Mon jugement français de pension alimentaire est-il automatiquement valable au Maroc ?

Non, un jugement français n''est pas automatiquement exécutoire au Maroc. Il faut passer par la procédure d''exequatur devant un tribunal marocain, qui reconnaît et rend le jugement exécutoire sur le territoire marocain. Cette procédure dure entre 3 et 12 mois selon le tribunal. Cependant, grâce à la Convention de La Haye de 2007 et l''ARIPA, il est parfois possible d''agir plus rapidement via la voie administrative internationale.

Qu''est-ce que l''exequatur et combien ça coûte ?

L''exequatur est la procédure juridique par laquelle un tribunal reconnaît un jugement étranger et lui donne force exécutoire dans son pays. Au Maroc, la demande d''exequatur se dépose auprès du tribunal de première instance du lieu de résidence de l''autre parent. Le coût total comprend : les honoraires d''un avocat marocain (500 à 2 000 EUR), les frais de procédure (200 à 500 DH), la traduction du jugement (100 à 300 EUR), et l''apostille en France (environ 50 EUR). Comptez entre 800 et 3 000 EUR au total.

Combien de temps prend la procédure d''exequatur au Maroc ?

La procédure d''exequatur au Maroc dure généralement entre 3 et 12 mois selon le tribunal saisi et sa charge. Les tribunaux des grandes villes (Casablanca, Rabat) sont généralement plus lents en raison du volume de dossiers. Un dossier complet et bien préparé par un avocat expérimenté réduit considérablement les délais. Si l''autre parent conteste l''exequatur, la procédure peut durer 12 à 24 mois. En parallèle, demandez l''avance ARIPA dès le premier impayé pour ne pas subir financièrement pendant ce délai.

Que faire si l''autre parent cache ses revenus au Maroc ?

Si l''autre parent dissimule ses revenus au Maroc, plusieurs recours existent. En France, le JAF peut demander aux services fiscaux et aux employeurs de communiquer les informations de revenus. Au Maroc, après exequatur, l''huissier peut enquêter sur les biens et revenus de l''autre parent via les registres du commerce, les données foncières et les informations bancaires. L''ARIPA peut également mobiliser les autorités marocaines compétentes via la convention internationale pour obtenir ces informations.

L''ARIPA française peut-elle m''aider même si l''autre parent est au Maroc ?

Oui. L''ARIPA (Agence de Recouvrement des Impayés de Pension Alimentaire) peut vous verser une avance sur la pension impayée (jusqu''à 174,47 EUR par enfant et par mois en 2026) dès le premier mois d''impayé. Elle peut également engager des démarches de recouvrement international directement via les conventions Franco-Marocaines sans que vous ayez à tout gérer vous-même. Contactez votre CAF ou la MSA pour activer ces droits. Le service est gratuit pour le bénéficiaire.

Puis-je demander une pension alimentaire directement à un tribunal marocain ?

Oui, si l''enfant réside au Maroc ou si vous y résidez vous-même, vous pouvez saisir directement un tribunal de famille marocain pour fixer une pension alimentaire. Le tribunal marocain applique le droit marocain (Code de la famille / Moudawana) et fixe la pension selon les ressources de l''autre parent et les besoins de l''enfant. La pension fixée par un tribunal marocain sera directement exécutoire au Maroc sans procédure d''exequatur.

Quelle est la pension alimentaire minimale selon la loi marocaine ?

La loi marocaine (Moudawana) ne fixe pas de montant minimum absolu de pension alimentaire. Le juge l''évalue selon les ressources du père (qui est le débiteur principal selon le droit marocain), les besoins de l''enfant, et le niveau de vie habituel. En pratique, les pensions fixées par les tribunaux marocains sont souvent plus faibles qu''en France : entre 300 et 1 500 DH par enfant et par mois selon les ressources du père. Une pension fixée en France selon le barème du ministère de la Justice sera généralement plus élevée.

Franco-Moroccan Child Support: Exequatur and Enforcement 2026

France and Morocco have concluded a legal assistance treaty allowing enforcement of child support judgments in both countries through the exequatur procedure. Whether you are in France with the other parent in Morocco, or vice versa, this guide explains how to obtain and enforce child support across the border.

