What is child maintenance?
Child maintenance is regular financial support paid by a parent who does not live with their child. The money goes to the parent or carer who looks after the child day to day.
In most cases, this means one parent pays the other. Sometimes the receiving person is not a parent at all: it could be a grandparent, other relative, or guardian who has taken on full-time care of the child.
The payments help cover everyday costs like food, clothing, school trips, toiletries, activities, and general household expenses. Child maintenance is separate from any benefits either parent might receive.
Answer a few questions about your situation and get a clear summary of your child maintenance rights and options.
Try our Child Support Rights Checker free, here on this site →Why maintenance matters
Raising a child costs money. The parent with day to day care handles most of these costs directly, from buying new shoes to paying for school dinners. Regular maintenance from the other parent helps share that financial load.
This is not about one parent doing a favour for the other. It is about both parents contributing to their child's upbringing. Whether parents separated amicably or not, the child's needs remain the same.
For many families, maintenance can make a real difference to a child's quality of life. It might mean the difference between affording a school trip or having to say no, between replacing worn-out clothes promptly or making do.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
How the amount is worked out
The Child Maintenance Service uses a formula based on:
- Your gross weekly income
- The number of children you are paying for
- How many nights those children stay with you
- Whether you have other children living in your household
Your gross income is usually taken from HMRC records. This means your earnings before tax and National Insurance, not what lands in your bank account. If you are self-employed or your income has changed recently, there are ways to have this reviewed.
Child maintenance is calculated as a percentage of your gross weekly income. For one child, the standard rate is 12 percent. For two children, it rises to 16 percent. For three or more, it is 19 percent. These percentages apply between certain income thresholds, and the exact figures are updated each April in line with the fiscal year. Check GOV.UK for the current rates, as they change annually.
If your income is very low, you may pay a flat rate of just a few pounds per week. If you receive certain benefits such as Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Pension Credit and have no other income, you might pay nothing at all. At the higher end, there is a cap of £156,000 gross per annum on income used for CMS calculations. Where a paying parent earns above this amount, the receiving parent can apply to the court for additional maintenance.
Overnight stays with the paying parent reduce the amount. If a child stays with you for 52 to 103 nights a year, the maintenance figure drops by one seventh. More nights mean bigger reductions, with further bands for 104 to 155 nights and 156 to 174 nights. This reflects the costs you cover directly when the child is with you.
If you have other children living in your household, whether your own or a partner's children you support financially, this can also reduce what you pay. The calculation accounts for your responsibilities to those children too.
The government website has an online calculator that gives an estimate based on your circumstances.
Ways to arrange maintenance
There are three main options for sorting out child maintenance in the UK.
A family-based arrangement is a private agreement between parents. You decide the amount and payment schedule yourselves. There are no fees, and you keep control. This works well when both parents communicate reasonably and trust each other to stick to the agreement.
The Child Maintenance Service can calculate a figure for you. You can then either pay each other directly through Direct Pay, or use their Collect and Pay service. Direct Pay means the CMS works out the amount but you handle payments yourselves. Collect and Pay means the CMS collects from one parent and passes it to the other, but both parents pay fees for this service.
A court order may be used for high income cases where earnings exceed the CMS cap, or where parents have reached a consent order as part of divorce proceedings. For most straightforward child maintenance cases, the CMS route is more common.
If a parent defaults on payments, the CMS can directly deduct from wages or benefits and may pursue further legal action in serious cases.
If your financial circumstances change after an arrangement is in place, contact the CMS to request a reassessment. This applies whether your income has gone up or down, or if the overnight staying arrangements have changed.
Whatever route you take, keeping records helps. Note down payments made or received, and save any messages agreeing amounts or dates. Keep records of any income changes too. This protects both sides if there is ever a dispute.
The mum uses 15 free hours a week she uses 7.5 on a Wednesday, while she stays at home. And 7.5 on a Friday while she works. The child attends on the Friday u til 4pm. My son has been told he needs to collect her at 4, but he works until 5. He's been told he has to pay for the extra hour. Ontop of his maintenance, which he can barely afford. If he wants to eat. Surely we can request the nursery to use an hour from the Wednesday and add it to the Friday childcare allocation? To save him paying the extra.
I haven't had DNA, so who knows if they are all mine, I have bought 3 of my sons up like any father would do.
