Maintenance Payments Ending

Neither of you are obligated to pay anything for Uni students. It’s kind of you if you do.
This requires a conversation with him and being realistic with what you can afford to offer to contribute. It almost feels like it’s for him and his DC to sort out.

You could ask! I know one ex couple where the mum earns a lot more and pays more towards things like uni fees and holidays and gives the kids an allowance but also one where the dad had his company put in his mother’s name to try to pay as little as possible - in fact pays almost nothing - out of spite.
only you can judge your relationship.
we have another set of friends where the dad takes the kids on exotic holidays and spends a fortune that way, and the mum can only afford a week in Butlins but the kids are getting experiences via the dad, and he’s very quick to spend money on labels for clothes etc whereas the mum buys out of cheap high street shops when she get them clothes.

If relationships are okay the best option would be to have a face to face conversation with your ex about what the upcoming uni etc costs are likely to be and how you can both manage to help fund it. Then have a second face to face meeting including the twins and talk through with them what the finanacial picture is.

You can all discuss the options of student loans, term time jobs, saving up money from holiday jobs, parental contributions.

It may work out best that instead of splitting costs 50/50 for every little thing, that you both agree to fund specific things - like ex pays towards accomodation and you buy books and clothes, the kids fund their social needs and electronics etc.

Child maintenance stops at 21, if they are in education at 21.

Nothing wrong in asking.

Again it stops once they go to uni. It only continues to 20 of they are doing a level three course.

My maintenance stopped the day he turned 18, your twins will be adults, so uni and a job to support themselves. I never had to give my son anything when he was at uni and neither did his father. Why on earth would the courts get involved in this?

Edit! Child Support people took 3 years to process by which time they were 17 & 19 & 'didn't qualify' 🙄

You can ask. The answer depends on what type of person he is and his own financial situation.

are you in the uk? If si you should be able to claim child maintenance via CMS until they are 20 if they are both going to be at uni full time

I am assuming that they will be 18 then. If they're going to uni, can't they tap him for money? That's what my kids did, with some success! He wouldn't pay regular support & when I asked the Child Support people (can't remember what they were called, it's 35 years ago). He would give the kids money for stuff though.
If your ex won't do this then he probably doesn't want anything to do with them going forward.

Not if they are at uni.

Why can’t they get part time jobs?

Are you in the uk? Are your children under 18 or under 21 and still in education?

depending on where you are from is dependent on the advice given.

child maintenance doesn’t stop unless they’re 18 or if they turn 21 and are in education…… regardless of your court order. Maintenance should still be paid according to the child maintenance rules. This is only for the UK though.

If he earns 45k there is no way he would be ordered to pay spousal.

What like all the other kids with parents earning over £165,000 🤣🤣🤣

Twins are now adults. Both of my DC got various loans and held down jobs while at university, as many students have to do now. One of my DC will pay off their loans in next few years but other DC reckons they’ll never pay theirs off. They see it as a ‘student-tax’ (Thanks Martin Lewis)
If you and ex are going to support them financially, yes you should share. Not your exes fault he earns more than you.

Because he refused to agree to it. So I then soent my 10% deposit on a lawyer fighting in court.
I was then proving to be correct. He did not do what he claimed he needed to do in court, to yhis day he hasn’t.
And I have bought a house of equal value but incurred stamp duty, removal costs etc. I wish there was an option to go back to court and say told you so

They need to get a job !

Because they are adults and get jobs and loans

YABU. Zero chance he will give extra because you ask. Frankly, I would assume he resents giving you any spousal support given you have a job and an income of your own.

Of course, the children (who are now adults) can ask him for extra help, and he might consider it, but only in the knowledge that you are contributing your fair share.

Just read I am wrong :/

how is that even possible?

I thought if they are in Uni then maintenance still goes but it can be paid to them directly.

It's really shocking. Ppl like that need a reality check about what responsibility means. It's one thing if you are an unemployed struggling person through no fault of your own.....but a person with money not paying and expecting the rest of us to pick up the bill....that's wrong.

Is it healthy to encourage young adults to have a contact schedule?

Maybe phrase it more like 'I am wondering how much you can contribute to the twins' living expenses etc next year, so I know how much I need to budget'.