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I have paid between 40 - 60 per cent of net income for the lat 10 years whilst the kids have lived with their mother. During those 10 years the children's mother has become a multi-millionaire in her own right, married a multi-millionaire and has retired and therefore has limited "disclosed income". She has kicked the kids out (teenagers 15 and 17 and in private school) and has refused to pay me anything. I have had to move house (massive increase in outgoings as I moved to be near the kid's schools to keep the amount of change to a minimum) and pay the school fees whilst trying to keep down my (well paid PAYE) job. However, their mother is playing dirty - injunctions/false claims of defamation/trying to destroy my career. The kids don't want to see or contact their mother and I don't want to do anything to stir up the hornet's nest but I can't afford a long drawn out legal battle. What is the quickest/cheapest way to start the court process (preferable without instructing a lawyer) to obtain a contribution towards our living expenses and school fees?
Thank you in advance.
Have you approached the CSA regarding this? If the children are living with you, then let them do the work for you.
Hello Domino66
Thanks for your post. I'm William, the Child Maintenance Options Consultant. The only way to make an agreement legally binding is to do so via a Consent Order, which is an official ruling made by a court. This may incur legal costs and court fees, and either party could apply to the Child Support Agency (CSA) to take over the child maintenance after it's been in force for 12 months.
Alternatively, you can contact the CSA directly to make an application for child maintenance. You can find the right number here: https://www2.dwp.gov.uk/csa/v2/en/contact/index.asp.
If you need some more information about where you stand legally, it might be worth contacting Community Legal Advice. Their helpline number is 0845 345 4345.
For more information about Child Maintenance and access to useful tools and forms online you can visit http://www.cmoptions.org, or if you'd prefer a confidential chat you could call the Child Maintenance Options team on 0800 988 0988 (free from a landline).
There is also a new 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
William
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