How much CSA would I have to pay? I've applied to the courts for DNA and they've just ignored the possible consequences.
I me a let's face it without DNA anyone could be the biological father to your children.
Regarding the payments made to my children from my ex partner. He insists the money he pays towards the care of his children covers my fuel costs for them to dropped off to him?
Are people really as thick as they seem to be?
It's no wonder we have a crisis in the children of separated families ??
Is maintenance worked out by week or calendar month?
Should I tell him I want the full £72 per week because of this? And is it up to him to pick her up and drop her off?
I do work part time (30 hours) and would work more but I can't because I'm looking after my kids. I do need the money weekly and I cannot afford to pay the fuel costs if I had to pick her up every week.
my monthly take home pay on a good month is 2k AFTER tax and NI. out of that I have to pay my mortgage all my bills that comes to 1,100 leaving me with 900 out of that I have to pay 630 in csa leaving me with just over 200 to live off for the month. out of that I have to buy food and essentials like shampoo soap etc etc. I have no joys in life and have recently sold my car as I couldn't afford to run it anymore while my ex is driving around in a range rover.
the system need to be looked at and I think its about time the CSA take in to consideration people out goings. at this rate am going to have to sell my house and walk away from my job because I just can not afford to live.
1 we should not be calculated before tax it should be after tax
2 who ever asks to use collect and pay should be charged for it not the person not asking to use it and is more than willing to pay direct debit.
3 all essential outgoings I.E Mortgage/rent, bills and weekly food bill all should be taken in to consideration when calculating someone.
4 a court order should have to be in place before CSA will get involved to state the arrangements made between both parents for over night stays. there is far to many EXs lying about over night stays and refusing access to gain more moneys.
5 the percentage of how much one should pay needs to be scraped. there should be a fixed weekly amount. there is no way it costs £600 a month to look after a child
the system is outdated and needs massive change to many fathers are losing everything and in some cases taking there own lives because they can not afford to pay the maintenance being told he has to pay.
I pay £250 to my ex as we alway have had disagreements through DD but as the child is now 2 she demading me to pay £300 or she was come on my doorstep and cause a scene
Who or what can i do going forth as the minder charges alot more ??
Any advice can help
Thanks
My take home pay after tax is £1900. My key outgoings (if they matter) are as follows;
Rent, £1000 per month
Council tax £120 per month
Utility/phone/house bills £150 per month
Car finance £225 per month
Car tax/insurance £80 per month
Ccj's £40 per month
Child support £480 per month
Travel costs £100 per month
I've not included anything for my own personal living costs and food etc and am struggling to get my head round what's a fair amount to pay child support wise. Any help on how to make a fair assessment/calculation would be greatly appreciated. X
The system is a sham it's unfair and wrong
When the ex and I split years ago, I went on to have 2 children with my current partner. Both children still in primary school and nursery. I never reduced the amount I paid my ex. This is something that would be factored in to payments if I was to go through the CSA or whatever the name is these days? Having a quick look at the maintenance calculator available online, having 2 further children with my new partner seems to have little to no change at all.
Despite not seeing my child because of a spiteful ex? When the payments go up i am over £100 short a month to pay my bills and get food shopping, so I have to choose what to pay each month and get myself Into more debt.
I asked him if he can give a little more and he’s refused.
He earns £1,370 per month. This is his only child.
Am I being unreasonable or does he (should he) pay more monthly. If we were still on the CSA he would of paid more because it used to increase. I sooo regret the direct payments now.
Please help me. I work in a school as a teacher but I am struggling.
He is asking to have a new born child over nights, when he can’t even change the nappy, or is very nervous around the baby and scared of holding the baby. My son isn’t drinking much fluids and I have been in hospital now for two weeks, he hasn’t bothered coming to see him or texted to ask how he is doing. He asked me what I need for maintenance payments so I suggested between £50-£60 a week and he doesn’t want to pay this.
I tried using the online maintenance calculator but it gets a bit confusing as I can say I have 1 child I pay maintenance for and 2 who live with me, but I cannot define how long they individually stay with me throughout the year. In this case the teenager is 2-3 nights per week and the twins will be 24/7.
Will this affect how much I should pay?
His ex does not work but my partner does.
