When in the UK, both the parents are responsible for the financial living of their child or children, even when one of them no longer lives together with their family. It’s quite crucial to understand child maintenance for anyone who is going through divorce or separation. Child maintenance payments ensure that both parents have peace of mind by providing the child’s financial needs.
What is Child Maintenance?
Child maintenance is also referred to as child support, which is an agreement between the parents to meet the financial needs of their children. The parent who is a non-resident typically pays it to the parent who is living with the children and taking care of them on a day-to-day basis. However, child maintenance is for children under 16 or 20 if they are getting education up to A level.
Calculating child support payments can be a complex and time-consuming process, especially during a divorce. A child maintenance solicitor can best support and give child maintenance advice for fathers and mothers, in the entire process.
Child Maintenance Calculation
Child maintenance calculations or payments are typically based on the income of the parent who does not reside with the child. Moreover, the payments also depend on the number of children they are providing to.
The child maintenance service or CMS utilizes a formula to calculate the amount that should be paid. Through this formula everyone involved is dealt with fairness and consistency. In this method you can include extra costs, like travel expenses for visiting the child. You can also apply for ‘special expenses variation’ for the cost of keeping regular contact with the child. Child maintenance amount can change if the parent’s income changes significantly. It’s best to seek legal advice from a child maintenance solicitor if you meet any changes in the circumstances.
Family-based Agreement
In this agreement parents can come between themselves without the need to involve the CMS. This agreement can provide more flexibility and may cost less than the whole CMS process. However, as they are not legally binding, there is less protection and there is a strong need for parents to be on good terms in order to agree. In this method there is a high need for cooperation and trust between the parents, but a child maintenance solicitor can give out the best advice according to your needs and circumstances.
Why is Child Maintenance Important?
The well-being of the child:
After divorce or separation, it is important that the child’s needs are met, and child maintenance payments ensure that even after the separation, the child is safe and secure, physically, emotionally and psychologically.
Basic Needs:
Through financial stability, child maintenance payments ensure that the children have access to clothing, shelter, food, education and other necessities.
Family Stability:
The child maintenance process contributes to the overall well-being and stability of the child and the family, mainly when they are going through the tough period of divorce or separation.
Legal obligations:
No matter if the parents are living with the child or not, they are legally responsible for the financial costs of raising their children, under all circumstances.
When does child maintenance stop?
Child maintenance stops when the child reaches 16 or 20 if they are getting full-time education or training.
However, this is not a hard and fast rule, as there can be exceptions based on specific circumstances. Some children with special needs are recognized by the law for financial support as adults. In other cases, if the child has some sort of disability, payments may continue even after the age of 20. When there are expenses involved, such as carers or an adapted home, the court can make a top-up order or a freestanding with these costs.
How can a Child Maintenance Solicitor Help You?
Farani Taylor Solicitors has one of the best child maintenance solicitors, who can help you with child maintenance services and child maintenance payments. We can also help you in determining which expenses to include and what are your legal rights in the process. Additionally, our team will help you in modifying existing agreements and overcoming any issues that may arise in the payments process.
Call us now to make an appointment or email us at info@faranitaylor.com.