Clare Wiseman
Head of Family Law
Child Maintenance
Our child maintenance solicitors can help you agree how much you or your former partner should pay going forward, change the terms of an existing agreement, or help if maintenance payments have stopped.
How can family lawyers help with child maintenance arrangements?
Agreeing on what’s “fair” in terms of child maintenance payments can be very difficult alone – especially if your separation hasn’t been amicable.
Family lawyers can help you reach an agreement through mediation, change the terms of an existing agreement, or take action if your partner stops paying.
Child maintenance is paid by the parent who the child does not live with for the majority of the time. There are three routes to getting an agreement in place:
- Directly with your former partner (a “family-based arrangement”)
- The Child Maintenance Service (CMS), where the government calculates the payments for you (you will have to pay some charges and penalties if they’re forced to get involved)
- By Court Order. You might escalate a case to court if you can’t reach an agreement alone or through mediation, if the paying parent has a very high income, or if one parent lives abroad.
Generally speaking, child maintenance is paid until your child reaches 16, or 20 if they continue in full time education. If you or your former partner’s circumstances change, then you might be able to change the terms of your agreement.
Speak to our expert
We have the largest private client team in the UK, our team of experts are here to provide discreet legal advice to support you and your family.
Whatever you need, we’re here
Our solicitors take a no-nonsense approach to agreeing arrangements for children following a relationship breakdown. We are known for being firm in protecting our clients’ interests, but also for being honest about your chances of achieving what you want. We often help people who have received bad advice from another law firm, or whose corner has not been fought.
Mediation Support Service – 30-Minute Consultation
Family mediation can be a less confrontational and more cost-effective way to resolve a dispute. We offer a 30-minute consultation with one of our solicitors to discuss your situation and if mediation is right for you.
If you decide to go ahead with mediation, you can benefit from our cost-effective mediation support service. This service will give you the advice, support and tools to get the best possible outcome – particularly if you’re representing yourself.
We’re here to help
Complete our enquiry form and one of our experts will contact you by the next working day.
Alternatively, you can call us now.
Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (Excluding Public Holidays).
0370 1500 100
Making an enquiry
We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.
Complete our online formWe need a few details to understand your situation and the kind of support you need.
We’ll contact you by phoneOn the call our experts will ask you a few more questions to make sure we connect you with the right legal advice from our team.
We arrange a full appointmentYour next step is an in-depth appointment with a specialist solicitor to discuss how we could advise you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our commitment to you
Our experts always start by listening, so we understand what matters most from day one.- 01Clear legal guidance
You will always get straightforward, honest advice, with regular updates to keep you clear on the way forward.
- 02Specialist knowledge
A wide-ranging team of trusted specialists who understand what it takes to protect your future, your family or your business.
- 03Your needs first
Whether you’re navigating complex personal situations or business decisions, we take the time to understand your world and what’s at stake.
.jpg%3Fh%3D900%26iar%3D0%26w%3D1072&w=3840&q=75){kind=logo}