She has now stopped contact unless she gets £400 permonth.
Can i just get some advice please
Resident mother earns 10000 a month and frequently leaves children overnight care of boyfriend and is clear the money I provide does not get used for childrens welfare.
Do I have a right to challenge the CMS assessment, given it is leading to personal hardship for me which impacts on the care I can provide my children.
I’ve just queried this and its apparently because the CMA’s calculation is a percentage of your taxable gross, how can this be legal? They’re ignoring income tax and NIC so calculating payments based on income that I don’t even get and which is much higher.
How ican the government do this and can I legally challenge this?
Divorced 5 years ago and ex wife has dragged me through the mud for reasons that she still doesn't explain. I put it down to some post natal change after our second child was born. Either way she earns three to four times wages I do. I'm on the bare minimum after having a mental crash and my business suffering. And constant abuse from my ex even after she moved cities. Which means I have to pay X amount to travel to pick up and drop them off as she refuses to drop them or meet half way. My main query is if she is earning three or four times more thane. How can it be justified that she claims off me ?? It's leadinge into further depression with her on sided demands and all the hard work I put into my business over 12 years I fear will go down the drain. Because I can't afford to keep up payments. She doesn't ' need ' she is being unreasonable spiteful and she constantly changes the goal posts when I can have the kids. If that wasn't bad enough arranged times at the strain station she hasn't turned up so I've wasted my money because she can't communicate properly. I'm so down with it all. Surely means testing should work both ways. How many men have been seriously affected by this situation I wonder. 100s of thousands I imagine
I appreciate you responded to Lee's question but I feel it was answered. Can you explain in more detail please.
I really appreciate help as my world just has been shaken.
My ex lives in a house that I have a significant stake in and the property is mortgage free although I still have a large mortgage on the property I live in.
The current rules do not seem to consider that I am subsidizing my ex's living expenses because she does not have a mortgage despite her re-marrying and living there with the new family and my child.
Can I use this 'subsidy' to offset some of the maintenance payments demanded by my ex? Please advise - Thanks
I have been separated with my ex for over 2 and a half years our agreement together was me to pay £150 maintenance each month that I have done and never missed it. Now am getting threatened with she wants £350 a month of contacting the csa. Where do I stand. I have proof of my money going in every month also I have my son as often as I can but she limits this so she can call csa for more money. What are my rights I want my son at least 3 times a week if not more.
Would I need to pay maintenance for my other child
If we have to repay this what sort of figure would he be looking at paying back he earns about £260 a week.
Any advice greatly appreciated
My girlfriend who lives with me is taking our 2 year old daughter and going back to live with her parents in southern Ireland after a relationship breakdown.Im self employed ,earn 4000 a month before tax,how much if any maintainance do I have to pay and for how long? and what rights will I have?
The whole system stinks. Its just another way of penalising men and making money for lawyers
I'm a little confused as my exhusband informed me he was leaving his employment and was supposed to leave may 2017 ( to avoid having to pay maintenance) yet the figure given to me had been based on his income that I knew about. I've called the CMS but they just say it's worked out on tax year 2017? They confirm there has been no contact made with my ex. I'm confused as yo if I will receive payment or not. Due to start oct 2018. Thank you
I had no idea about how much maintenance should be given but he told me that £200 per month is what he gives for his other child and has said that I'll get nothing if I go through the CSA as his solicitor will tie them in nots. Is there anything that can be done?
Thanks for your help.
Can he do this and what can my daughter do to ensure his daughter continues to recieve support?
clarification.
Thank you
My friend wanted CMS involved but because the absent parent was involved wanted to pay on a family based arrangement then my friend was declined CMS pay and collect scheme...
Because of this. I am actually paying MORE each month, even though I have recently had a child with my new partner. This is surely going to impact on what I can afford care wise for my child that is living with me, yet the CMO don't seem to take this into account??
If the amounts were deducted PRE-tax (like pension payments) then this would have less of a hit on my actual take home earnings..
I just can't get my head around it!
I have always payed for my child and always will.. But I have to care for my other child too, and that includes paying for the house that he lives in!
I gave her £50k from the house and 8 years of my pension. We were together 16 years.
My ex has remarried and they both work
I pay my ex £250 per month. It was £500 before my eldest turned 18.
This seems excessive. Is it correct?
