[Solved] When do i stop paying child Maintanance

Hi there and welcome.

It was my understanding that you paid up until the child left full time education.

I will ask our child maintenance advisors to confirm this for you though.

Darren

Thanks Darren

After paying just over 18k in the last 5 years i think shes had enough from me

Hi Dave, I'm Sarah, a consultant at Child Maintenance Options.

The answer to your question depends on whether you have a CSA case, a family-based (private) arrangement or a court-ordered arrangement.

Under CSA rules, the payment of child maintenance is a legal requirement until the child reaches 16 years of age. After 16, child maintenance is payable up to 19 years of age only where the child in question remains in full time, non-advanced education.

From what you've said, your son will not be in full time non-advanced education. So, if you have a CSA case, the legal requirement to pay maintenance will end. If a court order is in place, the requirements may be different. And finally, if you have a family-based arrangement, there are no set rules around how long you have to pay child maintenance for - it depends what you have agreed with your child's other parent.

Hi,
I am currently paying maintenance to my ex-wife.I have never missed a payment but she told the CSA i hadn't paid so was told i had pay the arrears.Eventhough i sent copies of receips she had signed and copies of bank ststements that showed the payments.They still took her word over mine and they have had an extra £300 plus off me.
My wife and i are entitiled to Working/Child tax credits as we have a daughter but we have be told by the CSA that we have to pay the full amount to my ex-wife.
I can't understand how the government can give us some money through tax credits but then take that and more off us through maintenance.
Please advise

Regards

It is crazy isn't it?

Surely you can appeal to the CSA as you have proof of payments?

Hi Sarah
We have a private case which we both aggreed to and i also went threw the courts and got a "clean break".
I have spoken to her and reminded her that when we first split up i helped her out for 3 months with both maintance and paying the morgage plus utilaty bills , but that doesnt seem to matter .
What i dont wont to happen is for her to be takeing legal action agenst me and for her to stop slagging me off to my kids saying im a bad dad for not wanting to pay her for there upkeep.

Thanks Dave

Hi Dave

Thanks for your post. It seems that you’ve already been very proactive in looking after your kids by creating a family-based arrangement (private case). The fact that you have also got your divorce agreed via the courts is also helpful. A family-based arrangement is useful in that both parents can agree what is involved in the child maintenance arrangement but it is flexible enough that both parents can adapt to changing circumstances and make a new arrangement if necessary. It is easy to set-up and only involves both parents.

If you had your family-based arrangement confirmed in your court divorce proceedings, then your ex would need to prove that you have not kept to the arrangement. If you have kept records of any payments (statements etc), then this should be sufficient to prove otherwise.

In the first instance, try and speak to your ex and attempt to come to an understanding. If appropriate, agree a revised family-based arrangement. The Child Maintenance Options website has a great deal of useful information on family-based-arrangement, which may help. Alternatively, ring Child Maintenance Options on 0800 988 0988 to discuss your options in more detail.