When to admit defeat and contact CMS?

[shizgigz]

Ex and I moved to separate properties middle of September. One DC (17) still at home.

He was adamant that we would 50:50 co parent with DC spending half the time at his house and therefore no maintenance would be due.

Well.......unsurprisingly DC is yet to spend a single night at his house. It apparently needs total renovation and when I enquire I get a vague response that he is still working on DC's bedroom and he is just so busy

I put it out there a few weeks ago that if he was unable to provide reasonable timescales it was only right he should start paying support. Total silence.

I feel like a mug - he pays for DC's phone contract and learner insurance in his car but nothing else. Is it time to contact the CMS?

How long until DC turns 18? I'm pretty sure CMS stops being payable then as they're an adult, but I could be wrong.

To be fair learner insurance is pretty expensive so if he's at least paying that then it's a start

Another 11 months until 18. Also got learner insurance on my car so doesn't make the financial burden any less for me.

Just do it. They won't backdate - they only go from the date of the claim. You should at least get something. If your son is at school or 6th form college, you should get CM until the September following his 18th birthday. Your ex sounds like a knob.

If your DC is still in school/college and not 18 until next October then CMS is payable until August 2026 - the August after he turns 18.

My ex was apoplectic at this news. Call them tomorrow and put in a claim.