What does child maintenance pay for?

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.

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.

What is child maintenance used for UK?

Child maintenance covers how your child's living costs will be paid when one of the parents does not live with the child. It's made when you've separated from the other parent or if you've never been in a relationship. This is a financial arrangement between you and the other parent of your child.

What does the child maintenance service do?

Child maintenance is money to help pay for your child's living costs. It's paid by the parent who doesn't usually live with the child to the person who has most day-to-day care of the child. It's also called 'child support'. A child means someone who's under 16, or under 20 if they're in approved education or training.

Do I have to pay child maintenance if it's 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 child maintenance should a father pay?/ Family Law Solicitors Mallow Cork/ Vicki Buckley

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.

Does child maintenance include clubs?

Unfortunately, the answer is usually “no”. If the non-resident parent is paying child maintenance in accordance with the relevant child maintenance guidelines, there is no obligation on them to provide additional financial support to cover the cost of clubs and other activities.

Does child maintenance cover school dinners?

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.

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.

How much should a father pay child maintenance?

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.

Can I pay child maintenance direct to my child?

If parents reach an agreement over child support, and there is no Child Maintenance Service or court involvement, then it is possible to agree to pay the child maintenance direct to the child.

Can I pay child maintenance direct to my child when they are 18?

There is a common misconception that a parent can only claim child maintenance up until a child is 18 years old. However, there are two ways in which a parent can claim maintenance payments for a child over 18 years old, either via the court (seeking a court order for periodical payments) or via the CMS.

Does child maintenance include holidays?

Generally speaking the obligation to pay maintenance is not suspended whilst you have the children for holiday periods and certainly where maintenance is paid pursuant to a Court Order or an assessment by the CSA.

Does child maintenance include bonuses UK?

Gross income includes any bonus, commission or overtime payments. It also includes receipts from any pension scheme, tax credits, employment credits and disabled person's tax credits. Gross income excludes investment income, State Benefits, student grants and loans.

What is the average child maintenance payment in UK?

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 do CSA payments include?

Maintenance payments are intended to be used in the best interest of the child and to cover the child's expenses. This may include shelter, food, clothing, childcare costs and any educational needs.

What age does CSA stop?

The parent paying CSA / CMS will usually be expected to continue to pay CSA / CMS until the child reaches 16 years old (CSA / CMS stops on 31 August after/on their 16th birthday), or 20 years old if they are in approved education or training.

What age does child maintenance stop?

If there is no maintenance order in place, when a child turns eighteen, he or she will have to apply for maintenance from his or her parents. As the child is an adult, his or her parents cannot approach the Maintenance Court on his or her behalf.

Do you pay maintenance with joint custody UK?

the vast majority of parents assume that the parent who earns more than the other will pay child maintenance. That's not right as under complicated child maintenance law rules if both parents equally share the care of their children neither parent will pay child maintenance to the other parent.

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.

Do I have to pay child maintenance if I lose my job UK?

If you have lost your job or seen your income reduced

Only a court can vary a maintenance order and so if you do reach a new agreement with your ex-partner you should then apply to the court to have it endorsed, otherwise the original order will keep running and could lead to difficulties over arrears.

Does paying child maintenance affect getting a mortgage UK?

Answer: Child support payments do not directly impact your ability to get a mortgage; instead, it all depends on whether your income qualifies you for one, our experts say.

Can my ex wife claim maintenance from my new wife?

Can My Ex Husband or Wife Claim Money After Divorce? Generally, a former spouse is entitled to claim against your money or assets at any point up until they re-marry unless a financial consent order has been approved by the court.

Do I have to pay maintenance for my ex wife?

Although no one is automatically entitled to spousal maintenance, there is a common-law duty imposed upon all spouses to support one another during and after any marriage or civil partnership. Who, if anyone, has to pay spousal maintenance will depend on each individual couple's financial situation.