We understand that sorting out child maintenance payments when navigating separation is not always straightforward, our child maintenance solicitors help parents deal with the Child Maintenance Service, and put agreements into a legally binding order where that’s needed.
Child maintenance is the regular financial support one parent pays towards raising a child after a separation. It’s paid by the parent who sees the child less often, the paying parent, to the parent the child mainly lives with, the receiving parent.
These payments are meant to help with the practical cost of day-to-day life: food, clothing, activities, and the general expense of a child living with you most of the time. It’s not designed to cover everything a child costs to raise, and both parents are still expected to contribute financially, and in other ways, alongside what’s been formally agreed.
Both parents have a legal duty to support their children financially under the Child Support Act 1991, regardless of whether they were married, and however contact has worked out since separating.
How we can help with child maintenance
There are three ways to set up child maintenance: agreeing it privately as a family-based arrangement, applying to the government’s Child Maintenance Service, or including it in a court order as part of a wider financial settlement. Which one suits you depends on how well you and your ex-partner can still communicate, and how much certainty you each want – and our child maintenance solicitors can help at any stage, whichever route you’re on.
Family-based arrangements
A family-based arrangement is a private agreement you make directly with your ex-partner, without the Child Maintenance Service or the courts getting involved. It’s usually the quickest and least stressful route if you can still talk to each other, and we’ll help you work out a figure that’s fair to both of you, put it in writing, and cover anything the standard calculation misses, like school costs or activities.
Consent orders
A consent order is a family-based arrangement that’s been approved by the court, which makes it legally binding and enforceable if things go wrong later. Whether you want that certainty, we can draft one as part of your wider financial settlement, without needing a contested hearing.
Child Maintenance Service applications and disputes
The Child Maintenance Service is the government body that calculates and can collect child maintenance where parents can’t agree between themselves. We’ll guide you through the application and check the figure is right; self-employed income, dividends and company directorships are common sources of dispute, and we regularly help parents challenge a CMS decision that doesn’t reflect the paying parent’s true income.
Top-up orders for high earners
A top-up order adds to the Child Maintenance Service’s calculation when a paying parent’s income is well above its £3000-a-week ceiling. We regularly advise on these applications for higher earners, drawing on the same expertise that’s earned our family team a Chambers High Net Worth ranking.
Changing an existing arrangement
Child maintenance can be changed whenever circumstances genuinely change, whether that’s a new job, a new baby, or a shift in how many nights your child stays with each of you. We can help you renegotiate a family-based arrangement, apply to vary a court order, or update the Child Maintenance Service so payments keep reflecting real life.
Non-payment and enforcement
Enforcement is what happens when a paying parent stops keeping up with an arrangement or order. It’s one of the most common reasons parents get in touch with us, and whether your case is a family-based arrangement, a court order, or sitting with the Child Maintenance Service, we’ll advise on the right way to get it back on track.
What to expect when you work with us
Getting advice on child maintenance starts with an honest conversation about your situation.
Tell us what’s happened
A free, no obligation call or meeting to understand your circumstances: whether there’s an existing arrangement, whether payments have stopped, and what you’re trying to achieve.
We advise you on the right route
We’ll tell you honestly whether a family-based arrangement, a court order or the Child Maintenance Service fits your situation best, including if that means you don’t need us for every step.
We take the practical steps
Negotiating, drafting a consent order, challenging a CMS decision, or applying for a top-up order, whatever the route needs, we handle it and keep you updated in plain English.
We help it stick
Circumstances change, so we stay on hand to vary or enforce the arrangement later, not just get it set up in the first place.
Why choose Slater Heelis for child maintenance
Over 250 years serving the North West
We’ve been providing legal advice to families in the North West since 1773. With offices in Manchester, Sale and Chester, we’re rooted in the local community and understand the issues families face in our region. Our family law team is one of the largest in Manchester, with over 21 qualified solicitors dedicated to family matters.
