Dad here. CMS question

[Mickydoodle]

Hi all. Seeking some advice (sorry if it’s long)
Ex and i separated a year ago.
Her wishes were for me to have kids, (4 & 2) 4 nights one week and 3 nights the next week.
I earn a little over minimum wage.
She is self employed and claims benefits.
I left with nothing only the clothes on my back and moved in with my cousin.
I continue to pay things that are in my name - car which only she uses (I use public transport for work and she lives in walking distance for me to do pick ups and drop offs), her internet and Disney plus for kids. The reason they are in my name is because she is terrible with money and can’t get finance.
She now is saying she wants child support and will go to CMS if I don’t comply . Hasn’t gave me a figure.
How much would be reasonable ?
Thanks in advance

Nothing as you share care 50 50

Reasonable - you pay 50% of child related Costa when with you and trips etc and that's it. No maintenance, it's a 50-50 set up and you're currently being treated as a mug. Why are you paying her bills?!

I don't understand why you would be giving her anything if you have the kids half the time

Have you tried the CMS calculator
Presumably you have been paying some child support for the last year

You have your kids 50% of the time so no cms is due. She may use the calculator on line and it may say there is but it doesn’t work for 50:50, and if she claimed via them she’s not get any awarded.

you should pay for what your kids need with you, but no cms and not for a car for her either

None as you have them 50:50

If it's 50/50 then nothing.
I'd let her go to CMS personally.

If it's truly 50:50, then no maintenance.

I hope you'll split costs though when it comes to uniforms, clubs, school events etc.

Be careful so she doesn't claim she has them more than she does when making her cms claim.

You don’t need to give her anything, or pay for her car. File it with the CMS yourself today. It’s about £20 and will save you years of hassle.

Nothing. I also wouldn't pay for the car if public transport is available.

The reason I pay for the car because she needs it to get kids to nursery , days out etc. It’s a bill I could be doing without but I wouldn’t do that to them.

@arcticpandas How could I prove otherwise ? Keep txts etc ? I always txt when I am on way to collect and drop off ?

Given you have your children 50/50, I wouldn't think your ex would be entitled to any maintenance. It sounds like what you're already paying for is the equivalent of what some men would pay as maintenance, if the split of time wasn't this. Things like uniform, school trips etc. should be split equally between you.

Yes, keep all evidence of how often you have the children.

As it's genuinely 50:50 you're not liable for any CMS.

Are you paying for 50% of the nursery and any other childcare? If yes then as a 50/50 split there shouldn’t be any cms paid but if not you need to pay half childcare as that’s ‘your’ cost for the days you have them

If you live walking distance away and she needs the car to get kids to nursery how do you get them there on the days you have them?

@HidingFromDD I drop kids to her and she brings eldest to nursery. Her mum and my mum take turns caring for youngest throughout the day while I’m at work. She also picks eldest up.

I think this is probably true too. As long as all the uniform and clothing, hairdressers, shoes, childcare everything else are 50/50, stop paying for the tv.

Are you paying all car expenses - tax and insurance?

Id be rented to sign the car over to her and she has to tax it and insure it herself.