The aim of this information sheet is to provide support and inform you as to what Family Law Consultants can do for you in this difficult situation.
The Child Support Agency (CSA) was introduced by the Government in 1993. It took away from the courts the power to deal with maintenance for children. This means that child maintenance is no longer a disputed matter for the court when parties are divorcing. However, if you and your spouse can agree child maintenance you can have the same incorporated into a Consent Order if you reach an agreement as to the division of your matrimonial assets.
The CSA deals with maintenance for children in most situations. The main exception is in a case where there are step-children, where the courts still have jurisdiction. Where necessary the CSA will take the non-paying parent to court to obtain payment and can obtain an attachment of earnings order, so that the money for the children can be taken out of the non-paying parent's earnings each month.
For the CSA and for the purposes of calculating child maintenance, a child is: |
