After separation, a friend was informally paying his ex's mortgage (on a property she shared with OM), around £650 in maintenance for their 2 children whilst having the kids 50% of the time and paying for uniform, shoes, extra curricular, holidays etc. The ex works but chose to give up a good job in IT to pursue a project where she'd be self employed, hence she needed him to cover the mortgage.
As part of the divorce, the mortgage payments stopped however the £650pm continued and my friend paid 30% of his pension to his ex. The arrangements continued to be 50/50. This is enshrined in a court order.
Now, my friends circumstances have changed, he's had a health scare that has affected his mental health and is scaling back in work. He's also admitted that the level of support he'd been providing since the separation which was over 6 years ago coupled with his own expenses has left him in debt. It's taken him a while to admit this to us.
He wants to stop the payment of £650. He continues to have the kids 50% of the time and still willingly pays for all the additional items. He's aware the £650 is being used to support renovations to a property his ex's partner has bought). His kids are now 16 and 14 and I think with their maturity he's been able to realise that the kids aren't benefitting from the money and won't suffer when it stops.
He's spent a huge sum on solicitors fees previously and is keen to avoid more costs - can he apply to vary the court order in person? By the CMS calculation he'd be required to contribute £0. There are no other children to be considered.
Thanks