The Maintenance Act places responsibility on spouses to maintain each other.
It also places responsibility on parents to maintain their children and on persons to maintain their parents and grandparents.
A man who has been summoned to court in connection with a maintenance claim is upset that he is being brought before the court.
Weekends with sons refused
He said he used to maintain his two youngsters but he stopped last year because the mother refused to let his sons spend weekends with him.
"I had no problem supporting my children until their mother refused to let them spend weekends with me," he said.
"I did not ask her to let my sons spend all the weekends with me but I told her at least one weekend each month" he said.
"She flatly told me no, because she is upset that I broke off the relationship with her six months ago. I was very upset and told her last month that if I cannot get them to spend quality time with me then I would not be giving her any money."
"Now, instead of working out time for me to have my children she is taking me to court for maintenance. I think this if very unfair to me," he added.
If you are not making any financial contribution then, under the Maintenance Act, the mother can take you to court.
When she turned down your request to let the children visit you on some weekends, you should have taken the matter to court and applied for joint custody or for an order for them to visit you at special times.
It is still not too late for you to make the application in the Family Court. In the meantime you must obey the summons and attend court where you will be given an opportunity to state your case to the judge.
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