Child Maintenance

Parents are under a legal obligation to provide financially for their children even if the children no longer live with them.

The Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission (CMEC) (formerly the Child Support Agency) deals with child maintenance

 They assess the amount payable on a formula which takes into account:

• the number of dependent children
• the net income and staying contact of the non resident parent

The court still retains the power to order child maintenance and can award ‘top up’ maintenance for a special income or capital need which cannot be met out of the CSA assessment. This might include school fees or medical treatment.

Both parents must provide all their financial information. If they do not we will seek full financial disclosure including by court order if a parent does not co-operate.

We can advise and assist you:

• in relation to your obligation to pay child maintenance if you are no longer living with your children
• in obtaining child maintenance if you are the parent with primary care of the children.

To speak to someone who can help with your child maintenance issues, call, email or request a call back from one of our specialist lawyers.