Head of Family, Children and Divorce
Associate
Chartered Legal Executive
Trainee Chartered Legal Executive
When a couple with children separate, they need to consider financial provision for the children’s maintenance. Usually the parent the children live with for most of the time will receive maintenance for them from the other parent. Parents can agree what maintenance will be paid. If you can’t agree directly, then we can help you try and agree this with your partner. You may choose to use mediation or collaborative law as well to reach an agreement.
If you can’t agree then an application can be made to the Child Maintenance Service (formerly the Child Support Agency) which will make a calculation to decide the amount to be paid.
In some situations the Child Maintenance Service doesn’t have the power to make a calculation. If so, it may be possible to make an application to the court for maintenance for your child. The court also has power to make other financial orders for the benefit of a child, such as additional maintenance where the Child Maintenance Service has made a maximum calculation, or for lump sums or for school fees. We can help you understand whether this applies to you, negotiate with your partner to reach an agreement and if necessary help you with an application to court or with the arbitration process.
Please contact a member of Raworths Family Law team based in Harrogate on 01423 566666 or complete our online enquiry form and one of our specialist family lawyers will contact you.
