The Court of Appeals for Childhood and Adolescence of the Capital confirmed the validity of a child support action against a paternal grandmother, after the minor's father accumulated child support debt and faced criminal proceedings. The decision, which was not appealed to the Supreme Court, opens the way for mothers to seek child support from grandparents when the parent does not fulfill the obligation.
The president of the court, Guillermo Trovato, explained that the measure is based on the Paraguayan Civil Code and represents “a breath of fresh air” for mothers facing lengthy litigation without receiving regular payments. “I need it month after month, because my child eats every day,” Trovato exemplified in an interview with GEN Tv.
The magistrate also detailed the functioning of the Registry of Delinquent Child Support Debtors (REDAM), which imposes administrative restrictions, such as the impossibility of renewing a driver's license or transferring assets, until the debt is paid. “The registry does not seek direct collection, but the debtor appears as delinquent and cannot carry out certain procedures without paying,” he stated.
Although the ruling does not create binding precedent, Trovato highlighted that it establishes a relevant antecedent for future similar claims. Child support default is one of the most recurring issues in the juvenile and adolescent courts of Paraguay, directly affecting the nutrition, health, and education of thousands of children and adolescents.