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Shared Care of a Child

By: Lorna Elliott LLB (hons), Barrister - Updated: 6 May 2024 |
 
Csa Shared Care Non-resident Parent

Although it is often the case that child support cases refer to the parent ‘with care’, or the ‘non-resident parent’, there are in practical terms many other domestic arrangements that do not fall into these two definitions. One such situation is ‘shared care’, in which more than one person looks after a child or children, but those people live in separate homes.

Who Can Share Care?

For the purposes of child support laws, ‘shared care’ does not include people who live under the same roof and share the care of a child. However, the following people are classed as having shared care: a person with care who is treated as though they are a non-resident parent (child in his/her care for at least 104 nights a year) – this could be a grandparent; a non-resident parent who looks after the child for at least 52 nights each year; or a child who is sometimes in the care of the local authority.

The CSA’s/ CMS's Decision

The CSA/CMS will, in deciding cases in which there is an issue of shared care, consider all the circumstances of the arrangements. The evidence to support a shared care application should be provided in writing but may be given orally if both the parents consent.

Who Receives Maintenance Payments?

There may be a question in shared care circumstances as to who should receive maintenance payments. If two people share responsibility for a child on a day-to-day basis, either one of them may apply to the CSA/CMS, on the condition that either both of them has parental responsibility or neither of them have parental responsibility. If one person does and the other person does not, it will be the person with parental responsibility who is entitled to apply for child maintenance.

If parents share care, the one who has the majority of the care will be the one who is entitled to child maintenance. If the shared care is entirely equal, it is the person who is in receipt of child benefits who can apply to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). If both parents make competing applications for child benefit, the person who applied first will take priority.

Calculating the Rate Reduction

As we have already seen, a non-resident parent who looks after a child for at least 52 nights per year qualifies to have ‘shared care’ of the child. Although there are a number of variations and some exceptions, the following information reflects the general effect of shared care on CSA/CMS maintenance calculations.

If a non-resident parent has care of a child for between 52 – 103 nights per year, maintenance payments will be reduced by 1/7. For 104 – 155 nights, this fraction increases to 2/7. For 156 -174 nights, there will be a reduction of 3/7 and if the child spends 175 nights or more with the non-resident parent, maintenance payments will be reduced by ½.

The overnight care does not need to stretch to a 24 hour period, but must be overnight. If a child is in boarding school, with a babysitter, staying with a friend or is in hospital, the person who would otherwise have had care of the child during that period is considered to be the person with care.

