How to approach conversation about child maintenance

[Sweetladyjane]

How do you approach increasing child maintenance? We’ve always had a private arrangement but I’m struggling more and more financially as the kids get older and with the COL. Child maintenance was agreed at £60 per week 10 years ago when we divorced and hasn’t changed since. My ex’s earnings have increased a lot since then (he’s quite open with me about how much he earns), I put the figures through the CMS calculator and according to them I should be receiving closer to £1000 a month😱. I’m not expecting him to pay anywhere near this amount but would like him to up it to around £600 per month. This would make a massive change to mine and my children’s life’s and I’d be able to say yes more often (at the moment I say no to most things as I can’t afford it).

We are fairly amicable on the whole but I’m not sure how to have this conversation with him - any tips?

Just tell him. He will know damn well that the COL has gone up.

Btw if he's earning plenty he should be willing to pay the CMS amount - it's a minimum. He can pay more!

I’m not expecting him to pay anywhere near this amount

Why not?

Just put the figures in the CMS calculator and tell him to pay. Or you’ll pay to use their service.

Is he employed or self-employed?
If employed under PAYE, it is generally easier to get the NRP to pay through CMS.
If he is SE, he can receive his income through dividends and they don't count for the purposes of calculating CMS.

Yes, I know, maintenance should actually be updated every year, here where I live anyway (not UK), but I dare not ask for more as my ex refuses to pay even what we agreed on three years ago. It is one thing what law says, but what happens in the actual life is the other. Unless you can afford a lawyer getting justice is very confusing and slow. Sorry, I wish I could actually help. Hugs!