Has anyone done the REMO route for child maintenance?

[Legaldispair]

So my ex husband is suppose to pay child maintenance, paid the minimum for a few years and last year I noticed CMS were using old information to work out what he should pay me as his salary had trebled and they have never recalculated, to cut a long story short I have a hearing soon about this as he continued to dispute it and HE took it to tribunal. THEN on top of that he moved to New York… has always threatened it, and has paid nothing for a year as he ‘doesn’t know what he is supposed to pay as there are no rules’ due to the fact him and myself are both UK citizens. Not even paying a contribution amount and not even bothering to look into it so I have had no choice but to go down the REMO route. Those papers have only just gone off to then as it took 6 months just to get these papers (CMS were dicking around in the mean time and not helping with this) so he owes me aLOT of money in under payments which I know America won’t be interested in and he hasn’t paid me for a year… has anyone actually had any success with the Remo route? I’m slowly running out of any positivity. I can’t afford legal help so I’m on my own.

can anyone share this experiences with me please? Anything I need to know that they don’t tell you etc?

@Alicia24 I second that. (4) Get Child Maintenance From Abroad (REMO) | Facebook Here is a dedicated page for REMO parents.

Hi there)
I'm Ukrainian mum who faced the snail's pace of REMO. I have an Ukrainian court decision from the end of 2021. Ex'll hang himself for a penny and hasn't paid anything for the child since 2012…He spared no expense on his lawyers... In April 2023 (time was lost due to the war) I submitted documents for recognition and enforcement of a decision under art. 10 (a) Convention 2007 to the UK through our Central Authority, and in May'23 REMO confirmed the acceptance of documents, but there is still no answer about the status and progress of our REMO case. There were only 2 requests from REMO: regarding the amount of Ex's debt, but he, his lawyers and the British authorities did not give an answer during the trial. And, the second, to confirm the bank details of my account - the last one in October24.
REMO do not respond to my direct requests, nor to requests from the our Central Authority.
My strength is running out, the child is growing up so quickly, and in conditions of war, rising prices, etc., it is very difficult to provide everything for the child.
If anyone knows how to speed things up, I would be grateful for any advice. Contacts in REMO? or Is it possible to file a complaint against REMO, or contact the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH)? How effective is it?

@UKRmum Hi, am I right in thinking that you got a court order in Ukraine and the Ukranian authorities have sent your application for child maintenance to REMO in London as your ex is living here? If so, then you have already experienced the lack of communication from REMO. This institution doesn't have a good reputation, I'm afraid. Is that the same for the Ukrainian authorities? You can of course complain and I think I have posted on here previously, but here is the link again. Complaints procedure - Official Solicitor and Public Trustee - GOV.UK.

@Sunchi, absolutely correct.
Thank you for the link!

Hiya everyone,

REMO worked for me and I got a court order after having to go through two court dates in USA with the ex!

I applied for REMO back in June 2023 and it actually does work!

I would urge anyone to complete the lengthy application and keep being patient. You’ll get there in the end. Sadly, REMO in the UK are poor at communicating (and sending off paperwork) but once you’re through to the other country, you can contact them through their own court officers.

Let me know if anyone needs any help with it.

That is absolutely amazing well done. Yes I need lots of help please when I contacted them directly they tell me that all correspondence must come from the filing country they cannot liaise with me.

Brilliant news, they just tell me here the solicitor in other country might contact you or might just come back through us so i have no contact for other country....yet fingers crossed

@OpalWriter That's excellent news and in under 2 years, that's amazing. It does depend on the country and/or state if it is in the US. Some countries will allow you to communicate directly, whilst others will tell you that you have to go through the CA (Central Authority) and will not communicate with you. Some states in the US move swiftly and clearly that was the case with you. Which state was this please?

@1111trust I have a Facebook page: Get Child Maintenance from Abroad. Check it out if you are on FB. (1) Get Child Maintenance From Abroad (REMO) | Facebook

Thanks so much! It was in NJ. Really lucky to have had help from here. It was backdated by one year too. Where is your case being held in? I communicated through the court officers who were helpful. The only difficulty was obtaining DNA in the UK as he didn’t acknowledge paternity at first and they wanted to send the sample back over to the states. If you have trouble with this, I can help with where to go as it took me weeks to find a place which would do it in the UK.

After speaking to REMO today, I take back what I said. They try their best they’re just massively underfunded and there is going to be a greater need for international child maintenance cases - it’s really sad that so many people struggle to get what their children deserve.

I really really hope everyone gets a good outcome. It actually works and I have already received payments. I was very skeptical at first but stick with the process.

@OpalWriter thank you so much for your reply and to hear that you've been successful and in fact are receiving payments so soon. It is heartwarming to hear your positive story - some US states are transparent, fast and very helpful as are OZ and NZ.

Also to hear a bit of feedback about REMO. Yes, they are sorely underfunded, but I have experience from 20 years ago and the service wasn't great then, but definitely better than today. I ended up making a complaint to the Ombudsman as I felt the service was so bad then.

Your DNA story is pertinent as another parent has this week been asking about how she can get a DNA done in the UK as the father is denying paternity in Spain. So, if you have that info, would you please contact me directly: [email protected] or via my FB group. I would greatly appreciate it. We must help one another as so many countries are a minefield and don't signpost.

Hi all. Well after 5 long years, I have now got a court date for Remo in the new year wohoo 🥳🥳.
I have been asked if I would like to attend via video link . Has anyone had experience of this?
Disclaimer- I don't particularly want to, I just want to get this over with now, I'm pissed off!

And also, REMO saying they can't guarantee an interpreter on the day, so what do I do then!?.
What I'm saying is , do you think it would go against me If I say I can't make it. They have everything they need, I wrote an extensive report on the circumstances of my case and have always responded to their queries.

Fab news!!! So pleased for you x

Congratulations, @mommatoone ! I hope it all goes well and that this is finally the end of your long journey. What country is it, if you don’t mind me asking?

I’ve heard stories of the paying parent stopping payments even after a court order, but I really hope your case goes smoothly.

I don’t think it would reflect poorly on you if you can’t make it, since we’re supposedly represented by a state solicitor on the other end. But when it’s my turn, if I’m given the option, I’ll make sure to attend. It’s been 4 years now... 😔

@Okapimum if you are given the possibility to attend court, please think about it carefully. Some parents who have attended court in certain US states and European countries have been put through the wringer.

Thanks for the heads up, @Sunchi . I’ll think carefully about it if/when I’m invited to attend the hearing.

This is my concern. Even via video link. Foreign country, I don't speak the language (been told no guarantee of interpreter either). Dont get me wrong, I can hold my own but why should I stand there and try and justify why my kids dad should contribute financially!! They've had all my paperwork for 5 years . They can use that to make a decision.

@mommatoone if you don't speak the language and there is no guarantee of an interpreter, then I would be avoiding being present. As you say, you shouldn't have to justify why the father needs to contribute. This isn't about you, it's about your children, and just the fact that he hasn't contributed is enough, in my opinion.