Pursuant to Section 12 of the Maintenance Act, an application for maintenance of a dependent may be made to the Court by the dependent or, in the case of a dependent referred to in section   8(1) (a) or (b) of the said Act which is the parent's unmarried child who is a minor or in need of     such maintenance, by reason of physical or mental infirmity or disability.

This application may also be pursued by a parent of the dependent or any other person who has the care and custody of the dependent.

Where a local authority or other Government agency is providing assistance in respect of the maintenance of a dependent; or an application for such assistance has been made to the local authority or other Government agency by or on behalf of the dependent, an application for a  maintenance order may be made to the Court by the local authority or other Government agency.