Maintenance Expectations

[MINKY75]

AIBU to ask ex to purchase things in addition to maintenance payment? I have 100% custody so buy all clothes, pay all bills etc. I've recently asked for him to contribute towards uniform as its a bit of a financial pinch point in the year but is that reasonable?

Morally, of course it is fair to ask him, but there is no legal way to enforce it.

YANBU. It's fine to ask. Knitting out for new uniform costs and the like costs a packet, sadly not all NRPs are reasonable about additional costs.

Definitely reasonable to ask, my DP contributes extra for big things like uniform or kit/fees for extra curricular activities. However as PP said, legally he doesn't have to pay anymore than the CMS calculation.

I expect my ex to contribute over and above the maintenance he gives me. There is no set list of what lump sum maintenance has to cover. My ex pays for half of all the extra curricular activities and associated costs like dance uniforms, pays half of the wraparound care/holiday clubs and every other pair of (fitted and pricey) shoes, and gives me a set sum of maintenance every month. The set sum is actually a bit lower than the CMS amount. When school dinners start costing me I will expect him to contribute towards that cost aswell.

He is not reasonable about additional costs but he still pays them. I let him know each month what the additionals will be (there isn’t something every month though as most is paid per term). I find the trick is to be really up front about it. He knows perfectly well that I can afford to pay for everything if he refused, so he has nothing to gain by refusing (e.g. me having to beg for the money, which he would love)