Temporary Alimony During Divorce in Poland: How Does It Work?

When a divorce is underway, one spouse or the children shouldn’t be left without resources while the case drags on. Polish courts can order temporary payments to cover the family’s everyday needs for the duration of the proceedings. Lawyers and courts often call this a security for family needs – in practice, it functions like interim maintenance.

How to secure alimony during divorce?

The court may order the paying spouse to transfer a specific monthly amount. This is broader than “ordinary” child or spousal support because it is calibrated to the household’s ongoing needs during the case and can cover the spouse and children – including adult children who aren’t yet self-supporting.

Why this matters during a split?

Breakups often lead to cash-flow shocks: the parent caring for the children may suddenly have no access to shared funds, or the other spouse stops contributing or pays too little. Temporary support aims to stabilize the budget quickly, without waiting for a full trial – especially when the divorce includes a dispute over fault, which can prolong the case.

Who can apply – and when?

Either spouse can ask for security of family needs. You can include the request at any stage of the divorce case – ideally as early as possible – because the court will award payments from the date the motion reaches the court.

How long does the temporary alimony order last?

The obligation ends when the divorce judgment becomes final. From that moment, any ongoing support is governed by what the final judgment says (e.g., child maintenance, possibly spousal maintenance).

Is the interim support immediately enforceable?

Yes. A temporary maintenance order is immediately enforceable. Even if the other side appeals, you can go straight to a bailiff once the order is served – payments don’t pause pending appeal.

How much can be awarded as temporary alimony?

There’s no fixed amount. The court looks at the couple’s standard of living, number and ages of children, regular expenses, and each side’s earning capacity and assets. Domestic work and child-rearing are treated as contributions of real value when the court balances burdens between the spouses.

Court fees

Good news: the motion is free. There’s no court fee for applying to secure family needs during the divorce.

How fast will the court decide?

By statute, such motions should be decided promptly – ideally within a week of filing. In practice, courts sometimes take longer (often around one to two months) and may hold a hearing first. The “one-week” timeframe is instructional, not a hard deadline with sanctions.

Application for temporary alimony – how should it look like?

Your filing should meet the normal civil-procedure formalities (court name, parties, addresses/PESEL where applicable, title, clear request, signature, list of attachments). For the substance:

• Spell out the amount and due date.
• Explain the need: why current income and contributions don’t cover essential family costs.
• Attach evidence: pay documents, recent utility bills, invoices/receipts (including clothing, medications, school items), loan statements, medical records for special expenses, and – if available – any credible proof of the other spouse’s income.
• Add a monthly budget for the family members (housing, food, transport, education, healthcare, hygiene, childcare, etc.).

What if the court refuses temporary support during divorce?

You can file a complaint (zażalenie). First, within 7 days of service, request written reasons (this step is free). After you receive the decision with reasons, you have another 7 days to file your complaint to the higher instance court.