Child Maintenance Issues

Whether you’re seeking child maintenance, disputing an existing arrangement or unsure of your rights and obligations, our specialist family lawyers are here to help.

Every child deserves financial stability, regardless of the circumstances between their parents.

Our team has decades of experience finding clear, effective solutions to all types of complex child maintenance concerns.

We offer practical and tailored legal advice to secure a fair financial outcome for you and your child.

Resolving child maintenance issues swiftly and fairly

Disagreements over child maintenance can be emotionally charged. We specialise in resolving these types of contentious cases.

We will offer clear, practical advice to help you reach a fair and sustainable agreement, protecting your child’s wellbeing and ensuring your financial rights are respected.

We can help you with…

• Establishing a new agreement – Guidance on setting up a fair, legally-sound arrangement, or advice navigating statutory options.
• Understanding your rights and obligations – Advice for both paying and receiving parents on what is legal, fair and realistic.
• Varying an existing arrangement – If your financial situation, living arrangements or income levels have changed, payments could be reviewed and adjusted.
• High earners and top-up orders – If a paying parent’s income exceeds statutory Child Maintenance Service (CMS) limits, we can help with securing a top-up order.
• Under-reported parent income – A paying parent may be hiding assets, under-reporting earnings or drawing income through dividends.
• Missed payments – If an ex-partner stops paying or defaults on their obligations, we can help you take swift action.
• Overnight stays and shared care disputes – Advice on how the number of overnight stays impacts child maintenance calculations.
• International child maintenance – We can help you navigate issues created by cross-border maintenance, for example a parent lives or earns income abroad.

What is child maintenance and what does it cover?

Child maintenance is regular financial support paid by one parent to the other to help cover the everyday costs of raising their children. It can include contributions toward housing, food, clothing, school supplies and extra-curricular activities.

The amount and structure of child maintenance payments is calculated based on various factors, including income, living arrangements and the number of children involved.

Child maintenance is usually paid until a child reaches 16, or 20 if they remain in full-time, non-advanced education.

Payments do not count as taxable income, nor do they reduce your entitlement to Universal Credit.

Generally speaking, child maintenance payments cannot be backdated to before the formal application date. Court-ordered maintenance agreements, however, can sometimes include these types of provisions.

Top-rated solicitors for child maintenance legal advice

Founded in 2010, Harrogate Family Law has helped hundreds of parents to reach swift resolutions to child maintenance disputes and concerns.

From our central Harrogate office, we advise parents across Yorkshire and beyond.

Whether you are enforcing an existing child maintenance order, applying for a variation or seeking some legal advice around a child maintenance issue, we provide bespoke support at every stage.

We will always prioritise achieving an amicable, family-based private agreement where possible. However, we can help you navigate statutory services, including the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), or represent you in court for bespoke orders if necessary.

We are proud to be rated ‘Excellent’ by clients and both Legal 500 and Chambers UK point to our strength and expertise in private children law. As well as maintenance, we advise on child arrangements, custody and access.

Your case is in good hands with our compassionate, tenacious team.

✉️ enquiries@harrogatefamilylaw.co.uk

📞 01423 594 680