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cindy byrd - 2-Apr-24 @ 8:27 AM
My e, husband has residence of our daughter and i currently pay him maintenance. I am now having 50/50 shared care of oir daughter, including school runs etc. Do I still have to pay him Child Maintenance or not?
Laura - 21-May-21 @ 3:57 PM
I'vejust been given 50/50 in the family court. I am fleeing dv and child benefit been in my name since 2009 which I am told is good because its a gateway benefit ? Anyways ex claims carers allowance and dla for 1 of our children as they have a serious disability. I have asked for half the monthly payments as its shared care , but I doubt this will happen and ill need to go back to court once again. I tryed to.keep it simple and fair over money and 50/50 even knowing children wanted to live with me full time but I strongly believemy goodwill is getting me walked over.
Singledad - 17-Nov-20 @ 5:09 PM
My wife left me. We have a 6 year old together and all I want is to be a 50/50 dad and to be honest I want her full time because she is my world and been separated wasn't what I wanted. I find it absolutely disgusting that I still have to pay maintenance even though when I have my daughter more than 3 nights a week and pay for clothes, food etc. Just not right that I get my daughter to share, not see everyday, not get that daddy daddy when enter the home I miss it so much. Why should the mother get the maintenance it was not my division to separate.
Abb - 2-Nov-20 @ 10:28 PM
My ex used to be a fantastic dad who never missed his time with his daughter. 2 years ago he met a new lady and since then he rarely picks his daughter up. No Court order in place. He rang Child Maintenanceand claimed he had Shared Care... they gave him a reduction. I've appealed and it's been declined. I was set to go to tribunal then found out i had cancer... and things changed quickly. In past 15 months my daughter has been to her dads 11 nights. He goes months without speaking or seeing her. 6 months ago... to add more insult to injury... he claimed he came every weekend and was awarded a Petrol allowance!! I told them he doesn't even come to pick her up... but it was granted anyway! It's now 5 months since he has seen his child... yet gets shared care... and petrol allowance ... amounting to a £28 reduction each week! I have had no help in past 5 months.... chemo and radio... weak and sick... Spleen removed. Yet Child maintenancewon't and anything. It's so so unfair. Just applied again for a change and it's been rejected. Not once had he provided a shred of evidence to support his claims.. yet he gets everything awarded and I struggle. Thank you.
Cab73 - 20-Mar-20 @ 11:19 PM
I get maintenance at the moment for my child who was on childcare now my child has come to live with me 24/7 and my ex-wife is still turning maintenance that we have shared care I get the child benefit tax credits and maintenance only for childcare maintenance people have said because there is no court order in place they have decided as I'm not entitled to have any more maintenance from my ex-wife because my ex-wife if he's lying to them I thought what if you didn't have an agreement in place they would have Ward one day to my ex-wife and give me the rest of the maintenance this is what I was told when I first applied for it it there would not be a problem as I get all the benefits but now they closed the case and said no you get nothing only for Shared Care in yet I pay all expenses for my son can somebody tell me if this is right or wrong as I was told there would be no problem for me getting it for my ex-wife I was in the right
Giorgio - 10-Mar-20 @ 5:43 AM
I have a court order that states I will have my daughter around 75 nights a year. Some of them nights it will be my wife that looks after my daughter at our house if I'm away with work, but CMS claim that I have to pay more (the rate for 52 nights or less) because I'm not in the house some of them nights even though myself and my wife provide for my daughter for the 75 nights wehave her, can anything be done about this?
Joe - 8-Mar-20 @ 4:46 PM
I have recently agreed (begrudgingly) to have equal shared care for my children with my ex husband. He has time 3 nights a week and me 4 and then we rotate it each week. The children seem happy with the arrangement but I still have issues with holidays ect. I resigns the child benefit and relieve no CM anymore which I understand but how would I go about changing the situation?
Ems - 12-Apr-19 @ 5:53 PM
Ad - Your Question: Myself and my child's mother have 50/50 care. We don't just have him over night we also carry out the day to day care. On my days we do the school drop off and pick ups.We also pay for my child's after school clubs, uniform hair cuts ect. I don't understand why she should be claiming foe my child from the government when she can easily work full time and yet I also have to pay her maintainace when my child is with me equal. Surely this isn't right? Our Response: The only recourse you have to resolve such issues is via mediation, as there is no cut-and-dry rules or laws. However, if one parent is working and the other not, then the parent who is not working is eligible to receive extra financial help from the parent who is. ChildSupportLaws - 5-Jun-18 @ 3:26 PM The law very clearly states that equal shared care should prevent a calculation being made, however, in practice if a mother asks for a case to be opened then no amount of protest or evidence from the father will prevent a case being opened, then the only option is a tribunal,my experience is that the tribunal will look for any way to side with the mother. Sadly I am not aware of any cases of the law being upheld with regards to mothers providing misinformation to the CMS, if a father is prevented from seeing a child, gains a court order for 50/50 shared parenting, the mother still has access to the benefits available, he has no access to help financially whatever his circumstances are, it is wrong that a mother be rewarded for providing misinformation for financial gain with no consequence, whilst a dad struggling to make ends meet to provide a balanced parentage is penalised and given no option but to attend a tribunal where CMS representatives and a judge will look to uphold whatever ‘decision’ that has already been made, it’s a very sad situation.
Mills - 12-Apr-19 @ 10:32 AM
Ad - Your Question: Myself and my child's mother have 50/50 care. We don't just have him over night we also carry out the day to day care. On my days we do the school drop off and pick ups.We also pay for my child's after school clubs, uniform hair cuts ect. I don't understand why she should be claiming foe my child from the government when she can easily work full time and yet I also have to pay her maintainace when my child is with me equal. Surely this isn't right? Our Response: The only recourse you have to resolve such issues is via mediation, as there is no cut-and-dry rules or laws. However, if one parent is working and the other not, then the parent who is not working is eligible to receive extra financial help from the parent who is. ChildSupportLaws - 5-Jun-18 @ 3:26 PM The law very clearly states that equal shared care should prevent a calculation being made, however, in practice if a mother asks for a case to be opened then no amount of protest or evidence from the father will prevent a case being opened, then the only option is a tribunal,my experience is that the tribunal will look for any way to side with the mother. Sadly I am not aware of any cases of the law being upheld with regards to mothers providing misinformation to the CMS, if a father is prevented from seeing a child, gains a court order for 50/50 shared parenting, the mother still has access to the benefits available, he has no access to help financially whatever his circumstances are, it is wrong that a mother be rewarded for providing misinformation for financial gain with no consequence, whilst a dad struggling to make ends meet to provide a balanced parentage is penalised and given no option but to attend a tribunal where CMS representatives and a judge will look to uphold whatever ‘decision’ that has already been made, it’s a very sad situation.
Mills - 12-Apr-19 @ 8:38 AM
Me and my partner split up and I remained in the house, whilst he moved out. For 1 year he has often visited the house to keep things civil and for the child. I feel I did too much to involve him in stuff for the child’s sake that he started to think that things were back on track. I started dating, and told him about it. Unfortunately this has back fired a lot. He moved back into the house whilst I was out (house jointly owned) however, we do not get on in a living arrangement basis and wouldn’t of been a good environment for our daughter. So although not legally forced out, emotionally I felt like I had to move out. Our daughter is now severely confused, she classes her original home as her home, not where I live now. He is being very difficult, and believe it is all out of spite as I have decided to move on with my life. Does this give him an advantage of child custody? He wants to buy me out of the mortgage, but I want to sell? He was always the breadwinner in the family, and I had to postpone my career for childcare. Would he have to pay family maintenance? As I can’t afford to live on my own now. Where as he has remained in the house, has the main family salary so he’s set. Just feel I’ve been abused in all of this.
CK1 - 24-Mar-19 @ 9:38 AM
My partner has our child for 3 days a week, approx 156 days a year. However, they have probably not stated to CMS that they frequently, knowingly work away and therefore the child would either come back to me, or stay with my ex’s parents. Should this be considered and their days reduced? This has obviously effected my CMS. I feel they what these extra days purely to reduce the CMS.
Kaykay1 - 24-Mar-19 @ 9:29 AM
Hello, My ex and i have 2 children. He does take them on holidays (max 10 days in summer) but during the year his work is more a priority than his children. He does take them 1 night/wk but not every weekend. If these days don't add up to 52 nights/yr is it still shared? He's only disputing it to get a 1/7th discount on his already arranged maintenance.
Alli - 7-Oct-18 @ 4:02 PM
Hi Me and my husband have recent separated, I have a 13yr old and a 5yr old. If they were to stay with me for 4 nights and with ex for 3 nights a week. I’m currently in a private rented property and receive benefits. He’s looking for a place but can’t afford anymore than a studio, which isn’t practical for the kids to stay. How would that work my universal credits payments? Also would my ex receive help as well?Thanks
Lemonmum - 23-Aug-18 @ 8:43 PM
T - Your Question:
Hi, I have 2 children with my ex-wife the eldest being 16 at the end of August and the youngest is 12. My ex-wife recently moved away and my youngest child had to move too as she got him into a new school. My eldest child stays with me 90% of the time as he still goes to the same school he went to before his mother moved away. My youngest child, due to school, stays with my ex-wife 80% of the time as he stays with me on my weekends off which is only 2weekends out of 5 and stays with me more regularly on school holidays. My eldest child has informed his mother that when he turns 16 he will officially move in with me. My ex-wife earns more money than I do and still demands child maintenance. Do I still have to pay child maintenance or could this be considered shared child care.

