Child Maintenance Solicitors

Q: What's the legal position of unmarried parents?

If you are unmarried and have children, you have the same rights as any married parent. For same sex couples, the legal situation can be more complicated, depending on how the child was conceived, or came into the family. We can advise on your unique situation.

Our child maintenance solicitors can help you agree how much you or your former partner should pay going forward, change the terms of an existing agreement, or help if maintenance payments have stopped.

How can family lawyers help with child maintenance arrangements?

Agreeing on what’s “fair” in terms of child maintenance payments can be very difficult alone – especially if your separation hasn’t been amicable.

Family lawyers can help you reach an agreement through mediation, change the terms of an existing agreement, or take action if your partner stops paying.

Child maintenance is paid by the parent who the child does not live with for the majority of the time. There are three routes to getting an agreement in place:

Directly with your former partner (a “family-based arrangement”)
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS), where the government calculates the payments for you (you will have to pay some charges and penalties if they’re forced to get involved)
By Court Order. You might escalate a case to court if you can’t reach an agreement alone or through mediation, if the paying parent has a very high income, or if one parent lives abroad.

Generally speaking, child maintenance is paid until your child reaches 16, or 20 if they continue in full time education. If you or your former partner’s circumstances change, then you might be able to change the terms of your agreement.

Whatever you need, we’re here

Our solicitors take a no-nonsense approach to agreeing arrangements for children following a relationship breakdown. We are known for being firm in protecting our clients’ interests, but also for being honest about your chances of achieving what you want. We often help people who have received bad advice from another law firm, or whose corner has not been fought.

Mediation Support Service – 30-Minute Consultation

Family mediation can be a less confrontational and more cost-effective way to resolve a dispute. We offer a 30-minute consultation with one of our solicitors to discuss your situation and if mediation is right for you.

If you decide to go ahead with mediation, you can benefit from our cost-effective mediation support service. This service will give you the advice, support and tools to get the best possible outcome – particularly if you’re representing yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the legal position of unmarried parents?

Will I need to go to court?

You don’t have to go to court when deciding arrangements for your children. You don’t even need to make a formal arrangement at all if you have agreed things amicably between yourselves.

Usually, it’s best to document your agreement in writing in case anything changes. We can help you do this either informally, or with a written parenting plan. Getting this approved by the court means it becomes legally binding.

You will only have to go through the court process if you can’t settle your dispute alone, through mediation, or through an agreed parenting plan.