What is child maintenance based on?

On the basic rate, if you're paying for: one child, you'll pay 12% of your gross weekly income. two children, you'll pay 16% of your gross weekly income. three or more children, you'll pay 19% of your gross weekly income.

How is child maintenance calculated UK?

If a paying parent has to pay child maintenance for one child, they must pay 12 percent of their gross weekly income. If a paying parent has to pay child maintenance for two children, they must pay 16 percent of their gross weekly income.

Do you have to pay child maintenance if you have 50/50 Custody UK?

The law changed recently so that if there is 50:50 shared care the non-resident parent does not pay any child maintenance anymore if they can prove that they are doing an equal amount of the everyday care of the children.

How much should a father pay for child maintenance in Ireland?

The maximum that the District Court can order from either parent is €150 per week for each child. There is no limit in the Circuit/High Courts. A parent can also seek a once-off lump sum up to a maximum of €15,000 through the District Court.

Can a father refuse to pay maintenance?

A parent may not withhold payment of maintenance if he or she is not allowed by the other parent to exercise his/her right of access to a child. The flip side of the coin is that a parent may not refuse the other parent access to a child when the latter does not contribute towards the maintenance of that child.

Child Maintenance explained

Do fathers legally have to pay child maintenance?

Arranging child maintenance

When possible, you should make sure your child is looked after by having an effective maintenance arrangement in place. Both parents are legally responsible for the financial costs of bringing up their children, even parents who don't live with their children.

How much maintenance must a father pay?

12% of your gross weekly income for one child. 16% of your gross weekly income for two children. 19% of your gross weekly income for three or more children.

What is the formula for calculating child maintenance?

On the basic rate, if you're paying for: one child, you'll pay 12% of your gross weekly income. two children, you'll pay 16% of your gross weekly income. three or more children, you'll pay 19% of your gross weekly income.

What expenses are included in child maintenance?

Child Maintenance

A child is entitled to reasonable maintenance to provide for clothing, housing, dental and medical care, education and training, and, entertainment as well as other necessities of life in line with their social position, lifestyle and financial ability of both parents.

Do I have to pay child maintenance if my ex remarries?

Whether or not you have remarried, or your ex-partner has remarried, does not affect the obligation to continue paying child maintenance.

Do you pay child maintenance if your ex is cohabiting?

The obligation to pay child maintenance continues regardless of your ex's circumstances. If, however, your circumstances change e.g. you lose your job or you have another child, then it may be possible for the level of child maintenance to be re-assessed by the Child Maintenance Service.

How many overnight stays affect child maintenance?

Child maintenance payments

If shared care happens for an average of one night a week or more (at least 52 nights a year), this can affect the amount of child maintenance. The more nights that the child stays overnight with the paying parent the less child maintenance is due.

Is child maintenance based on household income?

The CMS calculates child maintenance according to what the law says a parent should pay. It uses the paying parent's gross income to work out the payment. This can include wages, income from a pension and other taxable income.

Is child maintenance based on last years earnings?

How CMS works out earnings from self-employment. If possible, CMS will work out your average weekly earnings from the most recent tax year. If they can't because you have only recently started self-employed work, they will use figures from the gross income your business has earned.

What is included in child maintenance UK?

What Does Child Maintenance Cover? Child maintenance covers the cost of the everyday care of the child, such as food, clothes, and housing. Expenses such as school fees do not fall under child maintenance – parents who are getting a divorce can make a “Family Based Arrangement” to deal with costs like this.

How accurate is the child maintenance calculator?

Hi the calculator is fairly accurate. The CMS don't take your living expenses into account, there are rare occasions for varying the amount but that's for things like if you have to spend a lot on travelling to see your child for example.

Does my ex have to pay half the mortgage and child support UK?

The simple answer is, that even if you no longer live in the house and you're getting a divorce, you still need to pay the mortgage.

Can child maintenance be reduced?

If payments are reduced or stopped (unless agreed between you), you will be in breach of the court order. If you genuinely can't meet payments because your income has fallen, you can ask the court to reduce the amount of child maintenance you need to pay.

Does child maintenance cover school clothes in the UK?

What costs does child maintenance cover? Child maintenance payments are designed to cover the everyday needs of the child such as food, clothing and housing. School fees are not usually covered under child maintenance, but a family-based arrangement can be created to cover this.

Can a woman stop a father from seeing his child?

Your partner cannot legally stop you from having access to your child unless continued access will be of detriment to your child's welfare. Until a court order is arranged, one parent may attempt to prevent a relationship with the other. If this happens, your main priority should be the welfare of your child.

How many nights a year is shared care?

We only need to know if the change affects the 'shared care band' used to work out the reduction in child maintenance. This means that if the number of nights of shared care a year changes from 140 to 150 we would not need to know.

Can child maintenance be backdated?

All in all, child maintenance can be backdated for a long period, but there's no definitive answer as to how long. Essentially, it depends on the individual case and circumstances, and it might mean going to court to resolve the situation.

Why do fathers have to pay child support?

You have a financial obligation to provide for your child. If the relationship with the mother has broken down you are still required by law to contribute towards the child's well-being and upbringing. If you have parental responsibility for a child, you need to ensure that you can: Provide a home for your child.

What does the law say about child maintenance?

What is maintenance, and who has the duty to pay maintenance? The law, specifically the Children's Act 38 of 2005, states that parents, whether in a relationship or not, must make necessary financial contributions to the care, upbringing and development of their children.