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My Lads stay with me every Wednesday and every other weekend Fri-Sun
Works out 104 nights per year minimum, I then have them for some time in holidays.
Thats takes me over the 104 nights per year, Trying to work out how much to pay my ex but she wants to=
Hi,
Suggest you use CMS calculator:
https://www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance
Fri-sun every other weekend and every Wednesday night would be classed as 2 nights a week by CMS (8 nights a month)
@nathanshaun. @Bill337 always provides helpful guidance.
To add to @Bill337's feedback, the CMS make recalculations based on a period of activity. Although the CMS haven't published what the said period is, a period of 2-3 months would be deemed sufficient to make a legitimate change request (based on overnight contact time). You can make a change request online via the CMS parent portal (as long as you know your 12-digit PIN and you have been provided with your seven-digit passcode).
So, if you are in Band A (52-103), but have had consistent overnight contact for c. 9 - 12 weeks (I recommend at least two full calendar months) in Band B (104 - 155) then it's well-worth making an application. Try and get as much in writing as possible from your ex - especially around holiday periods - most notably Christmas and summer.
To help your case, write the dates on a calendar (for reference and evidence) to show when overnight contact has taken place. If you take your son or daughter to school, you could even ask the school (if you ex isn't willing to be fair / transparent) if they can arrange for you to sign-in each day (on a separate sheet of paper), which the head teacher, deputy head, registrar, etc., can sign as being a true an accurate account of your visits to the premises over a set period. It stands to reason that, if you're claiming to have your son or daughter overnight, and can back-up some of the midweek dates with register entries, that you're telling the truth. The important thing here is transparency with the school and CMS (if your ex is playing games / not telling the truth).
Just be aware that a change request can take (on current CMS performance, as of April 2023) between 8-12 weeks to review / make a decision.
I hope this is of help.
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