What You Should Know about Child Maintenance in Divorce Cases

As a parent who’s going through a divorce, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed about the responsibility of raising your child alone.

However, while you might have to handle the weight of supporting your child emotionally by yourself, you can still get financial support from your ex-partner, by adding a clause on child maintenance.

What is Child Maintenance?

An estimated price that one parent has to pay another for childcare, child maintenance is calculated with a family-based arrangement or a court-ordered arrangement. Individuals can also use the Child Maintenance Service that’s issued by the UK government, if they cannot come to an agreement.

How is Child Maintenance Estimated?

Several factors are taken into account when estimating the right amount for child maintenance.

From the paying parent’s point of view, you have to take your earnings into account, and whether you’re expected to pay a specific percentage.

In cases where you may not be able to pay, the case goes to the court, which then decides how you can provide for your children.

Taking in account several factors of your case, such as how many children you have, your income, time spent with the children and others, the court then makes the most feasible choice, dividing your income so you can maintain your lifestyle while your children receive the financial support they need.

How Does Your Income Affect Child Maintenance?

The rate of child maintenance depends on the paying parent’s weekly income, i.e., gross income that a person earns before National Insurance and tax are accounted for.

Considering the average gross weekly income to be between £7 and £100 at a flat rate, the paying parent is expected to pay £7 per week. In case the gross income is unknown, at a default rate, the parent is expected to pay £38 for one child. For two children, the cost comes at about £51 and £61 for three or more children.

However, if the paying parent earns more than £100.01, the sum is then calculated using the Child Maintenance Service.

When Do You Stop Paying for Child Maintenance?

While you’re expected to pay for your child until they reach 16 years of age, payments for maintenance can stop if one parent passes away, or if the child is not eligible for child support anymore. In cases where a child is in school or college full-time, the parent is expected to pay for child maintenance until they’re 20.

What if Both Parents Share Custody?

In such cases, the financial settlement for child maintenance is considerably reduced, but in accordance with how much time a child spends with the paying parent. Starting from between 52 and 103 nights to more than 175 nights, child maintenance can be reduced by up to 50 percent.

Need More Information?

For all legal matters concerning financial settlements and more, it’s important that you consult with a professional solicitation firm such as Wembley Solicitors.

As one of the leading firms in London, Wembley Solicitors can guide you the right way. For more information on divorce settlements, judicial separation and child custody, contact us today at 020 3417 3700.