Neither of he children live with him. Is two calculations needed? Or is it the amount of 2 children then divided the amount we would receive?
And what percentage would it be, or what should he be paying to provide for his child? Thank you
Please could you explain what the requirements are for when i am likely to no longer expect payments for my son?
I have seen reports that courts can extend maintenance to cover the duration of higher education if the non resident parent has the ability to cover the costs.
Thanks
One is reasonable the other totally the opposite and is constantly demanding more.
How do I calculate what I should be paying each of them based on weekly earnings of £600 having them less than 52 nights in a year?
I´ve been paying an agreed monthly amount to my ex who lives with our child. This amount was agreed between ourselves without the need for any agencies. She has now requested more money and decided to go through CSA to receive it.
As CSA will make me pay from the point her application was made ( this week)
1 - Will they take into account the payments I´m currently making and deduct accordingly ( I bank transfer, so this can be proven) or
2 - Should I cancel all future payments (as she´s advised me today she´s submitted her application) and await CSA to tell me how much I will have to pay moving forward. Of course, I will set aside the money as if I´m still paying. But I need to avoid paying double as of course it is unlikely she will send me back any overpayments.
BR,
Steve
I have not been allowed by my ex wife to see my children and they are so scared they will not respond to emails.
My wife is saying I should be paying 16% of gross salary.
Who is right and what should I do?
His father has never really paid contribution towards his necessities and not been around or had much interest from the very beginning until my son was over 1 years old.
I always gave him access and even invited him to my birth although we were not on good terms.
His financials contribution was only picked up on when I contacted the child support agency, and him being a director of 3 companies. all his accounts show he is not earning from each company which I am full aware that he is not providing the HMRC with the factual income amount in order not to pay for my sons maintenance.
The CSA have had information that suggests that he is not earning enough and does not have to pay anything towards his finances but this is absurd and he is fooling the system.
He was happy to pay me privately an acceptable amount per month as a mutual agreement towards my sons expenses but as this letter from child support agency came through he stopped this payment although he is earning and working full time self employed and earning comfortably.
It really frustrates me as the only person this is and will effect is my son in the future and his father is only concerned about him self and what suits him best.
Who can I turn to for advise?
How can I prove that he is defrauding the system so he does not have to pay his way. Its totally unacceptable and due to his spiteful behavior towards me its effecting me, causing me stress and hurt knowing that his childish behavior will only effect my son in the process.
Thank you
Thank you or any advice.
I recently sold a flat and as a result I have made some capital gain, can you please clarify if my ex partner is in title to receive 15% of the income made?
In addition can you pleas explain if my ex partner was in title to receive additional contribution for a rental income of the flat I previously owned?
I recently sold a flat and as a result I have made some capital gain, can you please clarify if my ex partner is in title to receive 15% of the income made?
In addition can you pleas explain if my ex partner was in title to receive additional contribution for a rental income of the flat I previously owned?
Kind regards
Adolfo
Thanks again.
Why is the information presented here different from that in the CMS guide called "How we work out child maintenance" found on the .gov.uk site?
Your site states 15% of my NET weekly income and the guide says 12% of my TAXABLE GROSS weekly income.
Both give two different answers and if you use the calculator found on both websites I get a third, even higher number.
Thanks.
I have my children 3 weekends out off for and bank holidays and 3 weeks threw the yea and my ex don't feed clean or cloth my children properly they get pot noodle for dinner or cake and crisps or takeaway most off their clothing is to small for them she tells them she hates kids they get a bath/shower every 3 days what can I do seems to be a loosing battle wich I won't give up on
My daughter is 19 later on this year & has been at college for full time course in Beauty & has been accepted for full time Level 2 Hairdressing this year.
Her dad has paid maintenance willingly at slightly less than 15% for her(no other children involved on either side) but has all of a sudden halved it with no prior notice.
Can he do this?
Is there a specific calculator or department that assists with such matters?
The UK calculators probably don't factor in air cost and hotel costs for visitations of child abroad, as I want to see my child as much as possible.
Thank you,
He left us with absolutely nothing? He took the family car, demanded that me and the children move or is the rented property we lived in together. I had to borrow money from family and friends to move, buy some second hand furniture, rental deposit.....
