Confused by CMS request... for less payment?

Could be one of two things. She knows he earns more than he declares but he’s savvy and only pays himself a certain amount and therefore is hoping they’ll be more forensic because she deserves more, he may also be misleading you btw. I also think you being involved in the divorce paperwork is weird and I have had the misfortune of dealing with a family like that and they basically ripped me off and I’m bitter 15 year later.

Or she’s fallen on some difficult times and tried to claim a benefit, they may have stepped in with CMS if the arrangement wasn’t formal.

People think things are amicable and whilst this is all very civilised most people want the best deal always.

Once his dd goes to university money should go directly to her (or potentially he pays the accommodation directly) with just a modest contribution potentially to his exw for holiday time expenses though if it’s 50/50 that isn’t needed. I suspect she’s been advised to apply by a solicitor who was not trying to create trouble as they make solicitors more money (I’m a cynic)

Yes sounds like she thinks she would get more.

But if he is paying school fees etc roo it's very unlikely.

If I were him I would arrange to pay anything when DN goes to uni direct to DN.

My partner paid more than CMS and his ex wife went to them about four years after they’d divorced because she thought she’d get more. She ended up getting about £300 less a month and was quite bitter about it. They had gotten along well up until that point. He paid the difference directly to his daughter. I hope your DB gets it all sorted out, it can cause tensions.

I think he needs to consider paying into an account for his DD when she reaches 18 - why is he buying her a kitchen and renting?

None of it makes financial sense for your DB

DH’s ex-wife did exactly this as she was so convinced that DH was hiding funds from her. She would send messages saying he was a fraudster and badmouth him to anyone who would listen. Oh how we laughed when the CMS amount was £15 less than he’d been paying her 😂 Not a huge difference but enough for DH to feel vindicated. He never got an apology either.

We also pay for private tutoring for DS plus school uniforms/ad hoc clothes and holidays so she doesn’t do too badly overall.

CMS isn't included in student finance calculations as it stops when DC starts university.

@greektouristboard probably because her solicitor has advised her to. They say things like "he could stop these payments at anytime." Justifying their own costs.

I wondered if it may be to do with an application to student finance. Evidence of his STBExW financial status as that affects how much loan his DD is entitled to based on current income.

Declare it based on CMS assessment rather than what she actually receives.

If things are amicable, then why doesn't he just ask her?

Is his dd going to university?

I would divert the money to dd and just give ex th CMS amount.

But he should get the divorce financial order sorted first.

Does he earn over the CMS threshold? I believe around £175k? If so, this will be a precursor to a court claim for higher maintenance and potentially a capital lump sum. Also, a court can order child maintenance to continue longer - not unheard of for NRPs to be ordered to continue maintenance payments for the duration of a degree.
I personally think the money should go direct to the child after age 18, but there we go.

By the household income of where the student lives the majority of the time. In this case, the mother's.

I may be wrong but being a single parent who recently bought a house could this be to do with a mortgage application.

I was able to include maintenance payments in my affordability assessment as I could demonstrate my ex was paying regularly and consistently and had been for some considerable time. Had that not been the case they only would have considered if it was following court order or via a formal arrangement via cms. Just a thought

If your niece does go to Uni, your brother could send her the money directly rather than to his former wife. His financial obligation is to his daughter, not her mother. Sounds as though he has been generous so far.
I also wonder whether the CMS claim is a vehicle to get precise info on your brother’s income.

@TurtleGroove STBXW is soon to be ex wife. It’s true. What’s wrong with it?

It’s odd that the claim has been made now, as I believe CM ends when the child is 18. However, I suspect the STBEX believes your DB has way more income than letting on and she’d like to know this for sure to get everything she’s entitled to from the divorce. Especially as your DB can stop all current financial help when the daughter turns 18.

She’s getting her ducks in a row so to speak.

I really wouldn't, pay the amount CMS require to STBX and then pay the additional balance to what he has been paying direct to DD's bank account for her use.

They used to automatically get involved if the RP claimed any benefits so it could have been that. That was the case even when they stopped including CM as income and reducing benefits accordingly

How are student loans calculated?

Is he sure she asked? CMS got involved when I was a child for no apparent reason- not requested by either side. Almost caused a falling out between my parents who were amicably separated and as in this case my dad paid more than required (though not as much as your DB).