How to make a one off payment

You mentioned that your ex has dental insurance for your daughter - maybe this is worth looking into aswell. Just be warned that the dentist may not reveal information without your daughter being with you but I''m sure certain questions in general can be answered. Even if it''s a general cost of braces and if they can be obtained free for children. Maybe your ex is trying to pull a fast one and wants a bit of extra cash for something else (or maybe not you know her best) . If the cost is whatit is maybe its worth coming to some arrangement for a part payment through the dentist direct? But don''t leave yourself short. I think you need to look into this yourself do some investigative work before agreeing to anything. Good Luck.

Having just been through this I know the criteria for free braces has changed. It will only be free if child has an over bit. Teeth that are crowded or crooked won''t qualify because its considered cosmetic.

If your ex has denplan, braces are not included. (not sure about other provider)

It might be worth asking for a second opinion. The first orthondist my daughter saw said her teeth needed cosmetic treatment so we would have to pay whereas the second said she had enough of an over bit for it to be done on NHS. Although we had to wait nearly a year for funding.

The main thing to remember though is that you can''t afford it.

Your ex will never be happy with what you contribute. I know I''ve been there. Many a time I suggested private arrangements etc but she insisted on CSA and was always scathing that the voluntary extras were not enough. In the end I had to give her a choice, she chose CSA and got exactly that amount.

At some stage in her life too your daughter will have to learn that there is only so much money available and we can''t all have everything we want in life.

Yes you''re right.

After my ex engineered the situation last year where I didn''t see my daughter for 3 months she went straight to the CSA hoping for yet another payout.
Fortunately the arrears were very small due to her coming back to our original routine.

The bigger upset was not seeing her and also realising how easily her mother can snap her fingers and make her do whatever she wants.
I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place; wanting my daughter in our lives and not wanting to be bled dry time and time again by a spiteful ex.

that is shocking and I am facing the same type of treatment coming up with my 3 kids. Where does one go for support on these types of issues - the stress caused by all this destroys motivation and work productivity which at the end of the day is a risk to income which of course risks the money available to the children.

its ongoing, has been for 6 years now with still no signs of letting up.
As for support.....I have an amazing wife and great friends and family who allow me a shoulder to lean on through all this.

(The danger there is that you find yourself constantly going on about your situation without even knowing you are doing it.

A once good friend of mine took the decision to cool our friendship because he was "fed up with listening to me feel sorry for myself". As a childless man I thought at the time he just didn''t appreciate my situation, I now look back and realise he was spot on.)

As for professional help....no idea. As a father without ''care'' all I have ever met is bigotry from so called professionals who just take mum''s word for everything.

Good luck.