Receiving child maintenance once child has gone to university ?

There’s a law that may work. The Children’s Act Dependants.

https://family-law.co.uk/family-law-blog/university-and-child-maintenance-post-18/

Tempted to do it myself as my son is also off to university and his Father hasn’t laid eyes on him since a newborn.

we took what we used to pay our step daughter in child maintenance and pay it directly to her whilst she’s at uni. I don’t think there’s any obligation, you’ll have to be direct and ask him

Child maintenance stops at uni, and they get loans from student finance to help with living costs.

Harsh
Also very small world view.
No knowledge or lived experience here, clearly

I’m sorry you felt like that and agree it’s personal circumstances. I have a very dear friend who’s child is severely disabled but continues to work so you did have a choice you just made a choice that was right for you and your family.

It does feel like a cause for celebration when I read some of the CMS threads on mumsnet!

Just keep in mind, @Bernie54 , that the majority of posts on your thread are from people with no idea what they are talking about, just offering you their moral opinion. A PP suggested you seek legal advice and that's definitely the way to go, if you have maintenance for 3 more years as part of your financial order.

Congratulations 😂

Avoid mentioning the affair or fact his wife earns well!

Because she is an adult. The fact that she has chosen to go to Uni is irrelevant. Any money he chooses to pay going forward should go to her directly, not to you. Also, what his wife earns is absolutely nothing to do with it.

Ehcp's don't automatically transfer through to uni OP so defo worth looking into whether she is going to cope without the support it gives as there's no guarantee she'll continue to get it

Even if you have an agreement for spousal maintenance it’s a fairly pointless “agreement” because trying to enforce it is so costly.

Is it a global maintenance order? Meaning it is both spousal and child maintenance combined. If that's the case then it continues until the date given (2028) irrespective of the child's educational status or age. And can only be varied by going back to court. If it were just for child maintenance then he could have stopped it after a year and reverted to CMS. But are you able to ask him what his plans are, or did you want to understand the legal situation first.

@Daisy12Maisie Are you saying your child is saying he'll cut off contact with his Dad if Dad won't give him money to go to Uni and you're ok with this?

Your ex should pay DD directly then perhaps you could suggest that DD makes a contribution from that when she is home from holidays. I assume she will also get a job during the hols?

I thought the poster was asking for legal (admittedly from an rather unorthodox source) not our thoughts on spousal maintenance . I defer to Kimono lady who says wisely in my opinion she would need to see the order.

Lets hope the poster gets some legal advice.

My ex gave it directly to our daughter when she went to uni.

I get that point actually and agree with you.

My mum downsized to a 1.5 bed maisonette as soon as I went to uni (she didn't have to, she was able to stay in our home until I finished uni but I guess she didn't want the running costs). It is 450sq ft. My dad had buggered off abroad at that point. I think she just didn't want me to come back 😂 and I only stayed for the first year (when in halls), then got a proper house share and never went back.
It's pretty wild thinking back and I just couldn't imagine doing that to my own kids.

OP I’m confused by a lot of what you have said but legal advise is needed.

You get maintenance to help support taking care of your daughter as she lives with you but she is now not going to live with you and you want that support to continue? Why?

Your ex may be a dirtbag, but this isn’t the reason you aren’t still a nurse. It isn’t his ‘fault’ you have let your qualifications lapse especially as it’s been 10 years since you split. He shouldn’t pay for that lapse and under earning now - what are you going to do when the payments stop? I think irrespective of everything you need to consider this.

Also, you mention a lot your child is ND and has autism as a reason to have payments continue (because why else would you mention it as it isn’t legally relevant except you chose to stay at home) but is now able to independently live at uni without you. If your child is able to do this then you don’t need to stay at home or take a lower paid job.

The fact your ex and his new wife are high earners again has nothing to do with legally needing to continue to pay for maintenance of a child who no longer lives with you. It seems he has paid what is required at the right amount.

A lot of what you have said while important to you isn’t relevant legally.

It should go direct to your daughter

@letsbe to be clear - my point is general rather than referring to the specific court order (kimonolady has covered that point thoroughly).

I made point as there are people out there with an outdated view that a higher earning man is likely to be required to provide what is essentially spousal maintenance, long after children are grown. This is increasingly not common, sadly many lower earners become too reliant on child maintenance to prop up their household income and struggle later on when its no longer due.

He has a mind of his own at 16. His dad has been very abusive over the years and hasn’t behaved like a parent. Eg. Never been to parents evenings, wouldn’t take him to his clubs, doesn’t know the names of his friends, hasn’t attended his birthday parties. Has behaved in an abusive way to his current partner in front of our son. He has been arrested several times for domestic abuse against various women, which is clearly not setting a good example to our lovely sons. I think our son thinks that if he can’t even be bothered to support him financially then what has actually done to behave like a parent. He won’t pick him up from anywhere he needs a lift. He wouldn’t visit his brother when he was in hospital. The list goes on and on.