Hello CB51
All parents do have the responsibility to provide
child maintenance for their children. It is widely recognised that when both parents take an active financial role in the child's life, it can have a positive impact on the well being of the child.
Child maintenance is calculated using the gross income of the paying parent minus any pension contributions that they make. You can find an Online Calculator on the Child Maintenance Options website at
www.cmoptions.org. This is available to calculate an amount of maintenance that the Government consider to be a reasonable payment. This figure is only an estimate, however, you may find this a good starting point to renegotiate your family-based arrangement.
The calculator follows the guidelines of the Government's statutory scheme. This would be the estimated amount you would be legally required to pay should, an application be made with the Child Maintenance Service.
When parents have a family-based arrangement in place, they do not have any strict rules to follow. It is up to both parents to come to an agreement about who provides what for the child, or children.
Many parents do now choose to sort out their maintenance between themselves as it can be the quickest and easiest way of setting up a maintenance agreement. Although family-based arrangements are not legally binding, they are very flexible and can be easily changed. If you believe that the amount you are currently paying does not accurately reflect your income, your agreement can be adapted to incorporate changes without too much disruption to your regular payments.
Child Maintenance Options is an organisation designed to provide information to parents about their different options for setting up a new child maintenance arrangement. They can also help parents maintain an existing family-based arrangement.
Parents do suggest that when they make a family-based arrangement it does tend to last longer as it is just an agreement made between the two of them. Continuing to collaborate together may also be better for your children.
On their website, along with their Online Calculator, you can find various tools and guides that can help you negotiate your agreement with the receiving parent. These should help you both come to an agreement that you are both happy with.
Their Talking About Money Guide and Discussion Guide are full of information about how you can plan your conversation with the receiving parent, and how to negotiate your agreement.
They also point out the financial costs involved in raising a child and can give you both new ideas about what can be included in your agreement.
You can record your agreement on their Family-based Arrangement Form. Although it is not a legally binding document it can put your agreement on a more formal basis. You can also agree a renewal date for your agreement in case you would like to change your agreement again in the future.
All the information about your options can be found on the Child Maintenance Options website.
For more information, and for a more personalised service, you may wish to visit the Child Maintenance Options website yourself.
The DWP have a sorting out separation website that you may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is:
www.sortingoutseparation.org.uk/
Regards
William