Our Response:
If your eldest child stays with you currently and goes to the same school, you can claim child maintenance for your child, if you have your child the majority of the time. You can also ask your ex to transfer child benefit to you for your resident child. You can either come to a mutual financial agreement between you, through mediation, or via court if your ex will not agree to the change in residency of your eldest, please see link here . It's worth also speaking directly to CMS to ask what your options are under the circumstances.
ChildSupportLaws - 10-Jul-18 @ 11:35 AM
Hi, I have 2 children with my ex-wife the eldest being 16 at the end of August and the youngest is 12.My ex-wife recently moved away and my youngest child had to move too as she got him into a new school.My eldest child stays with me 90% of the time as he still goes to the same school he went to before his mother moved away. My youngest child, due to school, stays with my ex-wife 80% of the time as he stays with me on my weekends off which is only 2weekends out of 5 and stays with me more regularly on school holidays.My eldest child has informed his mother that when he turns 16 he will officially move in with me. My ex-wife earns more money than I do and still demands child maintenance. Do I still have to pay child maintenance or could this be considered shared child care.
T - 9-Jul-18 @ 2:57 PM
@Panda - much of the time it's based on if the other person claiming child benefit is not earning regarding who can claim child maintenance. But you are right, this silly law needs changing and if both parents have shared-care then child benefit should be split and not just paid to one person which makes the whole system bias towards the parent who rushes to claim child benefit first. If you are joint parents, then child benefit should be paid jointly as it also means PR isn't equally distributed between parents. Best of luck!
Ramsey - 18-Jun-18 @ 1:48 PM
My partner has his daughter 50% of the time. The appeal and mandatory consideration were in favour of his ex for the simple reason she gets the child benefit and is named at the Drs and Dentist...thats it. My partner can take his daughter to either of those any time. We are currently waiting for a first tier tribunal date. The 1991 act states that if care is proved to be equal then the case should be closed under the special consideration part of the act. No-one seems to know about this clause including the CMS! Surely if it's equal shared care and one parent is still having to pay this would make them the main parent so they should claim child benefit.
Panda - 17-Jun-18 @ 7:42 AM
Ad - Your Question:
Myself and my child's mother have 50/50 care. We don't just have him over night we also carry out the day to day care. On my days we do the school drop off and pick ups.We also pay for my child's after school clubs, uniform hair cuts ect. I don't understand why she should be claiming foe my child from the government when she can easily work full time and yet I also have to pay her maintainace when my child is with me equal. Surely this isn't right?