Recognised expertise
We’re listed in The Times Best Law Firms for 2026, with our family law team being highly commended. The Legal 500 recognises us as one of the leading family law firms in the North West. With over 1,900 reviews and an average rating of 4.9/5 on ReviewSolicitors, our clients trust us enough to recommend us to others going through difficult times.
Putting children first
Child maintenance disputes can easily turn into a way of scoring points against an ex-partner once trust has broken down. Our advice stays focused on what your child actually needs, not on the conflict between you and your ex. That means telling you honestly when a fight is worth having, and when it isn’t, and helping you reach an arrangement that holds up because it’s fair, not because one parent has simply given in.
Straight-talking advice when you need it
We don’t overcomplicate things. Our child maintenance solicitors explain what you need to know in plain language and make sure you understand your position at every stage.
Our offices in Manchester, Sale and Chester are open for face-to-face meetings. We’ll keep you informed at every stage, explain everything in plain English, and give you the straightforward legal advice you need when it matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions about child maintenance
What is child maintenance for?
Child maintenance is for supporting the everyday cost of raising a child after their parents separate. It’s a financial contribution from the parent the child lives with less, meant to help meet ordinary living costs like food, clothing and activities. Both parents remain legally responsible for their child regardless of who they live with.
What does child maintenance cover?
Child maintenance is meant to cover a share of a child’s everyday living costs, not the full cost of raising them. It typically goes towards essentials like food, clothing and day-to-day activities. It isn’t intended to cover one-off costs such as school trips or equipment, which parents are expected to agree separately.
How is child maintenance calculated?
Child maintenance calculated through the Child Maintenance Service is based on the paying parent’s gross weekly income. Most paying parents fall into the basic rate, paying 12%, 16% or 19% of income up to £800 a week for one, two or three-plus children, dropping to 9%, 12% or 15% on income between £800.01 and £3000. The amount can be reduced if the paying parent supports other children, or your child stays with them overnight.
When does child maintenance stop?
Child maintenance stops on the 31 August after your child turns 16, provided they’ve left full-time education. If they stay in full-time, non-advanced education, such as A Levels, payments continue until they turn 20. It doesn’t stop automatically, so you’ll need to tell the Child Maintenance Service once your child’s circumstances change.
What’s the difference between a family-based arrangement and the Child Maintenance Service?
A family-based arrangement is a private agreement between parents with no government or court involvement, while the Child Maintenance Service calculates and can collect payments where parents can’t agree. A family-based arrangement is more flexible and can cover extras like school costs, but it isn’t enforceable unless it’s turned into a consent order.
Can my child maintenance agreement be changed?
Yes, a child maintenance agreement can be changed whenever circumstances genuinely change, such as a new job or a change in how many nights your child stays with each parent. How you change it depends on how it was set up: family-based arrangements can be renegotiated directly, court orders need a formal variation, and the Child Maintenance Service needs to be told directly.
What happens if my ex-partner doesn’t pay child maintenance?
If your ex-partner stops paying, the right next-step depends on how the arrangement was set up. Payments due through the Child Maintenance Service should be reported to them directly, as they hold their own enforcement powers, including deducting money from wages or bank accounts. For a family-based arrangement or a court order, our solicitors can help you enforce it.
Does my ex-partner’s new relationship affect child maintenance?
No, child maintenance payments are based on the paying parent’s income and the arrangements for your child, not on either parent’s relationship status. You must keep paying, or keep receiving, maintenance as agreed regardless of whether your ex-partner is cohabiting or remarries. Only a genuine change in income or care arrangements affects the amount due.
How do benefits affect child maintenance?
Benefits affect child maintenance differently depending on which parent receives them. A receiving parent can keep their full child maintenance payment without it affecting their benefits. A paying parent who receives certain benefits pays a flat rate of £7 a week, regardless of how many children are involved.
Can I get extra child maintenance if my ex-partner is a high earner?
Yes, once a paying parent’s income is above the Child Maintenance Service’s cap of £3000 a week, you can apply to the courts for a “top-up” order for the extra amount. This route is usually made under the Children Act 1989, and the court will only order more if it agrees the higher earner should be paying beyond the standard cap.
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