Maintenance and unpaid leave

[PippilottaLongstocking]

If the paying parent takes a week or two of unpaid leave (used up all paid leave) do they still have to pay maintenance as usual or can they refuse to pay for those weeks (private arrangement of weekly payments as cms have proven to be useless)

Yes they still have to pay maintenance, why wouldn’t they? It’s not like the RP could take a week or two of unpaid leave and tell the child “sorry pal, you’ll need to wait until a week on Tuesday for your dinner.”

Of course

Yes. Bills still have to be paid, regardless of whether the paying parent takes unpaid leave.

Why don't you try it with the gas company and see what they say?

Of course you still have to pay

Are you the resident parent OP? Or the twat trying to dodge responsibilities? I think you’re the RP.

If you were with CMS where there is something called tolerance ie. Income would have to change by 25% for it to be re-assessed so technically maintenance may not be payable for those 2 weeks. As it's a private agreement it's between yourselves to decide.

Sorry should have said - I'm the RP

notreallyarsed that's pretty much what I said to him but considering he paid no maintenance at all til DS was three because before that he had a girlfriend whose mum paid for everything for him (believe it or not he is an adult) I don't think he particularly cares

@PippilottaLongstocking I’ve said the same to my twat of an XH who pays fuck all and never has apart from a couple of payments from CSA that he used as control. I cancelled it because it was just another way of him making a point. DS1 is 11 next week.

It all depends. If he’s taking unpaid leave because he has to look after the children then given there’s no CMS involvement he WNBU to suspend maintenance for the duration, as he would be the RP.

In all other circumstances HIBU.

collaborate he's taking unpaid leave because he's going away (doesn't tell me where/why) so won't see DS at all during that time

Ah one of “those” parents, the bang opposite of pay per view. Out of sight out of mind more like!

Then I cannot see any justification. As his payments are all voluntary, consider going to the CMS. Use their calculator to see what they would make him pay (assuming you know what he earns). If CMS would pay you more, or the same as now but guaranteed, go for it.