to think this is a fair deal instead of child maintenance?

[Busybecca]

I'm leaving DH. He currently pays £395 in maintenance for his two DC from a previous relationship. If my calculations are correct, I think in total he'll have to pay £640 in maintenance so £320 to his ex and £320 to me (willing to be corrected if I'm wrong - not sure if I'll get a higher proportion because we'll have three DC?)

The house I'm moving to is two miles from school and I'm due to have our baby on September 3rd so walking to school is going to be pretty impossible. Plus our older DC will only be 4 and 5 so it's a long way for them, too. I'm thinking of asking that he sign the car we currently have over to me (it isn't great - but it's better than nothing!) and continue to pay for its upkeep as well as to fill it (around £70) once a month instead of paying maintenance. AIBU to think this is fair or am I underselling myself/asking too much?

They take 25% max (15% for 1 child, 20% for 2 and 25% for 3 or more) and will split that between all the children so if he is paying for 2 with his ex and 3 with you then you will get 3/5ths of the total and she will get 2/5ths.

Say he earns 1000 a month. £250 would be taken from him and split as £100 to her and £150 to you.

Dont get me started on the 25% max rule meaning that a man already paying that will be able to create as many kids as he wants knowing it will never cost him a penny more...........

jsut that isnt true if the first ex has less than 3 children.

If both you & the ex are willing to accept a private arrangement based on the old CSA rates which were based on nett pay (15% for 1 child, 20% for 2 or 25% for 3 or more) then her maintenance will decrease quite a bit as going by the current figure of £395 to work out his monthly pay (1,957) & maintenance for 5 children (493.75 - of which each child is awarded 1/5) means you'll get just under £300 & she'll be just under £200 each month.

There isn't a lot of difference in the final amounts if you go through the CMS on the new system however there are set up fees & charges if you use their service.

Could you not apply for fiance on a car now?

Btw I had to pay the CSM £20 fee to start maintaince claim, the fees are only taken from both parties if they need to collect. But the have to give the paying parent a chance to be able to pay direct first I.e in person or direct to your bank account.

I would look for a 2nd hand cheap car, if he being a dick now I would hate for him to have that hold over me, being able to take car if he decides to be an arse.

To OP

That you are not married will not affect your entitlement to Child Maintenance, CTC, WTC and CB. Use the online CMS calculator as a starting point.

To Manicsomniac.

Child maintenance is based solely on the paying parents income only. Who left who for whatever reason makes no difference.

Why tamatave Why?
Its an old thread