child support

Hi, my ex-wife and I settled on a Clean Break ....in court and the kids live with her... do I still need to pay maintenance/child support etc to her or can pay it into saving account for the kids future..i don't actually trust she will use the money wisely..

Hiya and welcome to wiki!

Unless its been agreed between you or in the Court Order to put the money elsewhere, yes, the CM needs to be paid directly to her.

I don't understand what you mean by 'spend wisely' - as the money is your contribution to housing, feeding, clothing and generally looking after the kids.

WR

Clean breaks don't include child support. You have to continue to pay the child support to her. As WhiteRose says, it's a contribution to meeting the children's needs.

Best wishes,
Sadie

Unfortunately you don't get any say in how CM is spent.

It has to be paid to the parent with care and if they want to spend it on booze, fags, shoes etc there is very little you can do.

If you have concerns maybe your ex would agree to you buying clothes, uniform Etc in lieu of money?

Thanks very much for the fee back..its very helpful..it just seems unfair to give her the money when the main the ground for divorce was "irresponsible/wasteful spending"..i will try your suggestion!

frankly, I find it an insulting suggestion that in lieu of maintenance, a PWC should accept the purchase of school clothing, shoes etc. Not everyone manages money very well, granted, but it's not helping build skills in that area by treating the PWC as if they too is a child. If she has dreadful budgeting skills, your best line of action is to stick with the maintenance and refuse to help out if she finds herself short. Only way she'll learn.

mumtoboys wrote:

frankly, I find it an insulting suggestion that in lieu of maintenance, a PWC should accept the purchase of school clothing, shoes etc. Not everyone manages money very well, granted, but it's not helping build skills in that area by treating the PWC as if they too is a child. If she has dreadful budgeting skills, your best line of action is to stick with the maintenance and refuse to help out if she finds herself short. Only way she'll learn.

I did say in lieu of money not in lieu of maintenance.

Many parents do agree to split all costs rather than one hand over a set amount of money to the other. It works for some people not others. Some do a mixture of both.

If the ex has dreadful budgeting skills and you hand over a set amount of cash and refuse to help out if they are short will they learn? Who will miss out most the PWC, the NRP or the children for whom the maintenance was paid?