About Child Maintenance?

Question

Hi, would you please share your opinions on this child maintenance issue? We live in England. Thanks

Yesterday when we were at my mother in law's, she somehow started a conversation regarding child maintenance. and she thinks her son shouldn't be asked to pay his 2 teenagers child maintenance as their mother has married to another man 8 years ago.

My mil thinks "if the teens' stepfather has leggally adopted them, then her son (the father) won't need to pay any more child maintenance." Of course, the stepfather didn't legally adopted them although they live with them.

And my mil thinks "once the woman remarried to this new man, they should not ask the father to pay child maintenance any more." She also said "in newzealand, you don't need to pay if the mother remarries to other people".

So, my question is, what's the legal situation in the U.K?

I only knew the father will have to pay child maintenance until the children reach the age of 16, or finish their full time education.He pays under a private agreement, not via csa.

But, does anyone know anything about this "remarry" thing? Does the father actually need to pay the child maintenance after the woman married to other people?

THanks a lot

Answer 1

As long as they're still his children he'll have to pay regardless of the mothers situation.

Answer 2

A father is responsible financially for his children, until they are 18.  It's got nothing to do with remarrying, or any such thing.  They are his children, and while the mil might think the situation is unfair, they are her son's responsibility, together with his former wife.

Your mil is just being supportive of her son, but she isn't right.  I'm glad to say.  

Answer 3

My partner pays for his daughter from a previous relationship via the csa and as far as i am aware it is only if the fathers situation changes not the mothers. The csa have a calculator on their website which gives you a guide on how much he would have to pay if he went through them. It takes into consideration his salary, financial commitments to his family with you, such as mortgage etc. and if he has other children.  

Answer 4

the maintenace would only be deemed non payable on remarriage if it was written into the divorce as a clause. I'm very sympathetic to your partner btw, however he can take himself thrugh the CSA but he may end up paying more than he does through this private agreement. Hope this helps!  

Answer 5

Hello, here is a situation perhaps not very common. I was divorced 4 years ago, in which I kept my house and was given 50% care of our then 4 year old daughter. How ever my X ever since has disagreed and is now taken ME  to court to stop our daughter from seeing me. The situation now is not only will my X lose the case, I am to get full custody of our daughter and my solicitor is to claim maintenance from her. Perhaps after this court case I will put up the full story on my blog. Its a story I would not believe myself if I had not been involved in it.Malc.