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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

Divorced/separated parents - opinions on maintenance

6 replies

Bluegreenyellowpink · 18/11/2025 11:00

Divorced 8 years, he moved away when we spilt up (told everyone I had left him for a woman) whereas when DS came along I couldn’t continue to work, look after the house and baby, he didn’t step up, I did it all and just broke down due to exhaustion, decided it would be easier just me and DS - which it was. He said he’d been to work all day, as had I, so he couldn’t cook, clean dishes, wash up, iron etc. but pulled me up if I hadn’t ironed his uniform for work, or made his sandwiches.

8 years later we are both re married, he’s not allowed contact with me, as CAFCASS, SS, police have had lots of involvement, I’ve never stopped access, he took me to court for a court order stating the agreement for DS we already had in place! Total waste of money on both sides, he’s rang DS school and accused me of abuse, he’s rang the police multiple times for ridiculous things and been warned if he carried on he’d be done for wasting police time, all the services have been great and very helpful just to add. He wouldn’t pay any maintenance so I went to the CSA, he then wouldn’t pay what they’d set up so I’ve gone for a collect order, which takes extra off him and extra off me. Obviously that’s caused a kick off so now he’s taken my sons winter coat off him (so I’ve got to buy another one) but he’s also taken my sons school shoes off him before. I honestly could write a book.

Anyway that’s just a bit of background, I could do with the maintenance - £250 per month, EX DH doesn’t and never had paid anything extra and always told me don’t ask because the answers no. Uniform, trips, school shoes etc I have always paid for. He’s never had him school holidays/ sick days and also told me don’t ask him because the answer is no. I pick my DS up from school on the days he goes his DF as he doesn’t finish work in time and he has no one else to ask. I don’t berate his father we just don’t
talk about him and get on with it.

I try to keep my head down and look after DC because if I upset ex DH we both get some form of backlash, now the maintenance and coat, my question is, do I just get an extra job to earn the maintenance and tell him not bother paying if it means he leaves us alone to get on with our lives, he’s still welcome to see him whenever, I’m just no further forward than when we separated and I’m just quite fed up with there always being something. What are everyone’s thoughts?

sorry it’s long winded!

OP posts:
millymollymoomoo · 18/11/2025 12:57

Just put in a claim with cms and let them deal with it

LemonTT · 18/11/2025 15:30

Just continue with the claim. He won’t let up even if you drop it. Clothes and shoes will go missing regardless. He will still see the child and muck you around.

Bluegreenyellowpink · 19/11/2025 06:43

thank you both

OP posts:
Velvian · 19/11/2025 06:57

I'm sorry you are dealing with this. Are you in contact with anyone sympathetic on his side that could get the coat back?

Definitely proceed with the maintenance claim. It sounds like you will need it.

BookArt55 · 23/11/2025 08:22

Agree with others, he won't stop because CMS issue is off the table. It'll just be another excuse as to why you have caused him to act in that way. You're obviously not at fault, he's awful. Sorry you're going through this.

Firefly100 · 23/11/2025 08:49

Going forward I’d keep receipts of any larger items you buy and if he steals them, take him to the small claims court to get the cost refunded or the item returned. He is never going to stop no matter what you do. Trying to placate him will likely make it worse (cause from his PoV his behaviour gets results)
If it is not in the court order to pick you son up from school, I would not be doing that for him either. By that I don’t mean not pick up your son, but make him unavailable for dad afterwards - ’your son was available but you failed to pick him up so I made alternative arrangements, better luck next week’. You reap what you sow. Absolutely keep up the CMS claim. It is your son’s money, not yours.

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