Our Response:
The only recourse you have to resolve such issues is via mediation, as there is no cut-and-dry rules or laws. However, if one parent is working and the other not, then the parent who is not working is eligible to receive extra financial help from the parent who is.
ChildSupportLaws - 5-Jun-18 @ 3:26 PM
Myself and my child's mother have 50/50 care. We don't just have him over night we also carry out the day to day care. On my days we do the school drop off and pick ups .We also pay for my child's after school clubs, uniform hair cuts ect. I don't understand why she should be claiming foe my child from the government when she can easily work full time and yet I also have to pay her maintainace when my child is with me equal. Surely this isn't right?
Ad - 5-Jun-18 @ 9:09 AM
Hi. Based on your article it seems like even if there is a court order in place which clearly shows equal shared care ‘lives’ (overnight & daytime) and both parents have been sharing this routine for 3 years that just because one of the parents is in receipt of child benefit that they then become default primary resident parent and will automatically be entitled to child maintenance? Is that your advice? Regards Josh
Joshua72 - 6-May-18 @ 4:54 PM
Hi my partner has been paying child support for past 3 years. He has the children (now aged 15) twice a week or whenever they ask to come. His ex is saying because he doesn’t take them on set days she’s not agreeing he has them to CMS and he doesn’t get a discount for the days he has them! The CMS say they have to take the mother’s word and not his? Can’t they ask the children. She is trying to fleece him for everything and gets away with it. Free legal aid etc. He’s paying half the mortgage as well and now they say he has arrears and due over 2k so his weekly payments will be £119 a week plus £60 mortgage as she refuses to sell the house and he can’t afford a court order to force the sale. He earns just under £300 a week! Any help would be appreciated
ezzmo - 24-Apr-18 @ 4:13 PM
Jayne14 - Your Question:
Hi, im after some advice pls.i want to go through the CSA for my ex to pay support for his 2 children. He says that he would try and pay the minimum he would say that he could have them 3 nights but would arrange for them to stop at his parents if he was wrking. Does the nights have to be set/arranged nights as he wrks shifts and also if he has them overnight he will literally have them frm 8pm n then drop them at mine at 8 in the morning so he has them JUST whilst they sleep? Is there a time scale (eg 24 hrs) for it to comply? Many thanks

Our Response:
There is no time-scale, he would just have to have them overnight, regardless of where they stayed. However, if you wish to decide between you what the best arrangement might be, then making an arrangement via mediation may work.
ChildSupportLaws - 20-Apr-18 @ 12:13 PM
J - Your Question:
Hi I have a 6 year old son, his fathr has had little contact for the first 2 years of his life and then he moved abroad for 2 years with no contact with my son, I then made arrangements for my son to see him which we got back into a relationship for 5 months , I soon learned id made a mistake and split up as my son witnessed domestic abuse. He has had no contact for another 12moths since we split. I am now wanting to move aborad with my new partner to NZ. I put an order into court for permission to leave with my child and now My ex has no put an order in for my son for full custody to try stop me moving to NZ. With him having so little contact with my son so far and any contact he has had has been violent towards me which is on police records. Can the court stop us from moving on with out life NZ is an amazing country for my son to be brought up in ?

