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Children’s Mental Health Week 2020: How to support your child through divorce
Cate Maguire
Our team is highly experienced in helping you to secure the appropriate level of maintenance for your child. We have expertise in the full range of child maintenance options and we are recognised leaders in our field for financial claims on behalf of children, including claims for top up maintenance.
Separation can be a stressful and challenging time, even more so where there are children involved. Whilst your focus will be on how to support your children and minimise any impact on them, your mind will also turn to more practical matters such as who they will live with, when they will spend time with you and, crucially, how will you financially support the children now that you are separated,
The Child Maintenance Service (known as the CMS) is not the beginning and end of deciding how to provide for your children once separated. This is a government organisation that calculates and administers child maintenance payments between parents. Their useful online calculator tool can be found here. Further information can also be found on the Child Maintenance Options website.
Whilst the CMS may set down a marker for the level of child maintenance payable, many couples reach agreements without enlisting the services of the CMS or pay child maintenance above the prescribed levels.
We can help you to reach a tailored and bespoke agreement with your former partner or spouse setting out the correct level of maintenance for your child. Every family is different and we will focus on the factors which are unique to your circumstances (such as who the child lives with, nights spent with the other parent) and try to achieve an agreement that works for everybody.
Where we are unable to reach an agreement we can advise and assist with an application to the CMS.
Where a former spouse or partner earns above the CMS threshold (approximately £150,000 gross per annum) and qualify for a maximum assessment of child maintenance. If so, we can advise you on making a claim for “top-up” child maintenance in excess of that figure - this is a particular area of specialism within the team. Please click here if you think you or your partner qualifies for a maximum assessment and you want to explore further options.
We also advise in cases with international aspects as where, for example, one parent lives abroad, a CMS application may not be applicable.
We can provide quick and responsive advice on all child maintenance issues with a focus and strength of expertise in top-up maintenance and claims for housing and lump sums under Schedule 1 against those with higher incomes and assets.
"It's a team that has a great breadth of experience across the board and particularly in international cases."
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"I always think of them as having a Rolls-Royce service but they are particularly good when there's a European element to the case."
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"Very strong litigation practice, with some of the best up-and-coming stars of tomorrow"
Legal 500 UK
"A standout firm"
Legal 500 UK
"Professional yet sympathetic manner and the team always fights hard to defend your interests"
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
If you require further information or advice from our team of specialist family lawyers, please contact a member of our team or call us on +44 (0)20 7814 1200.
"They made a very difficult time much easier to deal with. Their professionalism kept me sane and focused on the outcome I needed"
Client
"It's a team that has a great breadth of experience across the board and particularly in international cases"
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"All have been excellent and have shown great diligence and practicality, along with sensitivity during a very difficult time in my life"
Client
"Rolls-Royce service and particularly good when there's a European element to the case"
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
"A standout firm"
Legal 500 UK
"Professional yet sympathetic manner and the team always fights hard to defend your interests"
Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession
Cate Maguire
Stacey Nevin
Stacey Nevin
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