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Hi Folks,
I am new on here as I have recently been jumping from website to website whenever I have had an issue that I had to deal with interms of My ex and I relationship.
Preferably I would just ignore it or just agree to what ever was asked to have an easy life,
However, I have been taking alot of steps in improving my life and taking charge in all areas of my life.
So i have my daughter on a 50/50 share with my ex ( 7/14 nights every fortnight) and have been paying her by private agreement £200 a month since we split up in 2012 . Only until last week did i find out that as I have equal day to day care I am not legally obliged to pay anything for child support.
If i could afford to give her this money I would but I am limiting myself and what i can do with my daughter due to this outgoing .
I was wondering if anyone can give me some advise on how I can approach this subject so i limit the backlash or should I just be blunt and tell her whats happening?
Much Obliged
C
Hi there
As you have a private arrangement to pay maintenance, you do have the option to try and re negotiate the terms. I would gather some information and then present that to her when opening a discussion about it and try and keep it amicable if possible.
Under the new CMS scheme, I believe it's the case that if care is equally shared neither parent is liable, but sometimes getting them to accept that is an uphill struggle, especially if the other parent, usually the mother, states that they have them more and is receiving the child benefit for the child, as the two are linked.
It has also be known for the mother to reduce contact to increase the amount of maintenance she receives, although I'm not saying your ex would do this.
If you stop payment she could open a case with the CMS too, I'd give them a call and ask for some advice on your situation, if they confirm that you are not liable, make sure you ask them to put that in writing to you so that you have some proof.
Either parent can open a claim with the CMS, so you also have the option to do that.
Best of luck
Hello Airms80
As you have a family-based arrangement in place, there are no set rules to follow. You can renegotiate your agreement with your ex. There are lots of tools and guides on the Child Maintenance Options website, http://www.cmoptions.org, which are designed to help parents to renegotiate their agreements
If a statutory arrangement was in place, the Child Maintenance Service may decide that you do not have to pay maintenance based on you having 50/50 care of your daughter. This is because they would not be able to ascertain a paying or receiving parent.
You can read detailed information about how the Child Maintenance Service work out their payments here, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325219/how-we-work-out-child-maintenance.pdf
If you would like any further information or to receive a more personalised service, you can contact Child Maintenance Options directly.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have a web application, ‘Sorting out separation’. It aims to make it much easier for separating and separated parents (and childless couples) to find the support they need, when and where they need it, and encourages them to collaborate on a range of issues. The link is http://www.dad.info/divorce-and-separation/sorting-out-separation
Regards
William
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