Applying for Child Support appears to be a simple enough process. Parents with care can provide relevant details online or directly to Child Maintenance Service (CMS) staff on the telephone. Occasionally though securing maintenance from a child’s parent can prove to be a difficult and lengthy process, and parents with care may decide to seek help in collecting child support.
Seeking Help
Assistance can be sought for tracing non resident parents, Appeals and Tribunals hearings, variations, Voluntary Maintenance payments, Paternity disputes and any other problem that a parent with care may present that stops them receiving maintenance they are entitled to.
Expert advice is available to any individual who is experiencing problems with the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). Administration problems can often result in families experiencing payment shortage, delay, arrears, compensation claims etc and can cause a down-turn in finances and further problems. By seeking expert advice a parent can begin to deal with any problems, and achieve resolution much sooner.
How It Works
A company offering parents representation will generally offer unlimited telephone consultations, a letter drafting facility, and assistance with form filling. This type of service will typically be available to a parent for a 12 month period, and the advice given is personalised to the client’s requirements. Complex child support cases can also be handled.
A Case Manager will be allocated to a parent, and this person will be expected to take full charge of the client’s case. The representative will liaise with the Child Maintenance Service, on behalf of the parent, and will also deal with any Tribunals representation. The legal expert will be able to explain the course of action that is required in order to resolve outstanding issues.
An arrears checking service is also available. This service helps parents handle correspondence relating to late payments, private debt recovery and enforcement action.
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 →What Does Representation Cost?
A fixed one-time payment is generally required. This amount is agreed before work on a parent’s case commences, and does not affect the amount or detail of work involved in achieving case resolution. In other words, no further payment is required no matter how complex a case becomes or how lengthy the process is. A legal representative will act on a parent’s behalf and will rectify problems that are causing financial difficulties.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
What Service Do You Get For Your Money?
This type of legal service provider offers direct contact with the Child Maintenance Service (CMS); telephone consultation services, where the parent can talk confidentially about matters concerning their financial situation; physical representation in court and an assigned Case Manager who will work with the parent on their individual case.
Do You Need Help?
If you are a parent with care, non resident parent, are experiencing problems receiving or paying maintenance, require assistance with Appeals Tribunals, are a parent involved in a paternity dispute, or have suffered loss due to the Child Support Agency’s administrative problems independent legal representation may be of great help to you.
He wants custody of our child simply because he doesn't want to give child support even though he knows he is incapable to look after our child on his own. Hes work always comes first and his idea of parenting is to get a nanny to do the work. Hes never been up at night with our child and doesnt have any relationship with his family which shows no family values and can't demonstrate affection which kids need.
As I said leaving my son behind to live with him wasn't negotiable, he then suggested me moving to a rough area with my kid as was cheaper and he would give £450 support to help. He earns over 100k.
Should I just move out or can I get help to get more support financially and with housing? Many thanks
want custody of my 4 years daughter, m Muslim n converted my wife to Muslim in 2013, I did all the expenses of my child till date but now my wife and his family not allowing to meet my daughter or not even allowing to talk wid her, she is born n bought up in Muslim family, how it will work den? plz help me, as her schools are also missing.
We are still not divorced.
I am at the end of my tether now regarding my ex-husband's disregard for his responsibility to pay to support his children. He stopped paying regularly through the CSA last August. There were then no payments at all for 5 months, something only happening when I made an official complaint. He then agreed to pay contributions of £50 (83p each per child per day, wow!) to pay of an arrears amount of only £500. He did this for 6 months and, during this time,was assessed by the CSA in April as 'nil assessment'. Last week, at the end of July, he cancelled his £50 direct debit and I am, once again, in limbo. The CSA aren't much help and tell me it's my responsibility to prove that he is earning money cash in hand....he lives 50 miles away and I am too busy working and bringing up my children to play detective.
Any help and advise would be greatly appreciated!
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