Costs & fees

French lawyer (obtaining judgment)	800–2,500 EUR	Depending on case complexity
Moroccan lawyer (exequatur)	500–2,000 EUR	Free fees, negotiable
Moroccan court procedure fees	200–500 MAD
Legalization / apostille of French judgment	50–150 EUR
Moroccan bailiff fees (seizure)	300–800 MAD	For enforcement after exequatur
ARIPA advance (France)	Up to 174.47 EUR per child per month	Advance paid if non-payment

Timeline

2–6 months

Obtaining French child support judgment

2–4 weeks

Legalization and apostille of judgment

3–12 months

Exequatur procedure in Morocco

1–3 months

Forced enforcement by bailiff if necessary

8 months to 2 years

Total estimate

Obtain the child support judgment in France

If you reside in France, apply to the family affairs judge (JAF) at the judicial tribunal of your residence to obtain an order setting child support. The JAF takes into account the resources of both parents, the child's needs, and the living arrangements. Provide the judge with: tax returns, pay slips, proof of expenses, and if possible information about the other parent's income in Morocco. The judgment must include an enforcement clause to be enforceable abroad.

💡 Tip — If you do not know the exact income of the other parent in Morocco, the judge can set provisional support and request income disclosure through competent authorities. Do not give up for lack of information.

⚠️ Warning — Ensure the judgment includes the full name of the other parent and their last known address in Morocco. This information is essential for the exequatur procedure.

Have the French judgment apostilled

For a French judgment to be recognized in Morocco, it must bear an apostille issued by the competent Court of Appeal in France (Morocco is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention). Request the apostille from the Court of Appeal in the jurisdiction of the court that issued the judgment. You will also need to have the judgment translated into Arabic by a sworn translator recognized by Moroccan courts.

💡 Tip — The apostille request is made by post to the Court of Appeal with a certified copy of the judgment and a small fee. Allow 2 to 4 weeks to receive the apostille.

⚠️ Warning — Verify that the Arabic translation is made by a translator listed among the experts of Moroccan courts. A translation by a non-approved translator will be rejected by the Moroccan court.

Appoint a Moroccan lawyer for the exequatur application

Exequatur is the procedure by which a Moroccan court recognizes and makes a foreign judgment enforceable. It must be filed before the court of first instance in the other parent's place of residence in Morocco. The Moroccan lawyer files an exequatur application with the apostilled judgment, its Arabic translation, and identity documents. The court verifies that the judgment does not violate Moroccan public order and that the French procedure was regular. In franco-Moroccan child support matters, exequatur is generally granted.

💡 Tip — Find a Moroccan lawyer in the city where the other parent lives. Law firms in major cities such as Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, and Tangier are more familiar with franco-Moroccan cases.

⚠️ Warning — If the other parent has moved and their address in Morocco is unknown, exequatur may be blocked. In that case, notify ARIPA in France to benefit from the advance and the French consular authorities in Morocco.

Hearing and exequatur decision by the Moroccan court

After filing the application, the Moroccan court summons the parties. The other parent may appear or be represented. The court verifies the regularity of the French procedure, the jurisdiction of the French judge, absence of fraud, and compliance with Moroccan public order. In child support matters, grounds for refusal are rare. The exequatur judgment allows enforcing child support in Morocco as if it were a Moroccan judgment, with all available enforcement measures such as wage garnishment and bank account seizure.

💡 Tip — If you cannot travel to Morocco for the hearing, your Moroccan lawyer can represent you with a power of attorney. A simple power of attorney established in France and apostilled is sufficient.

Enforce through Moroccan bailiff (wage garnishment, bank account seizure)

Once exequatur is obtained, if the other parent still does not pay voluntarily, your Moroccan lawyer appoints a Moroccan bailiff to proceed with forced enforcement. The main measures available are: wage garnishment (the judge orders the employer to deduct support directly), seizure of the Moroccan bank account, seizure of movable property. In parallel, in France, ARIPA can pay you an advance on unpaid support (up to 174.47 EUR per child per month in 2026) while the amounts are recovered.

💡 Tip — Contact ARIPA (Agency for Recovery of Unpaid Child Support) from the first missed payment, even if the other parent is in Morocco. ARIPA can sometimes act directly through international conventions.

⚠️ Warning — If the parent in Morocco works in the informal economy without an employment contract or bank account, seizure is very difficult. In that case, ARIPA remains your best recourse in France.

