Hi,
My 'ex' and I have amicably (so far) agreed to separate.
We have two young children and a house together which we have agreed to sell and it is on the market.
We're now at the planning stage and the ex has opened a CAFCASS planning case which is fine however after letting me know that she immediately started talking about child maintenance and needing to agree it so that she can claim it as income for a mortgage application and clearly stated that was the intention because without it she 'couldn't afford what she wanted'. I haven't agreed to any child maintenance costs as of yet and said that it would only be applicable when we have actually separated and living apart.
She 'conveniently' printed out some Child Maintenance forms with some expected amounts on it.
In the CAFCASS planning tool she has deemed that the children will be mostly living with her and she has set out the rudimentary plan we had of how we were going to split the children's time but has leaned it toward her favour (3 nights with me) and not what I always stipulated of 50/50 time (3 nights one week, 4 nights the other). Being cynical of her greedy nature this is her play at trying to get more out of someone.
What advice does anyone have to help bolster my case for 50/50 split? I will use the planning tool to make my recommendations stating the children should spend equal time with parents throughout the entire year (with flexibility where appropriate during holiday periods, sickness, etc). I'm guessing if she doesn't agree to this then take it forward with MIAM.
Thanks for any help.
Hi, for 50/50 child arrangements I suggest you look up the child welfare checklist then explain how you can meet the needs of the children according to that checklist.