Initially he gave an overpayment which he insisted on even though I had repeatedly told him that he wasn't paying the correct amount. But he wanted to pay less per month and a larger amount at the beginning. He refuses any firm of communication apart from through a solicitor which I currently pay for. He has said that he will reclaim the overpayment if I ever contact him directly. I have adhered to this because I believe he would just stop the payments.
I work part time in a school as this fits around the children, but the nursery fees well exceed my pay. I do get government help with this and they pay up to 75%.
He does not have any contact with the children.
Would the CSA ever consider awarding a proportion of his actual earnings rather then capping the amount at nursery 40% of his earnings.
My son pays through csa for 1 child (£120) and he has a private arrangement where he pays by direct debit (£100) for his 2nd child, monthly payments.
Will csa take into account the direct debit payment if he informs them.
The children have separate mother's my son is not with either mother.
both ex partners have different figures and I have been on the csa Web site and got a different figure to them.
I just need some clarification on how much I need to pay.
thank you
i am in the process of getting divorced and my ex wife and child still live in the marital property until the divorce is finalised. my ex has refused to contribute to the mortgage which is in my sole name and has now instructed the CMS to claim child maintenance. Will they take into account the mortgage payments i am making on the property they are living in when working out the Child maintenance?
I am wondering if a resident parent'so income is taken into account when calculating child maintenance?
Thanks in advance.
When we are married is his ex entitled to any of my income?
I bend over backwards to accomodate my exhusbands needs, in the 4 and a half years that we have been split he has only brought her to my house 3 times, even when i was 8 months pregnant in the middle of August i had to walk 3 miles to pick her up and walk her home because he wouldnt even meet me half way never mind bring her to me. He owes me money that he refuses to pay and claims all the benefits he can aswell as work. She wants to live with me midweek and with him weekends but refuses to even speak to her about it, she is afraid of speaking up incase she "hurts his feelings".
If I have to pay a fine then ok, thats fine but i havent been working and surely dont owe anything.... Im very frustrated and feel like im being treated unfairly.
I've 3 kids and my ex paying me £309 through csa every month. My ex is self employed & got two fantastic famous Restaurant, the restaurant is busy all the time but when he told csa he minimise his income to £1,200 a month . I know he is lying but how can the CSA will find out? Do you think they can check his bussiness statement or other thing to find out the truth? Any help pls let me know.
Thanks
I divorced my husband after our daughter was born three months premature via an emergency cesarean and he refused to help financially whilst I was off work (I was a contractor at the time), so much so that I returned to work just two weeks later whilst our daughter was in hospital for a year.
Whilst working, I got the job substantively and never took any maternity leave (unpaid) when our daughter did come home. I carried on working.
He still refused to help financially - he was living in the house I bought prior to meeting him.
I then sold the house and bought another one that was a real family home all out of my money with not a penny from him - and it is only my name on the mortgage.
I then paid for the divorce after I uncovered him having an affair. He walked away with what he came with - nothing and did not request a share of the house - even though I could prove he never contributed to purchasing it or paying for it.
I agreed he could keep his pension.
He agreed to pay £50/week into our daughter's bank account by way of maintenance.
However - should he be contributing more due to fact I pay the mortgage tp keep a roof over her head (£1000/month)all the bills, childcare fees as I work full-time, sport club fees for our daughter, music tuition and additional support due to additional educational requirements due to our daughter being premature.
We have no communication so this is not something I can broach with this man, who is unreasonable at best of times, snd who has only ever said '£50/week is more than CSA would give you'.
He has also decided not to see his daughter for almost the past year as has not texted to confirm he will see her during the day one Saturday (he has never had her overnight, has refused). We don't know where he lives but believe he may still work for the same company and he may have got re-married.
Any advice you can give would be appreciated.
Best wishes
Any advice you can
Also, now he is earning a wage form a group run by a group of trustees. Will this effect my claim in terms of direct from wages as he is not employed by a 'company' but a community group? Also, the rest of his income is from occupational pensions. Will this count as earnings and can i claim direct from this too?
with thanks
Thanks
She has a young child from her ex (they were never married).
He pay a small amount as child support (the not that) & have visitation rights (every two weeks for one night).
Will she lose her child support from the child's biological father ?
I have two teenage children by my ex who has re married, he pays CSA for both children but has just adopted a child, will my payments now be reduced for my children due to him adopting?
