child maintenance

Well there are no surprises in my life. Just had court, stbx was taking me to court for shared residence (which I said all along was for monetary reasons) I have now been proven right.
Residency hearing I agreed with everything he asked for, it then became a contact order hearing as opposed to residence. The contact hasn't really altered in what happens now, other than the children stay 2 extra nights at his.
He has them every other weekend fri and take to school Monday. Then they stay alternate thur or mon nights. He has half of all holidays.

This order was granted earlier in the week. I then get an e.mail, saying he is going to reduce my money by 100.00 per month, for three children because of all the extra expense he has!!!!!!!!

And yet other than two extra meals, I feed and cloth them, supply all their extra clothing and pay all the fees for their clubs (which is a lot), pay for all their school trips, parties etc.

Please can someone help on what he should be paying. We haven't gone through csa yet, but he says that is what he is basing his money on. But he is totally falsifying his wages!!!!!!! I work part time, and hope to increase my hours once qualified. However my potential earning will still not be great. and cannot manage or will be able to afford, this dramatic cut. I have 3 children and what he is paying doesn't even cover their food bill


AAAARRRGGGHHH


Survive
x

CSA guidlines is 25% of weekly income reduced by 1/7 for each overnight stay during the week:)

I have mine done through the CSA even tho he pays none during to being on benefits.

As i read ur post, i am under the impression u supply the clothes when they are at his. Is that right?

x

yes, I supply the clothe, do the washing (bar their uniform) pay for all their clubs and activities and supply all the stuff they need for it, pay for achool trips etc etc

Hi

Just wondering if u know u dont have to supply the clothes for his house, all u are required to supply is an outfit for them to go in and return in.

I know this as the judge at my first contact hearing told my STBX he was to supply eveything required for them when they are in his care and it was unacceptable that he was expecting me to provide everything.

I do pay for all uniforms, school trips, haircuts, shoes etc (with him always saying he will pay half but it never appears.

Lilacroses:)

Sorry Survive

If he is having the children more nights he can reduce the CM payments.

The reductions are for his costs when he has the children and CM is to cover his share of any extra costs incurred by the children when they are with you.

Survive
He now has shared care so he can share the costs. You need to get tough. Send the children in their clothes and nothing else. If he queries it in front of them, tell him to call you and wave the children off with a cheery smile. When he calls, be firm. He wanted them half the time, he can have them half the time but he needs to accept the full responsibility that goes with that.

How does your part-time income, plus tax credits and maintenance compare with his earnings? Are you roughly equal? If you are still considerably less (this is what happened to me), then you seriously have to gt tough on the clothing front, toys and school costs front.

and then you have to watch out for the 'clothing retention' game where you send them in things which are seasonally appropriate and fit correctly and get back sandals and short sleeve t-shirts in winter....!

Avoid the CSA if he's self employed. That he pays something is better than nothing - which is what is likely to happen if you get them involved!

LOL pip. If I had a pound for every time I'd been told it was me punishing the kids, I wouldn't need child maintenance!

they're sooooo predictable, aren't they?!