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Parenting

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Child maintenance

3 replies

rainbowheart · 10/07/2019 20:34

Would be really interested to hear people's views on this situation.

My husband has 3 children from a previous relationship, we also have 1 child together.

His ex has 6 children. 3 are his and 3 with her current partner.

The eldest of my husbands children live with us full time, one is 17 and the other is 14. The youngest, 9 still lives with his mum.

When she had all the children my husband paid £200 p/week maintenance.. when the eldest moved in with us they amicably agreed to half the Maintenance to £100 p/week. On top We've always helped with school uniforms. Trips. Winter coats etc.

Now 2 of them live with us my husband has suggested that we don't pay her anything. We can still help with extra costs of trips etc but no weekly maintenance.

She has hit the roof.. said if he isn't contributing then he doesn't see the youngest at all. She says she cannot manage financially without the £100 a week.

What do people think is reasonable? They have 3 children together. 2 of which we are fully responsible financially for.. so is it really unreasonable to stop regular child maintenance for the one she still has?

I hate the way it sounds talking about them in this context, I adore all 3 of them.. they are treated like my own. We will continue to provide for the youngest in terms of clothing and uniform etc because I know she can't afford it.

OP posts:
Divgirl2 · 10/07/2019 20:50

If two live with you and one with her then in all likelihood she probably owes you maintenance (until the two oldest are out of full time education then you'll go back to owing her, although obviously it depends on how often the kids visit the other parent etc).
CMS have a team you can ask to be referred to that deal with non standard cases. Might be worth contacting them.

Zampa · 10/07/2019 20:53

Could you taper the reduction over a number of months, giving her time to adjust her outgoings?

TheJoxter · 10/07/2019 20:56

I’m not sure if there’s any rules in place for multiple children living with different parents but it might be complicated as it’s based on income. It could be that what he’s supposed to pay her for one child based on his income, is more than what she’s supposed to pay him for two children based on her income IYSWIM. Definitely call cms and ask (although from experience they can be useless)

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