My ex told me she was pregnant 2 weeks after we split up I said I did not want to keep the baby due to the situation she said she was going to keep it anyway as weapon against me how so I stand now I do not want anything to do with her or the child !
My lad is 15 at the moment
I have a amicable relationship with my X partner (we are not married) we have a wee toddler and I have used the HMRC calculator to work out what my obligation should be according to the law.
My partner is the stay at home Mother and she also works around 15 hours a week.
Her salary is not enough to rent a place for herself and our child.
She has told me that legally I am obliged to pay approximately £750 PCM towards her rent on top of the £600 that I will already pay her.
According to her if she claims housing benefit the monies paid to her via the benefits will be taken from my wages.
With me paying out the best part of £1.5k a month it makes it real tough to live to a half decent standard myself.
I cannot find anywhere online that substantiate that claim and I was wondering if anyone else is in this situation that can help me find out what the correct procedure is.
any pointers in to the right direction would be of great help,
As I am looking to buy a house for me and my sons..
Csa always have a problem when I challenge them about.
The Army reserves wages as this is voluntary work! are these also taken into account!!
Help please!
all i no is tht he has had a few problems nd only working part time i think nd he has already got another older child not living with him!
I live in the Cayman Islands, my son is 10yrs old.
When our son was born, he signed an agreement (which I still have a copy of) stating that he would pay $80KYD per week. This was witnessed and notarized by a local Justice of Peace (JP). His father has never paid child support. And he moved to Bristol England, when our son was just over 1yr old.
I have tried through local agencies to have this enforced, but to no avail and I have given up.
And advice? Please?
He lives off of the UK government, he refuses to find work, he collects whatever welfare he can. AND now he has 3 other children.
This means my son gets left behind, doesn't it?
Thank you
Recently things have not been great between me and my ex and communication is almost nil. Because he works full time I have both of the children after school every day until he comes to collect them after work if it is his night to have them (5.30 ish). I also have them every inset day (7 per academic year), plus most of the school holidays (13 weeks off per year and he has them for 3!). If either of them are off school sick I also have them. If he takes a days leave from work and it is the school holidays he still doesn't have them that day even if it is his night to have them, he still comes to collect them at 5.30ish.
I have recently discovered that he is moving in with his new partner and her children. So my question is, should I now approach him for maintenance? My youngest child has said that they won't want to live with him and his new partner for 50% of the nights (child is old enough and intelligent enough to make that choice).
The other thing is that although they may spend several nights a week with my ex he clearly is not doing his fair share of parental responsibilities. I have spoken to him and said that the care of our children is not 50:50 however the response I always get is that he works and I don't however I am unable to work at this time because I have a child with a disability. I would love to work and be able to support myself and my children however that is not an option. Any advice would be gratefully received.
thanks .
I assume your wages are £17500 gross? Then you will be paying roughly £173 per month based on seeing your daughter and her staying over average 1 night per week. This is on the assumption that she is still in full time education.
SM
They were are cohabiting couple and have parted on bad terms, she has asked for a monthly maintenance fee so that 'she can live, and that the children don't lose out, she only works two days a week and the boys are both in full time school, she refuses to get more work.
She is about to move into a large house with her boyfriend and is still expecting this monthly allowance from my partner, he currently does not give her anything as he pays for all these things for the children, he also is still paying for the house they own together that he does not live in or her. She is also asking for money for rent that she has paid since she has moved out!
What are my partners rights with these extortionate demands?
Home with him to care for ?
We do all the travelling 2 hour return journey.
We have the children 180 days a year and she has then 185 days a year.
So do we have to pay her child maintance?
Please help!
Many Thanks
He pays alimony to my Lithuanian (as we are lithuanians) account 68 euros pcm.
I asked him many times could he transfer money into my UK account,but he always find reasons not to do so,because it is so convenient for him.
Is there a legal way to obligate him to do so?
Many Thanks
Kind regards
I was married in India due to my partner being pregnant, we were based in UAE. We were both born in UK.Her parents are Indian.
We have two daughters together and have been separated for 5 years now, I have paid every month money to her in India ( children reside there).Now I wish to divorce she has asked more money for the children. Can you tell me what % of salary should I pay for maintenance.
