Child Maintenance Advice

child maintenance

Divorce or separation can be overwhelming or exhausting, there is a lot to think about.

One of the most important things to consider (now that you no longer have shared financial commitments) is how your child’s day to day living costs will be met.

The government expects parents to continue their financial obligations to their children after divorce or separation.

They will set regular weekly payment amounts through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), if you are not able to agree.

The Child Maintenance Service is a statutory body that has far-reaching powers. They can seize assets, or apply attachment of earnings orders through your employer and HM Revenue and Customs, if child maintenance is not paid.

There are also fees and charges that apply to using the CMS.

Child Maintenance Advice

Raising children is not cheap and most parents recognise that their children’s needs are their highest priority.

But it can be difficult to negotiate the details.

Family mediation can help you negotiate and agree the contributions you each need to make to help your children thrive.

How Much Child Maintenance Should I Pay?

This depends on a range of factors, including the income of both parents, new family obligations and any assets or debts you have.

Child Maintenance Calculator

The gov.uk website provides a child maintenance calculator so you can work out how much child maintenance your child will need.

If you go to court, the court will make a decision about the amount of maintenance to be paid based on your earnings and financial circumstances.

There is an expectation that children also benefit from a family’s wealth, earning potential and anticipated lifestyle even though the parents have now separated.

However, you can make your own arrangements.

In our experience, parents who make their own arrangements in mediation cope with the challenges they might face with their own changing circumstances.

For instance job loss, redundancy, relocation or additional travel costs.

How Can Family Mediation Help Decide Child Maintenance Payments?

You can make arrangements for child maintenance payments as part of your mediation session.

Experience shows that agreements reached in mediation are more likely to work, as the decisions have been reached by agreement.

By using mediation to settle child maintenance you can avoid the costs and losses of using the statutory service. Your agreement should be accepted as a voluntary arrangement.

Read the Money Advice Service’s guide on how to arrange child maintenance here.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can read answers to the financial questions our mediators are often asked here.

Contact Us Today for Child Maintenance Advice

To arrange your child maintenance agreements through family mediation call us 0300 4000 636.

Alternatively you can email us, or book an appointment online.