Maintenance record template for unpaid nafkah
You want a simple way to track what is owed and what has actually been paid.
Why keep a maintenance record
A clear, dated record is often the difference between a strong arrears claim and a weak one. Courts and Sulh Officers work better with a specific figure than a general complaint.
This template gives you a simple structure. Copy it into a notebook, a spreadsheet, or your phone, whichever you will actually keep updated.
The record table
| Date due | Amount due (RM) | Amount paid (RM) | Shortfall (RM) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 500 | 300 | 200 | Paid late by transfer, screenshot kept. |
| 1 February | 500 | 0 | 500 | No contact, message sent and unanswered. |
| 1 March | 500 | 500 | 0 | Paid on time. |
Fill in one row per due date, even the months where nothing was paid. A gap in the record looks like an admission that nothing happened, so log every month.
What each column is for
The amount due should match the figure agreed, ordered by the court, or stated in your taklik or divorce terms. The amount paid is only what you actually received, not what was promised.
The shortfall is simply due minus paid. Keep a running total at the bottom of your record so the overall arrears figure is always visible at a glance.
What evidence to keep alongside each entry
Bank transfer records or screenshots support the amount paid column. Messages asking for payment, or messages where payment was refused or delayed, support the shortfall.
If nafkah anak is the maintenance involved, keep receipts for the child’s expenses you covered yourself. These show the practical impact of the shortfall, not just the missing figure.
When your record shows a pattern
A record with several months of shortfall usually points to an arrears claim, since the debt is treated as recoverable by the court. Read tunggakan nafkah for how enforcement of unpaid maintenance works.
If the maintenance is nafkah iddah rather than child maintenance, the same record structure still applies. Read nafkah iddah for how that claim is assessed.
Keeping the record going forward
Update the record as soon as a payment date passes, not weeks later. A record kept close to real time is more reliable than one reconstructed from memory after months have gone by.
Bring the record, along with your supporting evidence, when you speak to a Peguam Syarie or attend a Sulh session.
Common questions
Do I need to log every single payment from the start of the marriage?
Start from whenever your record is reliable, usually from the court order or agreed amount onward. A record kept consistently from today is more useful than trying to reconstruct years of memory.
What if he pays partial amounts or pays late?
Log the amount actually received and the date it arrived, separate from the amount that was due. A pattern of partial or late payment is itself useful evidence.
Where do I use this record once it is filled in?
It supports a maintenance arrears claim or an enforcement application. Bring it, together with your evidence, to a Peguam Syarie or to your Sulh session.
Once you have a few entries logged, send us your record and we will help you work out whether an arrears claim is worth filing now.
WhatsApp a Peguam Syarie