Married parents can address most of the children’s financial support as part of the divorce process.

Unmarried parents will have to address child maintenance through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).  The CMS determines how much child maintenance a non-resident parent will pay to support his or her child or children. This can then be supported by applications through Schedule 1 of the Children Act which caters for the financial support of children over and above the CMS calculation. This can include:-

• Lump sums

• A home for the child to live in until they reach 18 or finish education

• School fees

• Money for a car, furniture, etc to look after the children

• Extra maintenance where the paying parent earns more than the threshold amount (also known as ‘top up’ maintenance).

MBS Family Law can advise on all aspects of financial support and support parents in obtaining this, whether through negotiations or Court.