Thanks
I am foreigner awaiting paternity results from a UK fling - I am willing to support financially only, with an amount deemed fair and just by an adjudicator.
I am focusing on rebuilding the damage I did to my wife and children.
Might I run into any issues upon returning to the UK next week?
I separated from my sons mother about 5 to 6 years ago. We have always had a good relationship after this. A couple of years ago she asked me to guarantee a loan for her to buy a car and to help with Christmas for my son and her other children. I did this but my ex stopped making the payments which meant I had to. The loan had a huge interest rate on it so I decided to tak a personal loan out my self to pay this off. The payment for the new loan is 110 per month. I then agreed with my ex that instead of her paying the loan I would use her maintenance (100per month) I usually pay her to pay the loan that she agreed to
All was well until recently, where now I think she will want to claim maintenance through the csa.
Do you think the loan payment will be taken into consideration when calculating how much I have to pay? I have done some research which suggests it could be but suggests only if we were still together when the loan was took out.
I have my son every weekend fri to sun and occasionally sun night.
Thanks
I earn 25.000 pounds per year and take home roughly 415 pounds per week. I pay 120 pounds per week to my EX she works full time and earns 27000 pounds per year, she receives child allowance and claims child tax credits, she is doing ok. I have my son at least one night a week and several afternoons every week, what would I expect to pay if I contacted the CSA and why. Thanks in advance Laddox
Hod to l get a payment thru CSA
Many thanks.
the parent receiving the payment stops being the main carer of the child. I hope this helps.
my ex has moved in with another guy along with my daughter, and this is also cool. Until this point despite that fact i knew not all the mantenance goes on my daughter, i was happy paying but now she has moved in with another guy to his home, who also works full time, do i still have to pay the full amount or am i within my rights to reduce the cash payment to my ex but continue to provide pocket money, school trip payments, clothes and other essentials direct to my daughter? i would appreciate any advice any one may have in this matter. thanks.
TO pay me maintenance for my 1 child
'If the non-resident parent has some CSA arrangements and some Family-Arrangement maintenance then unfortunately, the CSA cannot take into account the Family-Arrangement maintenance paid. It can, however, take into account any court orders in relation to maintenance.'
Does this rule remain with the changes from CSA to the CMS? I have an order with the CMS that enforces payment as for two years he refused. He has now contacted me saying he is dropping the amount he is paying because he is providing maintenance to his other son (pocket money into his son's account) and spoken to the CMS who have told him how much to pay. If it's true I'm all for him supporting both his sons but suspect he's just trying to drop the amount of outgoings in favour of more social and using his children to do it - surely he would have to prove he's actually paying maintence if it's not a CMS organised thing (which it isn't) and surely they should contact me of any changes? Come payment time and it's not what is on my paperwork I will report him as I should - but would be a waste of time if it was a legal change and I didn't know about it?
Our relationship ended due to Domestic Abuse and so naturally is riddled with control and manipulation which still continues where he is able and has point of acces - this unfortunately being his children.
He is living in England, and we both live in Argentina.
Life is very difficult as it is only us, so I had to sacrificed my career to look after her.
Now, he sends us 600 pounds monthly, but his life style is glamorous, I was wondering how he should send for her? we do not own a house, we rent.
thanks for helping
Help..
Ralphie
My question is I have paid over £2000 since last September but did not know so where did that money go and how do I get it back. Do I claim it from the CSA or from my ex wife and what are the chances of being successful
I never once denied payment as it is my responsibility but as i was on ' old rules ' i was actually paying more money than a work friend with 3 children on the ' new rules ' on exactly same wage as me...Fair????
The entire system is corrupt....and no matter how many times they change it...it will always be to the detriment of the Father..who in nearly all cases is the ' non-resident parent'.
Having a child is a joint venture. Responsibility should be joint. Financial responsibility should be joint.
The CSA maintenance payments go on individual wage.............SO.....
Mother 1...works 16 hrs per week...receives all entitled benefits and gets £1300. The NRP(non-resident parent) pays his percentage based on wage which equates to £500 per month. SO...Mother 1 gets £1800 per month.
Mother 2...works 16 hrs per week...receives all entitled benefits and gets £1300.(same as Mother 1) The NRP(non-resident parent) pays his percentage based on wage which equates to £200 per month. SO...Mother 2 gets £1500 per month.
