Child Maintenance Solicitor in Coventry

When both parents want the best for their children but have differing opinions on what ‘the best’ looks like, this can often result in conflict. Child maintenance matters are no different and can significantly strain family relationships if not handled correctly.

At Band Hatton Button, we recognise the impact of unresolved child maintenance issues on a family and have expertise in providing solutions that give your child the best outcome and preserve your family’s relationships.

We specialise in alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation, which means that you will have the best chance of reaching a solution while keeping potential conflict to a minimum.

Our child law solicitors in Coventry are all members of Resolution, a community of family lawyers dedicated to providing constructive, conciliatory solutions. We will always seek to resolve a problem without conflict, preserving important relationships as far as possible.

Our substantial experience handling even the most complex child maintenance cases will mean you receive a bespoke solution that prioritises your child’s welfare above all.

Our Child Maintenance Solicitors in Coventry can provide advice on matters including:

Making a child maintenance agreement
Enforcing payment of child maintenance
Changing child maintenance agreements
International child maintenance

Contact our Child Maintenance Solicitors in Coventry today

For specialist guidance on maintenance agreements from our expert solicitors specialising in child maintenance, please get in touch today. You can call us on 024 7663 2121 or email us at info@bandhattonbutton.com.

Often, child maintenance issues stem from divorce. Our expert divorce solicitors can help with any issues you may be facing, helping you get back on your feet so you can move forward confidently.

Our Child Maintenance Solicitors’ charges

Our family law services are usually charged hourly due to their complex nature; however, some initial meetings may be offered at a fixed fee.

To find out more about our charges, please click here.

How our Child Maintenance Solicitors can help you

Making a child maintenance agreement

Both parents of a child are expected to subsidise their upbringing until the age of at least 16. No matter the relationship between parents, it is essential that you take the necessary steps to ensure that both parents contribute fairly.

In most cases, you will have the opportunity to make a voluntary family-based arrangement over financial support or to make a claim for child maintenance to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). In some cases, you will be able to apply directly to court for a child maintenance order.

Whilst it is usually preferable to attempt to reach an amicable agreement between you and your former partner, we appreciate that this is not always possible. This is where we can advise you on how the CMS deals with maintenance matters and how the process is likely to work.

Our expert child solicitors have substantial experience negotiating child maintenance agreements that consider your child’s unique circumstances and reach a solution that prioritises their welfare.

Enforcing payment of child maintenance

It can be understandably frustrating if your former partner has not upheld their end of a child maintenance agreement. In such situations, we can advise you on your options, including engaging in negotiations and enforcing payment through the CMS or courts where appropriate.

We appreciate that changing circumstances can impact an individual’s ability to make payments and have vast experience in helping parents find agreements that suit their circumstances whilst avoiding legal action where possible.

Rest assured that we have a long and successful history of negotiating with the CMS and can ensure that you are able to reach a fair solution that does not leave you compromised.

Changing child maintenance agreements

Factors such as a change in one parent’s location or income, or changes in the child’s life can mean that modifications or variations to maintenance agreements are necessary to ensure fairness is upheld.

Our specialist child maintenance law solicitors can carefully review your circumstances and help you apply for a variation to your child maintenance agreement with the CMS.

We can also provide expert mediation services if you can contact the other parent to discuss changes to your child maintenance agreement.

International child maintenance

If your ex-partner lives abroad, this can complicate child maintenance matters significantly because the CMS can usually only order payments if both parents and the child live in the UK.

However, if the other parent lives in a Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (REMO) country, you can continue a child maintenance agreement.

Otherwise, you will need to negotiate with relevant authorities. Our expert solicitors have vast experience helping clients deal with these complex situations and will be able to provide the clear guidance you need to handle these matters confidently.

At Band Hatton Button, we can provide an honest overview of your case and ensure that you are aware of your options, giving you the platform to achieve the best outcome for your child if their other parent has moved abroad.

Frequently asked questions about child maintenance

What is child maintenance?

Child maintenance is a financial arrangement where one or both parents contribute financially to support the living costs of their child after a divorce or separation.

It means that both parents provide a fair amount to the costs of their child’s upbringing. It is generally paid by whichever parent does not provide the majority of their day-to-day care.

How is child maintenance calculated?

Child maintenance is calculated based on the paying parent’s income, amount of time they spend with the child, and how many children they have.

In the UK, the CMS provides a calculator that you can use to estimate how much child maintenance you will likely have to pay.

What should I do if my ex-partner refuses to pay child maintenance?

If your ex-partner refuses to pay child maintenance, there are several options that you can take. It is always best to engage in direct communication to reach an agreement, but if this is not possible, you should consult a solicitor to help you pursue one of the following:

Involve the CMS in setting up or enforcing payments
Consider legal action whereby the courts can enforce payments
Seek mediation or other alternative dispute resolution

Do I need a solicitor to arrange child maintenance?

You do not need a solicitor to arrange child maintenance, particularly if you are able to communicate with your ex-partner directly. However, if mediation or legal action is required to reach an agreement, we recommend instructing a solicitor to ensure that you receive the most beneficial solution for both yourself and your child.

Can child maintenance be backdated?

Child maintenance payments can, indeed, be backdated, but the regulations regarding this may vary depending on when the application was made and the type of arrangement agreed on.

Payments involving the CMS cannot be backdated prior to the application, only to the date that the CMS received your application.

On the contrary, court orders may include provisions to backdate payments in circumstances such as when there were delays in resolving matters.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert solicitors if you have questions regarding the backdating of child arrangement payments, as we appreciate this can be a complex field.

Why should I use Band Hatton Button?

Our Child Maintenance Lawyers in Coventry are experts in providing compassionate, clear service that delivers the best outcome for your family.

We are proud to be accredited by leading legal directories such as ISO and Lexcel, as well as holding many other awards and accreditations.

Tracy Cross, who leads our excellent family department, is an accredited mediator, so can guarantee a service that ensures your child maintenance issues are solved constructively.

She is incredibly experienced in collaborative law and can provide empathetic, calculated insight into your child maintenance matters regardless of your personal circumstances.