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I've been divorced 3 years and separated 5. My children have decided to reside on a full time basis with us both, that is to say my 16 year old stays with me on a full time basis and my younger son aged 14 stays with his mother and her fiance on a full time basis, I may see the younger son twice a year and briefly. Financially things have changed recently for me and although I originally decided to pay my ex wife Β£250 per month to keep the peace, the payment is now hurting. My eldest son wants to go to college and uni and I need to save towards this. My question is, can I stop paying the voluntary Β£250 monthly? We have shared responsibilities with our children, if anything she is now in a much stronger position with her and boyfriend in full time work.
Hi there
As you have a private arrangement for Child Maintenance it's up to you both to discuss how to move forward. As you both have responsibility for one child each, it would make sense for neither of you to pay the other as its a level playing field.
If she refuses to accept a new arrangement, you could apply to the CMS for her to pay maintenance for the son that lives with you, but then she would probably do the same.
When the CMS calculate maintenance it is worked out as a percentage of gross income, if she earned more than you she would have to pay more and vice versa.
Here's a link to the CMS calculator , it might help if you have an idea of what you would be expected to pay if you both went down this route and if you know what her salary is you could get an idea what she might be asked to pay.
www.gov.uk/calculate-your-child-maintenance.
If she realises that you are also entitled to maintenance from her, it may give you a stronger bargaining position.
Good luck
Hello NBG
With you having a family-based arrangement in place you may wish to discuss with the other parent your maintenance payments. Although family-based arrangements are not legally enforceable, parents can decide the terms of their agreement to suit their current circumstances, as there are no strict rules or formulas to follow. It can include money and other kinds of support, for example providing school uniforms and clothes.
The Child Maintenance Options website has a useful tools and guides section that you and the other parent may find helpful when trying to negotiate your family-based arrangement. This can be found at http://www.cmoptions.org.
For more information on all the different ways to set up child maintenance and for a more personalised service, you can visit the Child Maintenance Options website.
The DWP have a sorting out separation web-app that you may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is: www.dad.info/divorce-and-separation/sorting-out-separation.
Regards
William
Hello NBG
With you having a family-based arrangement in place you may wish to discuss with the other parent your maintenance payments. Although family-based arrangements are not legally enforceable, parents can decide the terms of their agreement to suit their current circumstances, as there are no strict rules or formulas to follow. It can include money and other kinds of support, for example providing school uniforms and clothes.
The Child Maintenance Options website has a useful tools and guides section that you and the other parent may find helpful when trying to negotiate your family-based arrangement. This can be found at http://www.cmoptions.org.
For more information on all the different ways to set up child maintenance and for a more personalised service, you can visit the Child Maintenance Options website.
The DWP have a sorting out separation web-app that you may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is: www.dad.info/divorce-and-separation/sorting-out-separation.
Regards
William
Ill take that as a yes
Ill take that as a yes
π I noticed that too. lol
To be fair to William as the CM Options expert, it is good that each CMS thread has a CMOptions post as
1. people searching from outside Dad.info often just find one thread via google (then go away again)
2. it means contributors to CMS posts have to write less π knowing CMOptions will pop along with the "legal/preamble/disclaimer bits" :side:
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