In depth

The franco-Moroccan judicial assistance convention in civil and commercial matters (1981) and the 2007 Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support (in force between France and Morocco) form the legal framework for cross-border child support recovery. Since 2014, France has designated ARIPA as the Central Authority for international maintenance recovery requests, allowing it to act directly with Moroccan authorities without you having to personally appoint a Moroccan lawyer in all cases. Direct recourse to ARIPA can considerably simplify and accelerate the procedure.

❌ Common mistakes to avoid

✕Failing to apostille the French judgment before launching exequatur: without an apostille, the Moroccan court will reject the application.
✕Waiting too long after the first missed payment: child support arrears are subject to a 5-year statute of limitations in France.
✕Forgetting to contact ARIPA from the first missed payment: the advance paid by ARIPA immediately eases the financial situation during the procedure.
✕Appointing a Moroccan lawyer in a city where the other parent no longer lives: exequatur must be filed at the court of the other parent's current domicile.
✕Giving up if the parent hides or moves frequently: report the situation to the competent French and Moroccan authorities, who have locating means available.

🔗 Official links and resources

ARIPA - Agency for Recovery of Unpaid Child Support

Request an advance or recovery of unpaid child support

Service-public.fr - International child support

International child support recovery procedure

Moroccan Ministry of Justice

Courts of first instance competent for exequatur

Casablanca Bar Association

Find a Moroccan lawyer for the exequatur procedure

❓ Frequently asked questions

Is my French child support judgment automatically valid in Morocco?＋

No, a French judgment is not automatically enforceable in Morocco. You must go through the exequatur procedure before a Moroccan court, which recognizes and makes the judgment enforceable on Moroccan territory. This procedure takes between 3 and 12 months depending on the court. However, thanks to the 2007 Hague Convention and ARIPA, it is sometimes possible to act more quickly through the international administrative channel.

What is exequatur and how much does it cost?＋

Exequatur is the legal procedure by which a court recognizes a foreign judgment and gives it enforcement power in its country. In Morocco, the exequatur application is filed with the court of first instance in the other parent''s place of residence. Total costs include: Moroccan lawyer fees (500 to 2,000 EUR), court fees (200 to 500 MAD), translation of the judgment (100 to 300 EUR), and apostille in France (approximately 50 EUR). Budget between 800 and 3,000 EUR in total.

How long does the exequatur procedure take in Morocco?＋

The exequatur procedure in Morocco generally takes between 3 and 12 months depending on the court and its caseload. Courts in major cities such as Casablanca and Rabat are generally slower due to the volume of cases. A complete file well prepared by an experienced lawyer considerably reduces timeframes. If the other parent contests the exequatur, the procedure can last 12 to 24 months. In parallel, request the ARIPA advance from the first missed payment to avoid financial hardship during this period.

What can I do if the other parent hides their income in Morocco?＋

If the other parent conceals their income in Morocco, several remedies exist. In France, the JAF can request that tax services and employers disclose income information. In Morocco, after exequatur, the bailiff can investigate the other parent''s assets and income through business registries, land registry data, and banking information. ARIPA can also mobilize competent Moroccan authorities through the international convention to obtain this information.

Can the French ARIPA help me even if the other parent is in Morocco?＋

Yes. ARIPA (Agency for Recovery of Unpaid Child Support) can pay you an advance on unpaid support (up to 174.47 EUR per child per month in 2026) from the first month of non-payment. It can also initiate international recovery proceedings directly through franco-Moroccan conventions without you having to manage everything yourself. Contact your CAF or MSA to activate these rights. The service is free for the beneficiary.

Can I apply directly to a Moroccan court for child support?＋

Yes, if the child lives in Morocco or if you reside there yourself, you can directly apply to a Moroccan family court to set child support. The Moroccan court applies Moroccan law (Family Code / Moudawana) and sets the support based on the other parent''s resources and the child''s needs. Child support set by a Moroccan court will be directly enforceable in Morocco without an exequatur procedure.

What is the minimum child support under Moroccan law?＋

Moroccan law (Moudawana) does not set an absolute minimum child support amount. The judge assesses it based on the father''s resources (who is the primary debtor under Moroccan law), the child''s needs, and the usual standard of living. In practice, support amounts set by Moroccan courts are often lower than in France: between 300 and 1,500 MAD per child per month depending on the father''s resources. Support set in France according to the Ministry of Justice scale will generally be higher.

Need an expert for your project?

Find a Moroccan professional verified by LesMRE to guide you step by step.

Find a verified expert

Franco-Moroccan Child Support: Obtaining and Enforcing a Judgment