Can I claim CMS without a legal agreement?

[BloodyMiserable]

I'm going through a separation & it's coming to the point where I want to leave, taking DC as I am the primary carer.

I want to start claiming CMS as soon as possible - does there need to be a separation agreement in place first?

And how long does it take to come through?

No you don’t need a separation agreement.
You will have to pay £20 to set the claim up, they will then contact your ex. It’s based on income pre tax but after pension contributions.
It also looks at the amount of overnight contact so it’s good to have an agreement in place re the amount of over night contact per week.

As long as the other parent has parental responsibility (are they on birth cert?) you can just put in the application today. You don't need any other documents than your word that you have split

They get his income from the HMRC - so it takes a few weeks in experience

No, CMS is entirely spearate from anything legal- to the pojnt that family lawyers and courts do not get involved with maintenance at all.

Do the online calculator and then contact them. They can arrange to collect the payments for you direct for a fee or you can come to an arrangmenet with your ex

Thanks for the responses; we are not in agreement about childcare (and plenty of other things!).

I'm the primary carer & he wants to do 50-50 (but he barely interacts with them & is only doing it to avoid maintenance.

He's about to have major surgery & I cannot face being his carer.