard expenses for a child's minimum living level and can be claimed provisionally without parental agreement. A proposed ministerial ordinance sets it at ¥20,000 ($129) per month per child, though the amount is under review. The obligation does not apply to divorces before enforcement.
Additionally, from April 1, divorced parents living with children gain priority rights to seize up to ¥80,000 per child per month from ex-spouses failing to pay child-rearing expenses.