FAIR?????????
Why should any child or Mother OR Father looking at it from all angles and sides.....be worse off...depending on the father's income?
It is a travesty that our Government can not only allow children to be ABUSED by the system yet also abuse Father's and Mothers.
Sort it out without the CSA...because like any other major Government funded establishment....it is there to take your hard earned money...because that is all they care about. NOT the child.
Its ok that a Mother gets plenty of money from the father but where does that leave him??? unable to personally provide when he actually WANTS TO.
Equal financial parental rights......You equally made that child...you equally pay for it. If new daddy " Oh i so want to be involved, i love your kids"....then sorry pal....fork out. You knew she was a mother whe you got with her. Stop using their Father's money to help pay your mortgage.
Man up
System is flawed.
Good day
My wife has filed false case of dowry n dv.i hv a son who is with my wife.iwant to keep her but she want maintenance n dont want to stay with me.can maintenance be denied by coury.should i file rcr? How much percentage of salary be maintenance.my salary is20000 in which in hand is 12000
thanks
He signed as part of our divorce proceedings to state he would be paying 20% of his monthly net earnings he doesn't provide me with a p60 so how do I know what he is paying is 20%?
Kind regards
Is it only worked out from profit when self employed or total income?
An up to date tax return was sent in and I have now been told he over paid and I owe him money :'( How is this even feasible?
Please help.. I'm no good with figures but want the best for my son.
Same, income doesn't add up to outgoing living expenditures.
I can only assume they have a good accountant. I see no hope!
Cheers... Stu
Many thanks Mike
looking fwd to your response
judith
thx
Tina
My ex has paid me mainetnece for over 3 years now, and as of last week, we had a dissagreement and now he has stopped paying me, saying that he does not have to pay me as I have a partner who is living with me.
Please can you tell me if this is true?
Neither of them stay over night with me at all at the moment
I justt need to know so i can sort finances out etc
thank you
Thanks
I have a son with an ex in the UK and now I live and work in Saudi Arabia. I have always sent a large amount of money home each month but after a recent dispute with the mother I have withheld 2 months money and decided to pay for needed goods and services as they arise after being shown a receipt.
The mother has now said she has sought legal advice and will be putting a court order on me and also possibly calculating both my wife's and mine income plus looking at our joint assets in the UK.
In short, is she able to apply a court order for child support on me whilst I am working overseas?
Many thanks
Thanks
I have worked hard and climbed the ladder
I pay her 380 per month and now increased it to 450 per month
I have new daughter and partner who live with me
I pay the mortgage in my partners house.
Her previous husband has finished payments as her oldest son is now over 18
I have a lot of out goings and am overdrawn and paying off credit card bills
Will the csa take this into consideration?? I do not have a problem paying for my son but any more would cripple me financially then I would have to sell car and now on the form it wants to know what my new partner has?? Can the csa take money from her ?? My past relationship should not be affecting her pocket surely???
And if I continue to do well professionally what's the point if csa remove it from my wage packet?
What's the use in trying to succeed when all I will be doing is giving my ex a better lifestyle ???
dondon - 26 January 2012 @ 2:30 PM
Dondon - Do you have texts from him confirming when he will pick your child up
If you do and these texts back up your side of the statement it is good evidence to pass to the CSA. What happens with school when your child is with him for a week at a time. Do you have independent witneses (a teacher, other Mothers, bus tickets etc) that will prove the child is under your care.
Jon
Crewey - 24 February 2012 @ 6:16 PM
Crewey
If your daughter remains in full education and has no income you will be liable to pay until her 19th birthday.
Any assistance or guidance would be appreciated..
Thanks
Jon
So father country 1
mother country 2
child born country 3
father, mother and baby living in country 3.
which country child support laws should be enforced? is there an international law for child support?
Thanks
My Grandson is 13 years old now and his father has gained promotions and pay rises over the years[Now Regional manager I believe]
He is in a stable relation ship with his new partner of many years and no other children are involved he has just agreed to put his payment up to £130 per month,my question is should he be paying more for his son than what has been stated above.
Thank you.
My ex wife knows my earnings have considerably increased and is now asking for more. Does she have a legal right/case ? My concern is that additional cash, like the cash already paid is not reaching the children.
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