Our Response:
It is highly unlikely a court will award your ex residency of your child if he has had only limited contact with his son. A court will not attempt to stop you getting on with your life, which includes moving away. Only if the court sees that you are deliberately moving away to get away from your ex would the court ty to prevent the move. If you are still willing to allow your ex contact with his child, then the court is likely rule in your favour. However, it is always impossible to predict what a court may decide, so you may wish to seek legal advice.
ChildSupportLaws - 12-Apr-18 @ 1:52 PM
hi i have a 6 year old son, his fathr has had little contact for the first 2 years of his life and then he moved abroad for 2 years with no contact with my son, I then made arrangements for my son to see him which we got back into a relationship for 5 months , I soon learned id made a mistake and split up as my son witnessed domestic abuse. He has had no contact for another 12moths since we split. I am now wanting to move aborad with my new partner to NZ. I put an order into court for permission to leave with my child and now My ex has no put an order in for my son for full custody to try stop me moving to NZ. With him having so little contact with my son so far and any contact he has had has been violent towards me which is on police records. Can the court stop us from moving on with out life NZ is an amazing country for my son to be brought up in ?
J - 10-Apr-18 @ 10:46 PM
Sophie - Your Question:
HiI separated from my ex husband 4 years ago and the legallly drawn up separation order agreed 75% custody to me. We divorced a year ago and again 75% was stated in all documentation and again on the clean split order. He applied via CMA to pay minimal child maintenance allowed. For the last few months he has struggled to pay on time and I keep having to wait. He has introduced ten women to my kids in one year and in 4 years has rented 5 different properties and 3 different jobs. Doesn’t wash their clothes can’t get them from school as he doesn’t get home till 7 and leaves at 7.30 in the morning. I have bought my own home, have had the same relationship for 3 years and am now getting married. My children are happy safe and secure and I have opted to work from home for 4 years and continue to do so in order that I can take them to school and pick up. He is now manipulating the kids to try and get them to change to 50% of the time with him and says if they yes he can just do it? Please can you advise what my legal situation is. I am opposed to 50% for the reasons mentioned plus much more. Thank you

Our Response:
Any change to the order would have to be agreed mutually, or if not referred to court. As in all cases, the court’s main concern is the welfare of the children in question. The court will always put the children’s best interests first and this main issue will determine the outcome of any application for an order. Apologies, if this answer is a little vague. However, it is impossible to anticipate how a court will decide. Your ex wont be punished for renting different properties and having different jobs or girlfriends. However, if you can prove that your children are late into school when he drops them off etc, then you can use this evidence to build up your own case - should the matter go to court.
ChildSupportLaws - 10-Apr-18 @ 12:10 PM
Hi I separated from my ex husband 4 years ago and the legallly drawn up separation order agreed 75% custody to me. We divorced a year ago and again 75% was stated in all documentation and again on the clean split order. He applied via CMA to pay minimal child maintenance allowed. For the last few months he has struggled to pay on time and I keep having to wait. He has introduced ten women to my kids in one year and in 4 years has rented 5 different properties and 3 different jobs. Doesn’t wash their clothes can’t get them from school as he doesn’t get home till 7 and leaves at 7.30 in the morning. I have bought my own home,have had the same relationship for 3 years and am now getting married. My children are happy safe and secure and I have opted to work from home for 4 years and continue to do so in order that I can take them to school and pick up. He is now manipulating the kids to try and get them to change to 50% of the time with him and says if they yes he can just do it? Please can you advise what my legal situation is. I am opposed to 50% for the reasons mentioned plus much more. Thank you
Sophie - 9-Apr-18 @ 7:57 PM
Hm - Your Question:
I need some advice. My ex partner is going to start having over night stays with my girl every other friends and sat and also some holidays. However he is going to be staying at a aunt and uncles house and not at his own address. Will this still count towards payments? Thanks

Our Response:
The fact he is having his daughter overnight counts, not where he his having her overnight.
ChildSupportLaws - 9-Apr-18 @ 12:52 PM
Hi, im after some advice pls...i want to go through the CSA for my ex to pay support for his 2 children. He says that he would try and pay the minimum he would say that he could have them 3 nights but would arrange for them to stop at his parents if he was wrking. Does the nights have to be set/arranged nights as he wrks shifts and also if he has them overnight he will literally have them frm 8pm n then drop them at mine at 8 in the morning so he has them JUST whilst they sleep? Is there a time scale (eg 24 hrs) for it to comply? Many thanks
Jayne14 - 7-Apr-18 @ 5:03 PM
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